Cairo (/ˈkeɪroʊ/) is a city in Grady County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 10,179. The city is the county seat of Grady County.

Cairo was founded in 1835. It was incorporated as a town in 1870 and as a city in 1906. In 1905, Cairo was designated seat of the newly formed Grady County. The city was named after Cairo, the capital of Egypt.

Cairo is located in central Grady County at 30°52′39″N 84°12′5″W / 30.87750°N 84.20139°W / 30.87750; -84.20139 (30.8774, -84.2013). U.S. Route 84 (38th Boulevard) passes through the northern part of the city, leading east 14 miles (23 km) to Thomasville and west 24 miles (39 km) to Bainbridge. Valdosta is 59 miles (95 km) to the east, and Dothan, Alabama, is 79 miles (127 km) to the west on US 84. Georgia State Route 93 passes through the center of Cairo as Broad Street and Fifth Street; it leads north 19 miles (31 km) to Pelham and south 12 miles (19 km) to U.S. Route 319, north of the Florida border. Tallahassee, Florida, is 33 miles (53 km) to the south.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Cairo has a total area of 9.8 square miles (25.4 km), of which 9.7 square miles (25.1 km) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.3 km), or 1.38%, is water.

The climate in this area is characterized by relatively high temperatures and evenly distributed precipitation throughout the year. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Cairo has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1880	275		—
1890	521		89.5%
1900	690		32.4%
1910	1,505		118.1%
1920	1,908		26.8%
1930	3,169		66.1%
1940	4,653		46.8%
1950	5,577		19.9%
1960	7,427		33.2%
1970	8,061		8.5%
1980	8,777		8.9%
1990	9,035		2.9%
2000	9,239		2.3%
2010	9,607		4.0%
2020	10,179		6.0%
U.S. Decennial Census

Cairo city, Georgia – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.

Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)	Pop 2000	Pop 2010	Pop 2020	% 2000	% 2010	% 2020
White alone (NH)	3,921	3,416	3,293	42.44%	35.56%	32.35%
Black or African American alone (NH)	4,700	4,601	4,688	50.87%	47.89%	46.06%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	32	27	27	0.35%	0.28%	0.27%
Asian alone (NH)	53	52	68	0.57%	0.54%	0.67%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	1	10	3	0.01%	0.10%	0.03%
Other race alone (NH)	4	19	50	0.04%	0.20%	0.49%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)	61	98	213	0.66%	1.02%	2.09%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	467	1,384	1,837	5.05%	14.41%	18.05%
Total	9,239	9,607	10,179	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 10,179 people, 3,567 households, and 2,169 families residing in the city.

Grady County Schools serves the city. Cairo High School, located in Cairo serves as a central high school for all of Grady County. Elementary schools serving students in the city include Eastside Elementary, Northside Elementary and Southside Elementary. Washington Middle School serves Cairo residents.

A campus of the Southern Regional Technical College is located in Cairo.

Grady General Hospital serves the city. A 60-bed acute care facility, it has been affiliated with John D. Archbold Memorial Hospital in Thomasville since 1985.

• Notable Cairo people include:
• 
  Jackie Robinson,
  born 1919,
  American professional baseball second baseman who became the first African American to play in Major League Baseball (MLB) in the modern era.
• 
  Mickey Thomas,
  born 1949,
  American rock singer, best known as one of the lead vocalists of Jefferson Starship and Starship.
• 
  Davi Millsaps,
  born 1988,
  champion motocross and supercross rider.
• 
  Bryan Johnson,
  born 1986,
  professional motocross and supercross rider.

• City of Cairo official website
• City of Cairo from georgia.gov