Amman population may reach 5m in 2050

AMMAN – The population of Amman may reach five million by 2050 in case the birth rate of 2012 –– of 3.2 per mother –– remains the same, according to recent projections. 

According to updated projections discussed Saturday at the Higher Population Council (HPC), there are two scenarios for birth rates in the Kingdom: the relatively high rate of 3.2 and a lower rate of 2.1, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

In case of the 2.1 birth rate, the capital's population is forecast to reach four million people in 2050, while in 2030 it would be 3.4 million, the council said. 

In 2030, based on the 3.2 rate, the number of Amman residents may reach 3.6 million up from 2.5 million registered in 2012. 

The committee in charge of studying population projections has found that the population of Jordan is set to increase sharply in the coming years, particularly in 2030, when the demographic opportunity peaks. 

Currently, the number of Jordanians is estimated at 6.5 million but overall population, due to large influx of refugees from several regional countries, exceeds nine million. 

HPC Secretary General Sawsan Majali said in previous remarks to The Jordan Times that around 2.5 million non-Jordanians reside in the Kingdom currently.    

She has warned that Jordan’s development plans may be affected by demographic shifts resulting from the flow of refugees.