Jordan Times
Wednesday, July 27, 2005
Three-quarters of population live in Amman, Irbid, Zarqa
Population getting older, with the percentage of
those under 15 years of age dropping from 52% in 1979 to 37% last year
AMMAN (JT) — Around three-quarters of the population live in three of the
Kingdom's 12 governorates, according to the Department of Statistics (DoS).
In its 2004 report which was released recently, DoS said 39 per cent of the
population, estimated at 5.35 million, live in the capital, while 33 per cent
live in Irbid and Zarqa governorates.
Also available on CDs in Arabic and English, the report put the current
population growth rate at 2.6 per cent.
It showed that the Jordanian population is getting older, with the percentage of
those under 15 years of age dropping from 52 per cent in 1979 to 37 per cent
last year.
The report, based on last year's general census as well as information provided
by government departments and private sector establishments, points to a
tangible increase in the number of hotels operating in the Kingdom from 262 in
1994 to 463 last year.
On labour and unemployment, the report said foreign workers constitute 7.3 per
cent of the Kingdom's workforce. Unemployment among Jordanians stood at 12.5 per
cent, with 11.8 among males and 16.5 among females, according to the report.
Consisting of 22 chapters, the report included charts and statistical indicators
on the Kingdom's population, labour, economy, energy, water, construction,
transport, health, tourism, media, cultural and agricultural sectors among
others.