ESCWA Publication: E/ESCWA/CL2.GPID/2025/5
Country: Arab region, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Kingdom of Morocco, Sultanate of Oman, Republic of Tunisia
Publication Type: Flagship publications
Cluster: Gender Justice, Population and Inclusive Development
Focus Area: Gender equality, Inclusive development, Future of employment, Population dynamics & migration
Initiatives: Older persons, Reducing inequalities, Job creation, Arab Digital Inclusion Platform, Including persons with disabilities in the labour market, Realizing the rights of persons with disabilities
SDGs: Goal 5: Gender Equality, Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities
Keywords: Ageing persons, Arab countries, Equality, Gender equality, Income distribution, Informal sector, Jordan, Migrant workers, Morocco, Oman, Persons with disabilities, Social security, Statistical data, Tunisia, Youth, Technical cooperation
Inequality in the Arab region: Rights Denied, Promises Broken
June 2025
People living in the Arab region face various forms of inequality, many of them linked to unequal exposure to life-cycle risks. By providing financial protection against these risks, social protection systems can address inequalities. To be fully effective, social protection systems must take into account the particular needs of specific vulnerable groups such as informal workers, women and girls, older and younger people, persons with disabilities and migrants.
This fourth edition of the Arab Inequality Report describes how social protection systems in the Arab region have evolved in response to economic developments and external shocks, and examines the varying degrees to which these systems provide effective protection and reduce inequalities. It concludes with practical policy recommendations for countries to ensure that their social protection systems are effective and responsive.
Related content
Gender equality, Inclusive development, Future of employment, Population dynamics & migration
People living in the Arab region face various forms of inequality, many of them linked to unequal exposure to life-cycle risks. By providing financial protection against these risks, social protection systems can address inequalities. To be fully effective, social protection systems must take into account the particular needs of specific vulnerable groups such as informal workers, women and girls, older and younger people, persons with disabilities and migrants.
This fourth edition of the Arab Inequality Report describes how social protection systems in the Arab region have evolved in response to economic developments and external shocks, and examines the varying degrees to which these systems provide effective protection and reduce inequalities. It concludes with practical policy recommendations for countries to ensure that their social protection systems are effective and responsive.
