Amman, Aug. 11 (Petra) – Jordan has a predominantly young population,
with Jordanians aged 15–29 accounting for about 27 percent of the
Jordanian population, or around 2.4 million people, while children
under 15 make up about 30 percent, or approximately 2.6 million, the
Higher Population Council stated.

The council noted that annual births outnumber deaths by six to one,
with about 2.9 million Jordanian births recorded between 2010 and
2025, at an annual average of more than 180,000. It explained that
this means the number of Jordanians entering working age will remain
high in the coming years, requiring continued investment in
education, training, and employment, as well as conditions that
enable young people to transition successfully into work, financial
independence, and family formation.

The remarks came in a statement issued Tuesday to mark International
Youth Day, observed annually on Aug. 12. This year, Jordan and the
international community are marking the occasion under the theme
“Different Contexts, Common Aspirations,” reflecting the diverse
national and local realities shaping young people’s lives while
highlighting similarities in their aspirations.

The council said Jordan’s current and future demographic trends
depend significantly on young people’s decisions regarding marriage
and childbearing, stressing the importance of safeguarding decent
employment opportunities for Jordanians to support their ability to
marry and establish families.

It cited the results of a United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
survey conducted in 2025 and 2026 on the future of the world’s
population, which covered 108,000 people aged 18–39 across 73
countries. The survey found that about two-thirds of respondents were
optimistic about their life trajectories despite concerns over
conflict, economic insecurity, and inequality.

According to the findings, 90 percent of respondents identified
financial stability and good health among their most important life
goals, while eight in 10 said children bring joy and happiness,
making this a leading motivation for starting a family.

More than two-thirds of respondents also considered marriage their
preferred family arrangement, while financial stability was
identified as the most important factor in forming a family.
Financial pressures and difficulties securing housing were among the
main barriers to marriage.

The survey findings coincide with Jordan’s National Youth Strategy
2026–2030, which seeks to develop a generation of young people who
are engaged, productive, and able to contribute to Jordan’s
sustainable future.

The council stressed the need to continue national efforts to empower
young Jordanians and improve their ability to achieve their
aspirations by protecting access to decent and stable employment. It
also called for ensuring wages that reflect living costs, expanding
social protection coverage under the Social Security Law, improving
alignment between education outcomes and labor market needs, and
developing training, qualification, and vocational and digital skills
programs to strengthen young people’s competitiveness in local,
regional, and international labor markets.

The council also emphasized the importance of youth participation by
assessing and responding to their needs to ensure that national
policies and programs reflect their aspirations and contribute to
their empowerment.

//Petra// AO