Amman:A joint study by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the Higher Population Council (HPC), and the Department of Statistics (DoS) has revealed that 65.1 percent of Jordan's population is of working age. This demographic presents a strategic opportunity to boost the country's economic growth and productivity.
According to Jordan News Agency, the "Demographic Dividend Analysis in Jordan" study was launched under the patronage of Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Zeina Toukan. The study reveals that children under 15 make up 30.2 percent of the population, while those aged 65 and older account for 4.8 percent. The report employs National Transfer Accounts (NTA) methodology to highlight the economic implications of these demographic shifts and to provide data for aligning socioeconomic planning with Jordan's Economic Modernization Vision.
UNFPA Representative to Jordan, Himyar Abdulmoghni, emphasized that favorable demographics provide an opportunity for expansion but do not ensure economic growth without converting the working-age concentration into higher labor participation and productivity. HPC Secretary-General Isa Masarweh, speaking on behalf of Minister Toukan, highlighted the need for targeted policies to capitalize on this demographic window. These include reducing unemployment, protecting domestic jobs, integrating youth and women into the labor market, investing in vocational training, and maintaining sustainable social protection networks. Masarweh also stressed the importance of preserving human capital by addressing public health risks such as tobacco use, obesity, and physical inactivity.
The study reports that Jordan's overall labor force participation rate was 38.9 percent in 2025, with youth unemployment among those aged 20-24 reaching 41.5 percent. It suggests that a 10 percent wage increase for workers under 35 could raise the average annual demographic dividend significantly between 2026 and 2040. Furthermore, the report underscores the need to address gender disparities in the workforce, noting that female labor force participation was 16.3 percent in 2025, compared to 58.9 percent for males. Reducing the gender wage gap by 25 percent could greatly enhance the demographic dividend over the same period.
Looking to the future, the study projects that the proportion of citizens aged 65 and older will exceed 10 percent by the early 2040s and 20 percent by the mid-2070s. It urges early policy changes to strengthen healthcare, pension, and retirement savings systems in preparation for an aging population.