English: Individual dynasties in Ancient Egypt did not fare very long. Out of the thirty-one dynasties spanning nearly 3000 years, the longest-lived was the 18th dynasty, the dynasty of the pharaoh Tutankhamun, which span 257 years (1549-1292 BC). The shortest, the single pharaoh 28th dynasty, lasted 6 years (404-398 BC).

This chart places the 31 dynasties in 25-year slices according to the amount of time for which they held power. Colours of the bars represent the period of the dynasties as indicated in the legend. The early dynastics and the three Kingdoms (Old, Middle, New) are blue, with darker colours meaning older. Intermediate periods are red, orange, and yellow. Note that up multiple dynasties could reign (from different cities) simultaneously during these periods (and briefly as well at the end of the Middle Kingdom)

For example, seven dynasties lasted between 100 and 125 years, two of these dynasties being from the New Kingdom.