jordan pulse -

The Director General of the Department of Statistics, Haider Freihat, affirmed on Tuesday that the government is proceeding with the 2026 General Population and Housing Census on schedule, in accordance with the General Statistics Law, which requires a census every ten years, despite regional developments.

Speaking at the Government Communication Forum, Freihat said the government has secured the necessary funding, and the Department has been preparing for the census for approximately two years. He emphasized that the census is a national priority, given its direct impact on every household, and differs fundamentally from sample-based surveys, as it covers every dwelling without exception.

Jordan currently has an estimated 2.5 million households across 12 governorates, divided into about 24,000 statistical blocks. The Department has completed the first phase, centralized updating, and the data collection phase, while the third phase, enumeration, is underway. Census takers visit all types of dwellings, including houses, apartments, non-residential buildings, tents, and other structures, using aerial imagery and geographic information systems (GIS). Freihat said the enumeration is approximately 15 percent complete and expected to conclude by the end of June.

The census relies heavily on technology, including vehicle-mounted systems, tablets, GIS tools, and linked databases, to reduce the burden on citizens and accelerate data collection. For the first time in Jordan’s history, a "self-enumeration" pilot allows roughly a quarter of the population to submit their data electronically from home via QR-coded forms.

Following enumeration, a two-month statistical silence period will precede the final phase: a one-month final enumeration in the second half of 2026. Approximately 8,000 teachers and 1,000 statistical researchers will visit households in coordination with the Ministry of Education, collecting comprehensive data on population distribution, growth, mobility, household characteristics, and people with disabilities.

Freihat urged citizens and residents to cooperate with researchers, verify their identities via QR-coded badges, and facilitate data collection. He emphasized that all information is confidential under General Statistics Law No. 8 of 2025 and will be used solely for statistical purposes. Text messages and phone calls have been sent to households to inform them of the census and provide communication channels for inquiries.

On economic indicators, Freihat said Jordan’s GDP grew 3 percent in the fourth quarter of 2025, exceeding the population growth rate of 1.7 percent, driven by manufacturing, agriculture, and extractive industries. Unemployment declined slightly to 16.1 percent. Exports increased by 11 percent, boosting the export-to-import coverage ratio from 50 percent to 60 percent, while building permits rose 19.6 percent in January compared to the previous year. He described these results as reflecting strengthened economic independence and resilience.

Zaid Nawaisah, Secretary General of the Ministry of Government Communication, highlighted the Department of Statistics’ 77-year history, noting the first population census was conducted in 1961. He emphasized that accurate statistical data underpins economic and development planning, supports equitable resource distribution, and strengthens Jordan’s ability to address regional challenges.

//Petra// AJ