Jordan has a population of more than 11.1 million inhabitants as of 2023. Jordanians () are the citizens of Jordan. Approximately 98% of Jordanians are Arabs, many of whom are of Palestinian origin. The remaining 2% belong to ethnic minorities, including Circassians, Chechens, Assyrians, Armenians and Kurds. In early 2016 about 30% of the population were non-citizens, a figure including refugees, and legal and illegal immigrants. Jordan's annual population growth rate stands at 3.05% as of 2023, with an average birth rate of 2.8. There were 1,977,534 households in Jordan in 2015, with an average of 4.8 persons per household.
The official language is Arabic, while English is the second most widely spoken language by Jordanians. It is also widely used in commerce and government. In 2016, about 84% of Jordan's population live in urban towns and cities. Many Jordanians and people of Jordanian descent live across the world, mainly in the Gulf Cooperation Council Countries, United States, Canada and Turkey.
In 2016, Jordan was named as the largest refugee hosting country per capita in the world, followed by Turkey, Pakistan and Lebanon. Jordan hosts refugees mainly from Palestine, Syria, and Iraq, as well as smaller communities from other nations. There are also hundreds of thousands of workers from Egypt, Indonesia and South Asia, who work as domestic and construction workers.
Definition The territory of Jordan can be defined by the history of its creation following events after the end of World War I, the League of Nations and redrawing of the borders of the Eastern Mediterranean littoral. The ensuing decisions, most notably the Sykes–Picot Agreement, which created the Mandatory Palestine. In September 1922, Transjordan was formally identified as a subdivision of the Mandate Palestine after the League of Nations approved the British Transjordan memorandum which stated that the Mandate east of the Jordan River would be excluded from all the provisions dealing with Jewish settlement west of the Jordan River.
Population size and structure
11,200,320 (According to the Population Clock as of July 23, 2022). Refugees Jordan is a home to 2,175,491 registered Palestinian refugees. Out of those 2,175,491 refugees, 634,182 have not been given Jordanian citizenship. Jordan also hosts around 1.4 million Syrian refugees who fled to the country due to the Syrian Civil War since 2011. About 31,163 Yemenis and 22,700 Libyan refugees live in Jordan as of January 2015. There are thousands of Lebanese refugees who came to Jordan when civil strife and war and the 2006 war broke out in their native country. Up to 1 million Iraqis came to Jordan following the Iraq War in 2003. In 2015, their number was 130,911. About 2,500 Iraqi Mandaean refugees have been resettled in Jordan.
Age structure
