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Population, Demographics and Labor Skills

Jordan has good relations with all its neighbors. It has maintained continuous stability, moderation and security in a region prone to potential volatility. Jordan is a fourth generation monarchy with consistent and continuous foreign and internal policies, a democratically elected Parliament and a visionary leader dedicated to progressive reforms of political, economical, fiscal, legal and social significance.

Jordan’s population in 2006 was estimated to be 5,906,760, with a 2.3% annual growth rate. With 70% of the population is under the age of the 30 (median age 20 years old), the young and energetic young population, Jordan offers brain fuel to your businesses and investments.

View Jordan Demographic Pyramid

Jordan is amongst the highest spenders on education in the region, investing more than 20.4% of the GDP to enable talented labor force to meet demands of the modern market. Jordan’s literacy rates are among the highest in the Middle East. Jordan has improved its literacy rate from 89.9% in 2004 to 91.3% in 2003. Through new education policy, the Jordanian population has seen an increase in gross school enrollment from 79% in 2004 to 82% in 2006.

Over 200 thousand university students attend 25 of Jordanian world-class universities and another 20,000 Jordanians are earning education abroad. We have 60 vocational training centers graduating over 10,000 skilled technicians annually. We also have five ‘business incubators’ where students receive guidance and assistance from the private sector.

Educational Institutions. 2007-2008
Primary and Secondary Education
Schools (38% private) 5,690 (38% private schools)
Teachers 89,512
Students 1,598,211
Av. Ratio of Teachers to Students 1- 17.8
Tertiary Education
State Universities 10
Private Universities 15
Community Colleges 60
Total undergraduates enrolled in universities (2007-2008) 200,312
Total postgraduates enrolled in universities (2007-2008) 17,089
Total Students enrolled in Colleges 28,351
Number of Foreign Students 26,736
University Admissions 2007-2008 49,701
Source (s): Ministry of Higher Education 2008; Ministry of Education 2008

In comparison to the labor force by sector across the MENA region, studies clearly established Jordan as a services oriented economy, with more of its population employed in that sector than any of the comparison countries.

View Origins of GDP 2007 (%Total)

Distribution of the Labor force by economic Activity (% of Total)
  2004** 2005* 2006
Agriculture 3.6 3.4 3.1
Mining and quarrying 1.2 1.1 0.8
Manufacturing 1.2 11.6 11.2
Electricity, gas and water 1.7 1.7 1.7
Construction 7.1 6.3 6.3
Trade 17.9 17.9 17.4
Hotels and Restaurants 2.2 2.4 2.6
Transport, storage & Communications 9.6 9.8 9.5
Financial Intermediation 1.6 1.7 2.0
Real Estate 3.8 3.6 3.9
Public Administration and Defense 16.6 18.1 18.6
Education 11.0 11.3 11.8
Health & Social Work 5.0 4.9 4.8
Other Community, social and personal service 5.4 5.6 5.7
Private households with employed person 0.4 0.3 0.3
Extra-territorial organizations 0.3 0.4 0.3
* Represents the whole year
** Represents May 2004

Jordan’s labor force is a comparatively inexpensive and well educated resource in the region. The percentage of unemployed persons in Jordan further reinforces the view that wages will probably remain competitive with other countries in the region until the excess labor is gainfully employed.

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