The socio-demographic structure of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is characterized by strong urbanization (82% of the population live in urban areas) and a large youth population (70% of which is under 30). Today, labour force participation rates are rather low, averaging only 49%, mainly due to a low, but growing, female labour force participation rate of 23%.

Social security in Jordan is largely delivered through four major programmes: a public social insurance programme administered by the Social Security Corporation (SSC), a public program for the civil service and military which is currently being phased out, a publicly funded social assistance program through the National Aid Fund (NAF) and an assistance programme for Palestinian Refugees delivered through the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).

While social security still covers a limited share of the population, Jordan is strongly committed to the extension of social security. In 2007, about 40% of the economically active population were covered in the pension system, which is partly explained by a lack of coverage for workers in small enterprises. Due to the low employment ratios, this corresponded to a coverage rate of 30% of working-age men, and 11% of working-age women. A new provisional Social Security Law was adopted by the Council of Ministers in 2010 and provides for the extension of social insurance coverage for workers in small enterprises and agriculture, and the introduction of maternity insurance benefits.

Approximately 67% of the population is covered by health insurance, 63% of the uninsured being either economically inactive or unemployed.  Despite the availability of health insurance schemes, out of pocket health expenditure amounted to 39% of total health expenditure in 2006.

This overview is extracted from the               Global Extension of Social Security platform (GESS) and provided courtesy of the ILO Social Security Department.