Age groupMaleFemaleTotal% Total 2 626 287 2 477 352 5 103 639 100 0-4 333 216 317 115 650 331 12.74 5-9 329 133 313 738 642 871 12.60 10-14 313 083 297 046 610 129 11.95 15-19 287 693 272 145 559 838 10.97 20-24 279 600 260 593 540 193 10.58 25-29 239 774 216 487 456 261 8.94 30-34 207 178 191 991 399 169 7.82 35-39 167 737 155 689 323 426 6.34 40-44 123 945 117 455 241 400 4.73 45-49 87 098 83 358 170 456 3.34 50-54 64 607 63 633 128 240 2.51 55-59 55 765 57 956 113 721 2.23 60-64 52 084 46 703 98 787 1.94 65-69 37 095 34 728 71 823 1.41 70-74 23 467 23 353 46 820 0.92 75-79 12 651 11 617 24 268 0.48 80+ 10 137 11 923 22 060 0.43 80-84 6 144 7 441 13 585 0.27 85-89 2 444 2 588 5 032 0.10 90-94 1 012 1 304 2 316 0.05 95-99 537 590 1 127 0.02Age groupMaleFemaleTotalPercent 0-14 975 432 927 899 1 903 331 37.29 15-64 1 565 481 1 466 010 3 031 491 59.40 65+ 83 350 81 621 164 971 3.23 unknown 2 024 1 822 3 846 0.08
Age groupMaleFemaleTotal% Total 3 366 000 3 174 000 6 530 000 100 0-4 427 485 405 300 832 785 12.75 5-9 422 095 400 880 822 975 12.60 10-14 401 900 379 680 781 580 11.97 15-19 368 915 347 720 716 635 10.97 20-24 358 485 333 170 691 655 10.59 25-29 307 650 276 855 584 505 8.95 30-34 265 915 245 520 511 435 7.83 35-39 215 425 199 015 414 440 6.35 40-44 158 875 149 975 308 850 4.73 45-49 111 750 106 630 218 380 3.34 50-54 82 805 81 320 164 125 2,51 55-59 71 360 74 040 145 400 2.23 60-64 66 645 59 800 126 445 1.94 65-69 47 485 44 280 91 765 1.41 70-74 30 040 29 785 59 825 0.92 75-79 16 195 14 815 31 010 0.48 80-84 7 865 9 495 17 360 0.27 85-89 3 130 3 300 6 430 0.10 90-94 1 295 1 665 2 960 0.05 95+ 685 755 1 440 0.02Age groupMaleFemaleTotalPercent 0-14 1 251 480 1 185 860 2 437 340 37.33 15-64 2 007 825 1 874 045 3 881 870 59.45 65+ 106 695 104 095 210 790 3.23
Age groupMaleFemaleTotal% Total 5 046 824 4 484 888 9 531 712 100 0–4 561 280 532 918 1 094 198 11.48 5–9 597 975 571 516 1 169 491 12.27 10–14 519 876 490 522 1 010 398 10.60 15–19 498 519 449 302 947 821 9.94 20–24 519 140 426 835 945 975 9.92 25–29 459 841 370 765 830 606 8.71 30–34 395 939 338 461 734 400 7.70 35–39 352 691 298 499 651 190 6.83 40–44 304 330 256 601 560 931 5.88 45–49 258 567 214 842 473 409 4.97 50–54 187 189 162 648 349 837 3.67 55–59 127 359 117 340 244 699 2.57 60–64 86 254 80 824 167 078 1.75 65-69 67 492 68 161 135 653 1.42 70-74 52 668 47 124 99 792 1.05 75-79 32 428 31 759 64 187 0.67 80-84 15 324 15 633 30 957 0.32 85-89 6 387 7 351 13 738 0.14 90-94 1 797 2 238 4 035 0.04 95+ 1 768 1 549 3 317 0.03Age groupMaleFemaleTotalPercent 0–14 1 679 131 1 594 956 3 274 087 34.35 15–64 3 189 829 2 716 117 5 905 946 61.96 65+ 177 864 173 815 351 679 3.69
