Egypt
Leading cause: Heart Disease · 44% plant-based · 72 yr life expectancy · UHC 71/100
What People Eat
CVD has doubled in Egypt in 20 years — coinciding with the shift from traditional plant-based to westernized, ultra-processed foods.
Disease Burden
Leading cause of death: Heart Disease · 181 / 100k
Bars show each rate against the global range; the tick marks the world median.
Egypt's heart disease (181/100k) leads a fast-worsening profile, with diabetes (22/100k) and kidney disease also high. CVD has roughly doubled in 20 years as the traditional plant-based diet (ful, lentils, vegetables) gives way to refined bread, sugar, and ultra-processed foods amid low health spending.
Healthcare System
Sources: WHO UHC Service Coverage Index (SDG 3.8.1) & WHO Global Health Expenditure Database. Latest available year.
What Could Improve
- Reverse the shift to refined carbohydrates and sugar that has doubled CVD in two decades.
- Revive the protective traditional legume-and-vegetable diet (ful medames, lentils).
- Expand affordable diabetes and hypertension care given limited health spending (~$140/person).
Explore the evidence: Heart Disease
Global CVD Atlas · WHO 2021
→ CVD doubled in 20 years with westernization