The Kingdom’s population reached 11.302 million as of the end of 2022, the latest figures have shown. On the occasion of World Population Day, which falls on July 11, the Department of Statistics (DoS) on Wednesday reported that population growth rates have significantly varied due to changes in the factors of population growth, including fertility, death, and net migration. The report indicated remarkable improvement in health services in recent decades, which led to a decrease in mortality rates and contributed to a substantial increase in the life expectancy of the population to 73.3 years for both genders. At the end of last year, there were 22.8 doctors per 10,000 citizens, 3,063 residents per pharmacy, and 706 residents per bed. The DoS added that the most recent census on population and housing revealed that individuals under the age of 15 make up 34.3 percent of the total population in the Kingdom. Meanwhile, those aged 15 to 64, who form the workforce, account for 62 percent of the population, while the elderly, aged 65 and over, represent 3.7 percent of the population. Therefore the age dependency rate for the year 2022 amounted to 61.4. Between the years 2004 and 2015, the average family size in Jordan decreased by 11 percent, from 5.4 individuals to 4.8 individuals. With a current population growth rate of 2.2 percent, it will take approximately 31.5 years for the population in the Kingdom to double. According to statistics, the crude death rate decreased by 72.7 percent between 1952 and 2013. Additionally, the infant mortality rate has significantly decreased from approximately 122 per 1,000 live births in 1952-1955 to 17 per 1,000 live births in 2017-2018, according to the 2017-2018 Jordan Population and Family Health Survey (JPFHS) The total fertility rates have decreased over time due to social and economic changes. In 1990, a female of childbearing age (15-49) had an average of 5.6 children, but in the 2017-2018 JPFHS, this number reduced to 2.7 children. The department stated that a crucial social factor leading to the decrease in childbirth rates is women’s pursuit of higher education to achieve better qualifications. Economic factors also play a role, demonstrated by the rise in the percentage of women in the workforce, which reached 13.9% in 2022.
Source: Jordan News Agency