Vital statistics UN estimates PeriodLive births per yearDeaths per yearNatural change per yearCBR1CDR1NC1TFR1IMR1 1950–1955 26 000 11 000 15 000 47.4 19.3 28.1 7.38 160.9 1955–1960 38 000 13 000 25 000 49.4 16.5 32.9 7.38 128.9 1960–1965 54 000 15 000 40 000 53.6 14.5 39.1 8.00 103.2 1965–1970 73 000 16 000 57 000 52.3 11.8 40.5 8.00 82.8 1970–1975 90 000 17 000 73 000 49.0 9.4 39.6 7.79 68.3 1975–1980 92 000 16 000 76 000 42.8 7.5 35.3 7.38 56.5 1980–1985 101 000 17 000 85 000 39.7 6.5 33.2 7.05 44.4 1985–1990 117 000 18 000 99 000 37.5 5.7 31.8 6.44 36.0 1990–1995 132 000 19 000 113 000 33.9 4.9 29.0 5.14 30.6 1995–2000 147 000 21 000 127 000 32.0 4.5 27.5 4.34 26.7 2000–2005 143 000 21 000 122 000 28.1 4.2 23.9 3.60 23.6 2005–2010 152 000 23 000 128 000 26.4 4.1 22.3 3.27 21.0 1 CBR = crude birth rate (per 1000); CDR = crude death rate (per 1000); NC = natural change (per 1000); TFR = total fertility rate (number of children per woman); IMR = infant mortality rate per 1000 births
Registered births and deaths
Average populationLive birthsDeathsNatural changeCrude birth rate (per 1000)Crude death rate (per 1000)Natural change (per 1000)Crude mirgration rate (per 1000)Total fertility rate (TFR)1951 51,518 1952 586,200 46,146 1953 49,228 1954 53,170 1955 58,037 1956 55,374 1957 60,582 1958 69,594 1959 63,643 1960 78,520 1961 900,800 70,775 1962 86,397 1963 84,544 1964 86,327 1965 91,857 1966 94,299 1967 70,956 1968 69,483 1969 73,443 1970 1,508,200 76,828 1971 77,758 1972 80,327 1973 81,302 1974 81,490 1975 81,659 1976 84,380 1977 79,882 1978 84,195 1979 2,133,000 91,622 1980 2,233,000 1981 2,319,000 95,628 41.2 1982 2,409,000 97,794 40.6 1983 2,502,000 98,398 39.3 1984 2,599,000 102,521 39.4 1985 2,700,000 102,712 38.0 1986 2,805,000 112,451 40.1 1987 2,914,000 107,519 36.9 1988 3,027,000 116,346 38.4 1989 3,144,000 115,742 36.8 1990 3,468,000 116,520 33.6 1991 3,701,000 150,177 40.6 1992 3,844,000 155,684 40.5 1993 3,993,000 149,493 37.4 1994 4,139,400 140,444 33.9 1995 4,264,000 141,319 33.1 1996 4,383,000 142,404 32.5 1997 4,506,000 130,633 29.0 4.41998 4,623,000 133,714 28.9 1999 4,738,000 135,266 28.5 2000 4,857,000 126,016 13,339 112,677 25.9 2.7 23.2 2001 4,918,000 142,956 16,164 126,792 29.1 3.3 25.8 -13.4 2002 5,038,000 146,077 17,220 128,857 29.0 3.4 25.6 -1.8 2003 5,164,000 148,294 16,937 131,357 28.7 3.3 25.4 -1.0 2004 5,414,000 150,248 17,011 133,237 27.8 3.1 24.6 21.6 2005 5,678,000 152,276 17,883 134,393 26.8 3.1 23.7 19.8 2006 5,843,000 162,972 20,397 142,575 27.8 3.5 24.3 0.9 2007 6,017,000 185,011 20,924 164,087 30.7 3.5 27.2 -1.0 3.62008 6,200,000 181,328 19,403 161,925 29.2 3.1 26.1 2.4 3.62009 6,392,000 179,872 20,251 159,621 28.1 3.2 24.9 3.7 3.82010 6,594,000 183,948 21,550 162,398 27.9 3.3 24.6 2.8 3.82011 6,846,000 178,435 21,730 156,705 26.1 3.2 22.9 10.8 3.82012 7,210,000 177,695 22,785 154,910 24.6 3.2 21.4 26.2 3.52013 7,771,000 178,143 23,898 154,245 22.9 3.1 19.8 49.9 3.52014 8,459,000 188,902 25,782 163,120 22.3 3.0 19.3 59.7 3.52015 9,182,000 198,018 26,640 171,378 21.6 2.9 18.7 58.7 3.382016 9,798,000 197,789 27,608 170,181 20.2 2.8 17.4 43.6 3.382017 10,053,000 211,441 27,516 183,925 21.0 2.7 18.3 5.3 3.142018 10,309,000 207,917 27,753 180,164 20.2 2.7 17.5 5.6 32019 10,554,000 197,287 29,836 167,451 18.7 2.8 15.9 5.8 2.92020 10,806,000 176,557 32,653 143,904 16.3 3.0 13.3 9.1 2.612021 11,057,000 187,722 38,505 149,217 17.0 3.5 13.5 8.4 2.652022 11,302,000 181,991 30,075 151,916 16.1 2.7 13.4 7.4 2.532023 11,516,000 171,980 28,419 143,561 14.9 2.5 12.4 5.32.372024 11,734,000 166,405 29,455 136,950 14.2 2.5 11.7 6.92.24(e)2025 11,937,000 159,016 30,871 128,145 13.4 2.6 10.8 2.11 (e)
