Disability and poverty in Jordan are closely related challenges. According to a 2023 Humanity & Inclusion brief, close to 11.2% of Jordan’s population has a disability or functional impairment. This report also states that about 35% of Jordan’s population lives in poverty. At the same time, Social Protection legally covers 28.5% of people with disabilities, while at least one disability cash benefit covers roughly 20% of people with disabilities. These figures suggest that people with disabilities in Jordan face significant economic vulnerability, in part because existing social protection programs reach only a limited portion of the population these programs intend to support.

The Cycle of Poverty and Disability

​Poverty can contribute to disability, while disability can increase the risk of poverty. A USAID report found that households with a person with a disability tend to face higher health care costs and earn lower incomes. Poverty can further increase the risk of disability through inadequate health care and malnutrition. Barriers to employment and education can further reinforce this cycle of disability and poverty in Jordan.

Barriers to employment are one way in which disability can contribute to economic vulnerability in Jordan. In 2017, 32.8% of men with disabilities aged 15 to 64 held employment, compared with 61.4% of men without disabilities. The employment rate for men with disabilities was roughly half that of men without disabilities. A similar disparity existed for women, although employment rates were lower overall: only 5.2% of women with disabilities held employment, compared to 13.5% of women without disabilities. These figures demonstrate that people with disabilities face significant disadvantages in accessing employment. In 2025, the International Labour Organization (ILO) reported that inaccessible architecture and infrastructure, along with institutional and social barriers, continue to limit employment opportunities for people with disabilities.

Expanding Avenues to Education

​Education is one important pathway for disrupting the cycle of poverty and disability. Jordan has expanded access to public schooling for students with disabilities. Enrollment reached approximately 26,700, representing nearly a 44% increase over recent academic years. The number of accessible schools also reached 1,002, including 132 pioneering inclusive schools. However, significant barriers remain, particularly because some curricula and instructional materials do not adequately meet the needs of students with different disabilities.

Beyond expanding access to schools, Jordan has made longer-term efforts to promote inclusive education and reduce stigma toward people with disabilities. A 2026 study found that attitudes toward people with disabilities have changed as government policies and international development programs have expanded. The study highlights several important policy measures, including the 2017 Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act and the government’s 10-year Inclusive Education Strategic Plan, which it launched in 2019. Community organizations and additional international assistance have further supported efforts to create a more inclusive education system.

Expanding Inclusive Workplaces

​Recent programs in Jordan have targeted employment barriers that can reinforce the cycle of disability and poverty. In July 2025, the Higher Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the ILO promoted a national dialogue focusing on reducing barriers and improving workplace inclusion for people with disabilities in Jordan’s garment sector. With support from the Canadian government, the initiative emphasized institutional awareness, workplace practices and other measures that aim to create more accessible work environments. Participants also reviewed guidelines for implementing reasonable accommodations and promoting more inclusive workplaces.

Strengthening Social Protection

Beyond education and employment initiatives, Jordan has expanded its broader social protection system. In 2025, the government launched its National Social Protection Strategy for 2025-2033 with support from UNICEF. The organization also supported a new Cash Plus Unit within the National Aid Fund that connects financial assistance with health care, education and other needs. UNICEF reported that Jordan’s nationwide social protection awareness campaign reached more than 3 million people in 2025. Additional efforts include the 114 Makani centers, which have reached approximately 105,500 people, including 87,100 children, through educational programs, child-focused services and skills-building activities. Although these programs serve populations beyond people with disabilities, they can help reduce broader economic vulnerabilities that contribute to the cycle of poverty and disability.

Looking Ahead

Despite recent progress, significant obstacles remain in employment, education and access to social protection for people with disabilities in Jordan. At the same time, ongoing reforms are addressing some of the social and economic conditions that reinforce poverty. Expanded access to education, inclusive employment initiatives and broader social protection reforms can improve economic participation and access to essential services. Sustained implementation of these programs could help weaken the mutually reinforcing cycle of disability and poverty in Jordan.

– Elias Haskins

Elias Haskins is based in Claremont, CA, USA and focuses on Business and New Markets for The Borgen Project.

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