The security gains made during the second half of 2008 were maintained during 2009. However, Salah al-Din remains one of Iraq’s more insecure governorates, having experienced an average of 71 incidents per month during the last quarter of 2009.

Agriculture provides 36% of the jobs in the governorate, but most of these jobs are unwaged. The sector is suffering due to land ownership issues, lack of modernized methods, poor coordination between agriculture and industry and lack of technical research facilities. 50% of cropland has suffered a reduction in crop coverage two years in succession due to drought. Industry remains underdeveloped due to poor management, underinvestment and lack of local commercial markets.

Salah al-Din performs averagely according to many developmental and humanitarian indicators, but there is wide variation between geographical areas. Illiteracy is generally below average for men, but is a major issue in Al-Fares and Samarra (particularly among women).

IDPs in Salah al-Din cite food, access to employment opportunities and shelter as their top two priority needs. 77% of IDP families have no member in employment. Public Distribution System access for 79% of families is intermittent, and a further 8% never receive it. Most IDP families live in rented houses, meaning that rising rents and the lack of income are of concern. Almost a thousand IDP families in Baiji district are living in abandoned military camps to which they have no legal claim and which often lack basic services. A further 20,000 people have been displaced from rural to urban areas as a result of the drought.