Current vital statistics + Period Live births Deaths Natural increase January–December 2024 166,405 29,455 +136,950 January–December 2025 159,016 30,871 +128,145 Difference –7,389 (-4.4%) +1,416 (+4.8%) –8,805 Source:
Fertility Rate Fertility Rate (The Demographic Health Survey) Fertility Rate (TFR) (Wanted Fertility Rate) and CBR (Crude Birth Rate): Year Total Urban Rural CBR TFR CBR TFR CBR TFR 1976 7.4 1983 6.6 1990 36.1 5.57 (3.94) 33.9 4.75 (3.36) 39.0 6.85 (4.76) 1997 33.1 4.35 (2.9) 32.5 4.22 (2.9) 35.5 5.00 (3.1) 2002 29.0 3.7 (2.6) 28.4 3.5 (2.5) 31.3 4.2 (2.8) 2007 28.1 3.6 (2.8) 28.1 3.6 (2.8) 28.2 3.7 (2.8) 2009 30.6 3.8 (3.0) 30.6 3.8 (2.9) 30.7 4.0 (3.1) 2012 27.2 3.5 (2.4) 26.7 3.4 (2.4) 29.8 3.9 (2.7) 2017-18 21.6 2.7 (2.2) 21.3 2.7 (2.1) 23.7 3.1 (2.4) 2023 18.9 2.6 (1.9) 18.8 2.6 (1.9) 19.6 2.8 (2.0)
Fertility Rate (TFR) (Wanted Fertility Rate) by nationality
Year Jordanian Syrian Other nationality 2017-2018 2.6 (2.1) 4.7 (3.7) 1.9 (1.7)
Year Jordanian Syrian outside camps/inside camps/Total Other nationality 2023 2.5 (1.8) 3.9 (2.8)/4.9 (3.6)/4.1 (2.9) 2.1 (1.7) As of 2023, the total fertility rate was between 2.9-3.1 in the northern governorates of Irbid, Ajloun, Jarash, Mafraq, and Zarqa; and between 1.9-2.4 in all other governorates.Jordan Population and Family Health Survey 2023, p. 83
Years 1925192619271928192919301931193219331934Total Fertility Rate in Jordan6.976.997.027.047.067.097.117.147.167.18 Years 1935193619371938193919401941194219431944Total Fertility Rate in Jordan7.217.237.257.287.307.337.357.377.407.42 Years 19451946194719481949Total Fertility Rate in Jordan7.457.477.497.527.54
Life expectancy
PeriodLife expectancy inYearsPeriodLife expectancy inYears1950–195546.51985–199069.21955–196050.71990–199570.41960–196554.61995–200071.31965–197058.42000–200572.21970–197561.92005–201073.01975–198064.92010–201573.81980–198567.2 Source: UN World Population Prospects
Ethnic and religious groups
Arab Arab Jordanians are either descended from families and clans who were living in the cities and towns in Transjordan prior to Jordanian independence in 1946, most notably in the governorates of Jerash, Ajlun, Balqa, Irbid, Madaba, Al Karak, Aqaba, Amman and some other towns in the country, or from the Palestinian families who settled in Jordan in different times in the 20th century, mostly during and after the wars of 1948 and 1967. Many Christians are natives especially in towns such as Fuhies, Madaba, Al Karak, Ajlun, or have Bedouin origins, and a significant number came in 1948 and 1967 mainly from Jerusalem, Jaffa, Lydda, Bethlehem, and other Palestinian cities.
Druze