Life expectancy in East Timor at birth was at 60.7 in 2007.^[1] The fertility rate is at six births per woman.^[1] Healthy life expectancy at birth was at 55 years in 2007.^[1]

The Human Rights Measurement Initiative^[2] finds that Timor-Leste is fulfilling 74.9% of what it should be fulfilling for the right to health based on its level of income.^[3] When looking at the right to health with respect to children, Timor-Leste achieves 93.1% of what is expected based on its current income.^[4] In regards to the right to health amongst the adult population, the country achieves 96.2% of what is expected based on the nation's level of income. ^[5] TImor-Leste falls into the "very bad" category when evaluating the right to reproductive health because the nation is fulfilling only 35.5% of what the nation is expected to achieve based on the resources (income) it has available.^[6]

Malnutrition rates in children have reduced but in 2013 still stood at 51%.

The 2010 maternal mortality rate per 100,000 births for East Timor was 370. This compares with 928.6 in 2008 and 1016.3 in 1990. The under-5 mortality rate per 1,000 births is 60 and the neonatal mortality rate per 1,000 live births is 27.^[7] The number of midwives per 1,000 live births is 8 and the lifetime risk of death for pregnant women is 1 in 44.^[8]

The country has one of the highest smoking rates in the world, with 33% of the population, including 61% of men, smoking daily.^[9]

In 2013 only three deaths from malaria were recorded, an achievement recognized by the World Health Organization.

Government expenditure on health was US$150 per person in 2006.^[1] There were only two hospitals and 14 village healthcare facilities in 1974. By 1994, there were 11 hospitals and 330 healthcare centres.^[10]

Sergio Lobo, a surgeon is the Health Minister. He says that “Many of the health-related issues are outside the competence of the Minister of Health.” Since independence the country has established a medical school, a nursing school, and a midwifery school.^[11]