Population figures
Total country population
11,384,922
Forcibly displaced population
Refugees (under UNHCR's mandate):
661,218
Asylum-seekers:
36,481
IDPs (of concern to UNHCR):
0
Other people in need of international protection:
0
Other
Statelessness persons
0
Host community
0
Others of concern to UNHCR
1,220
Country context
Jordan is situated in the Levant region of Western Asia, bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south and east, Iraq to the northeast, Syria to the north, Israel and the West Bank to the west, and featuring a short coastline on the Red Sea at Aqaba. Jordan is one of the largest host countries for refugees per capita. Refugee populations registered in the country originate predominantly from Syria, with significant groups from Iraq, Yemen, Sudan and Somalia. These individuals reside both in two established camps—Azraq and Zaatari—and in dispersed urban communities across Amman, Irbid and other municipalities, accessing housing, education and health services alongside host populations
The Syrian refugee population is particularly young, with nearly half under the age of 18, and many face significant protection risks, including medical conditions, disability, and other vulnerabilities. Non-Syrian refugees, who are mostly from Iraq, also face distinct challenges, including higher rates of specific needs such as medical conditions and legal protection issues. The government’s registration policies and procedures, including the ongoing suspension of registration for non-Syrian nationals since 2019, pose additional challenges to access for these groups.
...Jordan does not have national refugee legislation, and the asylum process is governed by an agreement with UNHCR. Refugees in Jordan benefit from certain protections, including access to health services and education, though these are often limited in scope and availability. Refugees living outside camps generally face higher living costs, inadequate shelter, and limited access to public services. Additionally, refugees, particularly women and children, are vulnerable to gender-based violence, with concerns over underreporting and inadequate responses to such cases.
Statelessness remains unaddressed by a formal domestic determination procedure and no accession has been made to the 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons or the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness, leaving individuals without effective nationality reliant on general residency and naturalisation rules that do not formally recognise stateless status
The government of Jordan has made efforts to ensure the participation of refugees in national systems, especially in health and education. However, challenges persist, particularly regarding access to tertiary education, where only a small percentage of refugees are enrolled. Moreover, the economic situation has led to an increase in poverty levels among refugees, impacting their ability to meet basic needs.
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