Egypt: health and care

What is life expectancy in Egypt?

Life expectancy at birth in Egypt was 71.8 years in 2024, up from 71.6 in 2023 and 69.0 in 2021, according to the World Bank World Development Indicators.

Life expectancy is a modelled estimate of how long a baby born that year would live if current death rates continued. CAPMAS publishes annual birth and death statistics, while the World Bank series uses UN population estimates so that countries can be compared. The World Bank also publishes separate figures for men and women.

Official sources: World Bank: life expectancy at birth, Egypt

What is the infant mortality rate in Egypt?

Egypt's infant mortality rate was 20.8 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2024, down from 22.2 in 2021, according to the World Bank World Development Indicators, which use UN inter-agency estimates.

The UN estimate combines registration and survey data and smooths year-to-year noise, so it can differ from rates calculated from CAPMAS vital statistics. The maternal mortality ratio was 17 per 100,000 live births in 2023, according to the World Bank modelled estimate.

Official sources: World Bank: infant mortality rate, Egypt · World Bank: maternal mortality ratio, Egypt

How much does Egypt spend on health?

Egypt's current health spending was 4.9% of GDP in 2023, according to the World Bank World Development Indicators. Out-of-pocket payments by households made up 57.2% of that spending, according to the World Bank.

A high out-of-pocket share means many people pay directly for medicines and private care. The universal health insurance system, run by the Universal Health Insurance Authority under Law No. 2 of 2018, is meant to reduce that as it is rolled out across governorates. The 2026/27 budget raises spending on the programme, according to the Central Bank of Egypt Monetary Policy Report.

Official sources: World Bank: current health expenditure, Egypt · World Bank: out-of-pocket expenditure, Egypt · Universal Health Insurance Authority · CBE: Monetary Policy Report Q2 2026 (PDF)

How many doctors does Egypt have?

Egypt had 0.671 physicians per 1,000 people in 2020, down from 0.743 in 2017, according to the World Bank World Development Indicators, which use World Health Organization data. That is about one doctor for every 1,500 people.

The World Health Organization figure aims to count doctors actively working in the country rather than everyone registered. The series has not been updated since 2020. The Ministry of Higher Education reports 147 university hospitals, which work alongside Ministry of Health and Population hospitals.

Official sources: World Bank: physicians per 1,000 people, Egypt · Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research

How many children in Egypt are stunted?

12.8% of children under five in Egypt were stunted, or too short for their age, in 2021, down from 22.3% in 2014, according to the World Bank World Development Indicators.

Stunting reflects long-term undernutrition and repeated illness in early childhood. The figures come from national household health surveys, which measure children's height directly, so they are only available for survey years.

Official sources: World Bank: prevalence of stunting, Egypt

What is life expectancy in Egypt?

71.8 years: that is life expectancy at birth in Egypt for 2024, according to the UN Population Division. It is the top of the series, which starts in 2005. Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan median: 77.3 years; Egypt is 17th highest of 22. Worldwide: 118th of 193.

What is the infant mortality rate in Egypt?

In 2024, the infant mortality rate in Egypt was 20.8 per 1,000, according to the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation. It is the bottom of the series, which starts in 2005. It is 5th highest of 22 in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, where the median is 11.2 per 1,000. Of 192 countries with 2024 data, 67th highest.

What is the maternal mortality rate in Egypt?

The WHO puts the maternal mortality ratio in Egypt at 17.0 per 100,000 in 2023. It is the bottom of the series, which starts in 2005. It is 12th highest of 22 in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, where the median is 18.5 per 100,000. World rank, highest first: 128th of 192.

How much does Egypt spend on health?

The WHO puts current health spending in Egypt at 4.9% of GDP in 2023. The peak was 5.3% of GDP in 2017 and the low 4.2% of GDP in 2010. Across Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan the middle value was 5.6% of GDP, and Egypt placed 15th highest of 22. Of 191 countries with 2023 data, 127th highest.

What is out-of-pocket health spending in Egypt?

In 2023, out-of-pocket health spending in Egypt was 57.2%, according to the WHO. Since 2005 it has ranged from 53.7% (2022) to 64.6% (2005). It is 4th highest of 22 in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, where the median is 32.7%. Of 191 countries with 2023 data, 21st highest.

What is the doctor to patient ratio in Egypt?

According to the WHO, the number of doctors per 1,000 people in Egypt was 0.67 per 1,000 in 2020. No year since 2014 has been lower. Across Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan the middle value was 1.8 per 1,000, and Egypt placed 12th highest of 14. World rank, highest first: 98th of 136.

How many hospital beds per person does Egypt have?

The latest figure from the WHO, for 2021, is 1.1 per 1,000. That is the lowest since at least 2005. Across Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan the middle value was 1.7 per 1,000, and Egypt placed 13th highest of 16. Of 124 countries with 2021 data, 106th highest.

What is the measles vaccination rate in Egypt?

According to WHO and UNICEF, measles vaccination among children aged 12 to 23 months in Egypt was 97.0% in 2024. Since 2005 it has ranged from 92.0% (2008) to 98.0% (2005). It is 10th highest of 22 in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, where the median is 96.0%. World rank, highest first: 31st of 191.