Refugees of the Syrian civil war in Jordan
Refugees from Syria in Jordan: a simple overview
Since 2011, when the Syrian civil war began, many Syrians fled across the border into Jordan. Jordan is a small, aid-dependent country that already faces financial and environmental stresses. It is also one of the world’s driest places, which makes water and farming more fragile. The big arrival of refugees added pressure to Jordan’s limited resources.
People arrived for safety in refugee camps and in cities throughout the country. The largest camps are Za’atari and Azraq, but most Syrians in Jordan live outside camps, in towns and neighborhoods such as Amman, Irbid, Mafraq, and Jerash. Numbers have varied over the years, but by the mid-2010s hundreds of thousands of Syrians were registered as refugees in Jordan, with many more living there without formal registration. In total, Jordan has hosted hundreds of thousands of Syrians, with estimates sometimes counting well over a million people connected to the crisis when unregistered arrivals are included.
The sudden rise in population put a heavy burden on Jordan’s water, energy, housing, and health systems. Water is especially scarce in Jordan, and the extra demand from refugees worsened shortages for both refugees and local communities. To help, aid groups built supplies in camps, dug wells, and worked on systems to save and share water more efficiently. Outside camps, refugees and Jordanians alike often compete for limited water and jobs, which has at times created tension in communities.
Economically, hosting refugees costs money. The government provides subsidies for electricity and water and must fund health care in which many refugees rely on. At the same time, Syrians have sought work in Jordan, particularly in construction, manufacturing, and services. This has created concerns about job competition and has influenced unemployment levels among Jordanians. In 2016, a major international effort called the Jordan Compact was launched to help. The idea was to turn the refugee crisis into a development opportunity: attract investment, create jobs, support education, and improve formal work opportunities for Syrians. The plan included measures such as granting work permits for Syrians, relaxing some trade rules to boost exports, and funding education programs for Syrian children. It promised billions of dollars in support and aimed to improve longer-term growth in Jordan.
However, the Jordan Compact faced criticisms. Some argued it focused too narrowly on Syrians and on getting refugees into work, linking aid to employment. Others said the agreement did not fully consider other refugee populations in Jordan or include enough voices from humanitarian groups and local communities. Critics also noted that the push for refugee employment could overlook the needs and safety of women and girls, who often bear a larger burden in displacement scenarios.
Gender-based violence is a serious concern for many refugees. In Jordan, many Syrian refugees live in urban areas rather than camps, and women and girls make up a large share of the population. Displacement, poverty, and crowded living conditions can increase risks of violence, including domestic abuse, sexual violence, and child marriage. Many refugees are not sure where to get help, and awareness of available services is uneven. Programs and organizations in Jordan work to support survivors, but access remains a major challenge for some.
Support from international partners continues. Donor countries and organizations provide aid to help with water, food assistance, health care, education, and protection services. For example, food aid from the World Food Programme supports many refugees, and health and education programs aim to keep both Syrians and Jordanians healthy and educated. In late 2020, Jordan faced new health challenges from the coronavirus, including cases in refugee settings and the need to isolate and treat sick people, while continuing essential services.
Recent years have seen ongoing efforts to improve water and living conditions for refugees and local communities. Projects have included better water storage, repairs to municipal systems, and initiatives to conserve water and reduce waste. International partners have supported these efforts with funding and technical help, recognizing that long-term stability in Jordan depends on sustainable water use, economic opportunity, and strong social cohesion between refugees and host communities.
Today, Jordan continues to host a large number of Syrians and other refugees. The country’s leadership, with international support, balances protecting vulnerable people with maintaining essential services for its own citizens. While challenges remain—especially water shortages, employment, and protection concerns—the focus is on turning this crisis into a path toward growth, resilience, and safer lives for both refugees and Jordanians.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 14:43 (CET).