Jordan

Introduction

Since the start of the Syria crisis in 2011, Jordan has been hosting one of the largest percentages of Syrian refugees in the world. Most live in cities (80%), with others in camps such as Azraq and Zaatari (20%).

Despite the strain of the refugee influx on Jordan’s economy, communities continue to live in relative harmony. However, life is becoming increasingly difficult for refugees and host communities alike due to:

• a prolonged cost-of-living crisis
• significant reductions in humanitarian funding
• regional instability 
• the economic impact of the war in Gaza

The EU is a significant aid contributor, supporting both refugees and vulnerable host communities in Jordan.

EU humanitarian funding:

Over €459 million to Syrian refugees and host communities since 2011.

What are the needs?

Jordan hosts one of the world’s largest refugee populations per capita. As of August 2026, over 366,000 refugees were registered with the UNHCR in Jordan. 

The vast majority, 79.1%, live within communities, while the remaining 20.9% reside in the Zaatari and Azraq refugee camps. A significant portion of these refugees (more than 93%) are Syrian, with the Jordanian government estimating the total Syrian population in Jordan to be over 1.3 million, including unregistered individuals. Other refugees are from:

• Iraq
• Yemen
• Sudan
• Somalia

66% of all Syrian refugees live below the poverty line. Many, especially those living outside the camps, resort to negative coping strategies in response to unemployment, illness and difficult living conditions such as:

• debt
• child labour
• reduced food intake

Syria crisis

15 years into the Syria crisis, against a backdrop of aid cuts and economic slowdown, most Syrian refugees continue to rely on humanitarian assistance. Refugees and other vulnerable populations have been disproportionally affected by the global shocks of the past years, including: 

• the pandemic
• Russia’s war on Ukraine
• the war in Gaza
• regional tensions including Israel- US- Iran escalation

While some Syrian refugees have expressed an interest in returning to Syria since the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024, around 221,000 registered refugees have actually returned to-date.  

How are we helping?

With limited prospects of a large-scale return to Syria, to become self-reliant and for returns to be sustainable, refugees need sustainable and durable solutions including:

• protection
• better access to services
• emergency lifesaving assistance
• health care

In the current situation of mounting regional instability, economic pressure and international funding shortages, both refugee populations and vulnerable Jordanians are expected to face growing service gaps and heightened protection risks, with an increased strain on national public systems.

EU funding

Since the beginning of the Syria crisis in 2011, the EU has channelled approximately €4 billion to Jordan through humanitarian, development and macro-financial assistance. Of this total, humanitarian aid amounts to over €459 million.

We support populations in Zaatari, Azraq and Garden camps, but also Syrian and non-Syrian refugees who live outside the camps. EU-funded essential services also benefit vulnerable Jordanians across the country.

Various programmes address the specific needs of women and children, who make up more than 50% of the refugee population.

EU assistance

The EU supports health interventions focused on immediate lifesaving assistance, especially where refugees and vulnerable Jordanians struggle to access health services. Our assistance focuses on sexual and reproductive health care, as well as cash assistance for health.

Syrian refugees in Jordan without updated documentation are vulnerable to exploitation and abuse. The lack of official documents limits their freedom of movement and prevents them from entering the labour market and accessing essential services, such as health care and education. 

The EU also supports the UN Refugee Agency and a consortium of partner organisations to:

• help refugees obtain and keep official refugee status
• resolve legal protection issues