Traffic Congestion In Jordan Tied To Demographic Imbalance, Says Population Council

(MENAFN- Jordan News Agency)

Amman, July 20 (Petra) -- Jordan's mounting traffic congestion is closely linked to the country's demographic profile, particularly the uneven population distribution and rapid urban expansion in the north, according to the Higher Population Council.
Speaking on Sunday, Secretary-General of the Council Issa Al-Masarweh said that the Economic Modernization Vision 2023–2033 outlines several initiatives to address traffic and urban development challenges. These include enhancing urban planning tools, updating the national land-use map, and amending legislation to align with sustainable development goals and future city standards by 2025.
"There is a clear correlation between the country's current demographic situation and the growing traffic congestion in urban centers," Al-Masarweh told the Jordan News Agency (Petra). "What we are witnessing on the roads is a natural consequence of long-standing demographic trends."
The Council's role, he added, is to monitor demographic shifts and analyze their implications across various sectors, including infrastructure and transport, while contributing evidence-based insights to support policy and planning. He noted that transportation engineers and planners have long studied the traffic crisis and continue to recommend structural and regulatory solutions.
One of the key demographic factors contributing to traffic congestion, Al-Masarweh said, is the population imbalance between the north and south. Roughly 91.9% of Jordan's population, approximately 11 million people, reside in the northern half of the country, while only 8.1% live in the south, despite its wealth of natural and economic resources.
He also highlighted the youth-heavy population structure, noting that individuals under the age of 20 make up around 44% of the population, roughly 5.2 million children and adolescents, creating additional pressure on infrastructure, especially in urban areas.
Al-Masarweh criticized the continued issuance of uncoordinated building permits in northwestern Jordan, warning that unchecked urban growth has led to "urban flooding" across agricultural lands. This not only undermines rural economies but also fuels real estate speculation, turning productive farmland into housing developments and exacerbating traffic gridlock in major cities.
As a long-term solution, he called for the creation of new, large-scale urban centers in underdeveloped areas such as south Amman and east Irbid. He also proposed the enactment of a new land-use law to replace the current Cities and Villages Planning Law, which he said no longer meets the needs of modern urban development.

MENAFN20072025000117011021ID1109822948