AMMAN, Nov. 11 (Petra) – A joint study released Wednesday by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the Higher Population Council (HPC), and the Department of Statistics (DoS) revealed that 65.1 percent of Jordan's population is currently of working age, offering a strategic window to drive national economic growth and productivity.

The "Demographic Dividend Analysis in Jordan" study, launched under the patronage of Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Zeina Toukan, indicates that children under 15 make up 30.2 percent of the population, while individuals aged 65 and older represent 4.8 percent.

Using National Transfer Accounts (NTA) methodology, the report outlines the economic implications of the Kingdom's demographic shifts and provides baseline data to align socioeconomic planning with the Economic Modernization Vision.

UNFPA Representative to Jordan Himyar Abdulmoghni stressed during the launch that favorable demographics present an opportunity for expansion but do not automatically guarantee economic growth. He noted that realizing the demographic dividend hinges on converting working-age concentration into higher labor participation, elevated productivity, and better income yields.

Speaking on behalf of Minister Toukan, HPC Secretary-General Isa Masarweh stated that capitalizing on the demographic window requires targeted structural policies. Key priorities include curbing unemployment, protecting domestic job opportunities, expanding youth and female labor market integration, investing in vocational and technical training, and maintaining sustainable social protection networks. Masarweh also underscored the need to preserve human capital by mitigating public health risks related to tobacco use, obesity, and physical inactivity.

Data within the study shows that Jordan's overall labor force participation rate stood at 38.9 percent in 2025, with youth unemployment among the 20–24 age bracket reaching 41.5 percent. Modeling in the report demonstrates that a 10 percent wage increase for workers under 35 could elevate the average annual demographic dividend from 0.09 percent to 0.26 percent between 2026 and 2040.

The report also highlights the economic necessity of bridging gender gaps in the workforce. Female labor force participation reached 16.3 percent in 2025, compared to 58.9 percent for males. Scenario testing shows that narrowing the gender wage gap by 25 percent could boost the average annual demographic dividend from 0.09 percent to 0.45 percent over the 2026–2040 period.

Looking ahead, the study projects that the proportion of citizens aged 65 and older will cross the 10 percent threshold by the early 2040s and surpass 20 percent by the mid-2070s. The authors urge early policy adjustments to strengthen healthcare, pension, care economy, and retirement savings frameworks ahead of long-term population aging.

//Petra// AA