This article provides background on the health situation of Egypt discusses nonmedical factors influencing health and assesses medical inputs and outputs related to health status. Egypt is a large Muslim country with a high birthrate uneven rate of economic growth and considerable poverty. The Physical Quality of Life Index based on infant mortality life expectancy and literacy is 54 about average for lower middle income countries. About 44% of the population over age 10 is literate. The Egyptian government subsidizes foodstuffs to maintain prices within the reach of low income families. Housing is scarce some 37% of the total population lacks potable water and sewage and refuse systems are poor. Health resources are however abundant in comparison with most developing countries. There is now 1 physician/3000 persons 2.1 hospital beds/1000 persons and 1 nurse/1500 persons. A pluralistic delivery system has emerged with the Ministry of Health operating a network of health centers and hospitals providing free care. There is a Health Insurance Scheme for employed persons a Curative Care Organization providing low-cost care financed primarily on a fee-for-service basis with some government subsidy and a large completely private service sector. A large number of traditional health care providers function exclusively in the private sector. There are an estimated 10000 dayas or traditional midwives. There are 2300 rural health centers with each unit serving an average of 1.77 villages and 9000 persons. There is a formalized referral system. Some drugs are provided free. Numerous problems still exist in the health care system despite the adequate numbers: the quality of medical education has declined public clinics are underutilized because of low quality of care lack of interest of the staff and crowded conditions and reduced hours entailing long waits. Acute malnutrition is rare in Egypt but anemia is more common with rates of both maladies highest in rural Upper Egypt. Life expectancy at birth is 55.4 years. The reported infant mortality rate is 83/1000 live births but infant deaths are probably underreported. 50% of all deaths in Egypt are in children under 5. Intestinal parasites are the main cause of death fo children under 3. Schistosomiasis is the most frequently reported problem among adults.