Amman, Oct. 21 (Petra) – The average number of birth dates among Jordanians that hold special significance is "higher" than the daily rate for the year 2025, Higher Population Council (HPC) announced on Wednesday.

According to data from the Civil Status and Passports Department (CSPD), this preference reflects a trend among some families to plan the birth timing to coincide with dates that hold personal significance for them.

In a press release, the council identified six such "special" dates, namely: May 5, May 15, May 25, the parents' wedding anniversary, and the birthdays of either parent.

Based on the department’s data, 170,780 births occurred in the Kingdom last year, 19,203 of which were to non-Jordanian parents, it said.

Focusing specifically on the 151,577 births to Jordanian parents, the daily average is 415. However, the average number of births to Jordanian parents on the six identified "special" dates rises to 629 per day.

The council noted that an expectant mother might choose a birth date that has a special significance in two ways.

The first option occurs by scheduling a cesarean section in consultation with her physician, a common, yet major, surgical procedure that lacks medical justification and may expose both mother and child to long-term health risks.

The second method involves receiving a medical injection to induce labor ahead of its natural time, specifically to ensure the birth occurs on the chosen date.

In both cases, the council noted that such a request must pass medical assessment. Factors, including the pregnancy stage, the order of the pregnancy, and the health status of both the mother and the fetus must be taken into account.

Furthermore, medical procedures shouldn't be performed solely for the purpose of selecting a specific, notable date if it compromises health and safety.

//Petra//AG