Beirut, 22 September 2025--The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) has released a new policy brief, Multidimensional poverty reduction: an unaccomplished mission in several Arab countries, which finds that poverty reduction efforts in a number of Arab States remain slow, uneven and, in some cases, stagnant.
The brief reveals that, in Egypt, Jordan and Tunisia, multidimensional poverty (deprivation across education, health, nutrition and access to basic services) has shown only marginal reductions over the past decade, with some indicators barely improving.
Indeed, the analysis further highlights that poverty continues to be more prevalent in rural areas than in urban centres, and education remains the leading driver of multidimensional poverty across the three countries.
The policy brief also sheds light on the challenges faced by Arab least developed countries with recent data - the Comoros, Mauritania, and Yemen - where multidimensional poverty remains critically high.
The Comoros stands out as an exception, achieving substantial progress with the multidimensional poverty headcount ratio declining from 34.6% in 2012 to 19.4% in 2022, alongside improvements in sanitation, drinking water, electricity and education.
Mauritania, by contrast, continues to experience widespread poverty, affecting 57.4% of the population in 2021, with little reduction in the severity of deprivations.
Yemen has shown virtually no progress, with multidimensional poverty fluctuating around 38% between 2013 and 2023. The country's prolonged conflict, compounded by economic decline, climate-related shocks and limited humanitarian access, has devastated livelihoods, displacing millions, destroying infrastructure and leaving half the population facing acute food insecurity.
Commenting on the findings, Lead Author of the policy brief at ESCWA Khalid Abu Ismail stressed the urgency of addressing these persistent challenges. "Progress in reducing multidimensional poverty in the Arab region has been too slow and uneven. Unless we address the root causes - particularly gaps in education, nutrition and access to essential services - millions will remain trapped in cycles of deprivation," he said.
The analysis further underscores that Mauritania's poverty levels are significantly higher than would be expected given its GDP per capita, reflecting weak conversion of national income into improvements in well-being and basic services. By contrast, Yemen and the Comoros align more closely with global patterns, showing poverty levels consistent with their income levels.
The brief calls for bold domestic reforms and renewed international cooperation. In Egypt, Jordan and Tunisia, alleviating multidimensional poverty requires greater investment in inclusive, high-quality education, improved school-to-work transitions, and expanded access to digital infrastructure. Health and nutrition outcomes also demand urgent attention, alongside efforts to strengthen social protection systems to ensure adequate coverage for disadvantaged groups.
In the Comoros, Mauritania and Yemen, establishing minimum standards for sanitation, clean drinking water, and energy remains imperative, while digital banking and microfinance could help households cope with precarious conditions. For Yemen, significant external support is required, particularly through conflict-resolution mechanisms and official development assistance, to safeguard governance and the provision of basic services.
"Robust domestic efforts, coupled with revitalized international cooperation, are imperative to ensure that all people in the region can access the basic services and opportunities needed to live in dignity," Abou Ismail added. "The mission of reducing multidimensional poverty remains unfinished, and it is a mission that Governments and the international community must urgently recommit to."
