
Jordan

Jordan performs in the mid-range across all categories of the Global State of Democracy (GSoD) framework. Over the past five years, there have been improvements in Economic Equality and Effective Parliament, with the latter ranking in the top 25 per cent of countries globally. It is a lower-middle income country, and it has a diverse, service-oriented economy that struggles with high unemployment.
Jordan, officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, is a young country formed in 1921 under British mandate following the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, which ruled the region for 400 years. Known as Transjordan until 1946, its borders were drawn based on geopolitical rather than historical or ethnic lines, and shifted over time as Jordan annexed the West Bank in 1948, lost control of it in 1967, and then renounced claims to it in 1988 by ceding it to Palestine. Jordan has been a constitutional monarchy since 1952, holding regular parliamentary elections. Despite electoral reforms that have boosted political parties’ parliamentary presence, challenges such as low voter turnout, tribalism and a weak party system remain. Power remains concentrated in the monarchy, with the king holding broad authority to appoint senior judges, military and intelligence chiefs, religious leaders, and all members of the Senate. The 2022 constitutional amendments further limited parliamentary oversight, strengthening the king’s control over cabinet formation and the dissolution of parliament. The media also remains under substantial state influence.
Jordan is home to a mix of ethnic and religious groups. Palestinian refugees are estimated to comprise 50 percent of the population, with the other half consisting of Arab Bedouins and a large population of Syrian refugees, mostly in urban areas. Despite living in the country for generations, a large number of Palestinians (around 370,000) continue to live in refugee camps. Many also lack citizenship, which limits their access to private-sector employment and has resulted in their underrepresentation in government institutions. This divide persists partly because Jordanian nationalism is deeply rooted in tribal and clan identities, which separate “East Bankers” (those originating east of the Jordan River) from West Bankers, or Palestinians.
Since Jordan's independence in 1946, Islamists—mobilized for decades by the Muslim Brotherhood until its official ban—and secularists have also clashed over issues such as modernization, the role of Islam in politics, civil liberties, the relationship with Israel, and ties with Western countries. In this context, while Jordan did not witness a mass anti-regime uprising in 2011, protests in solidarity with Palestine have been prominent since the start of Israel’s war in Gaza in 2023. Many Jordanians have been arrested for participating in demonstrations or expressing solidarity online, with some facing charges under the country’s cybercrime legislation. Along with ongoing economic challenges, this context has led many youths to question the political system's legitimacy and to call for major systemic changes.
In terms of Gender Equality, women’s rights activists point to unequal treatment by Sharia courts as a major target of reform. While women’s representation in parliament has improved—now accounting for 19.6 percent of seats—it remains limited. Homosexuality is legal in Jordan, but LGBTQIA+ activists have reported harassment and intimidation by the secret police.
Looking ahead, it will be important to monitor the consequences of the ban on the Muslim Brotherhood and its potential impact on the country’s democratic performance in multiple areas, including Civic Engagement, Civil Society, and Free Political Parties. Given the rise in protests and growing criticism of the government’s suppression of dissent, it is equally important to continue to watch how authorities respond and the impact of these developments on Participation and Rights.
Last Updated: May 2025
https://www.idea.int/democracytracker/
April 2025
Interior Ministry bans the Muslim Brotherhood
On 23 April, the Ministry of Interior banned the Muslim Brotherhood and its activities, making participation in the movement and support or promotion of its ideology illegal. Active in Jordan since the 1940s, the Brotherhood has been a significant civil society actor, particularly through its charities, professional associations, and community initiatives. According to authorities, the decision was taken due to concerns over ‘national unity’ following an alleged plot to attack the country involving the son of a Brotherhood leader, which was reportedly foiled on 15 April. The decision also has implications for opposition parties as the future of the Islamic Action Front (IAF)—the political wing of the Brotherhood and the largest party in the 2024 parliamentary elections, holding 31 out of 138 seats—remains uncertain. While the IAF itself has not been banned, security forces raided properties linked to the Brotherhood, including IAF offices, following the ban, leading to concerns that the party’s ability to operate freely could be restricted moving forward.
Sources: Ministry of Interior of Jordan, The Jordan Times, Al Jazeera, Associated Press, The New York Times
September 2024
Jordan holds parliamentary election
On 10 September, Jordan held general elections to choose 138 members of its House of Representatives, the lower house of Parliament. A total of 1,623 candidates ran for these seats, 23.4 per cent of which were women. The Islamic Action Front (IAF) emerged as the leading party, securing 31 seats. The National Charter Party (Al-Mithaq Al-Watani) followed with 21 seats, while the Eradah Party and the Progress Party (Taqadum) won 19 and 8 seats, respectively. Twenty-seven seats (19.6 per cent) went to women, of which 18 were allocated through the quota system. This marks an increase from the previous election, where only 11.5 per cent of seats were held by women. Voter turnout was 32.3 per cent, marking a slight increase from 29.9 per cent in the previous 2020 parliamentary election. Electoral observers found Jordan's election day calm and orderly, but noted gaps in campaign finance, media transparency and low voter interest, as well as concerns over the exclusion of candidates from observing the tabulation process.
Sources: The Jordan Times (1), The Jordan Times (2), EU Election Observation Mission
Political parties increase their share of seats in parliament following election
In the legislative elections held on 7 September, 107 of the 138 seats in Jordan’s House of Representatives were won by 10 political parties, while the remaining seats were won by independents. This marks a significant shift from the 2020 elections, where independents held 100 out of 130 seats. The change follows electoral reforms implemented in 2022, aimed at increasing party representation. The most notable success was achieved by the Islamic Action Front (IAF), the Jordanian branch of the Muslim Brotherhood, which won 31 seats (28.3 per cent of the vote)—their highest tally since 1989, and a substantial increase from five seats in the last 2020 election. Although no party gained a majority and most Jordanian political parties remain weak, the new parliamentary composition shifts away from the traditional dominance of independent and tribal candidates toward greater party representation.
Sources: The Jordan Times, Al Jazeera, Al Araby Al Jadeed, Arab Reform Initiative
Women’s representation in parliament reaches historic high
In the legislative elections held on 7 September, women secured 27 out of 138 parliamentary seats, accounting for 19.6 percent of the total. This marks an increase from the previous election, where women obtained 11.5 percent of the seats, and represents the highest number of women representatives ever in Jordan's House of Representatives. The increase follows electoral reforms introduced in 2022. Two key changes in the new electoral law, implemented for the first time in this election, helped reach this outcome. First, the quota of reserved seats for women was increased, allocating 18 out of the 97 local electoral district seats—one per district—to women. Additionally, the new law required political parties to include women in their candidate lists for the remaining 41 national-level seats, with at least two women in the top six positions. These changes, coupled with an increase in party representation, have successfully facilitated the election of more women to the new parliament.
Sources: The Jordan Times, Al Araby Al Jadeed, Independent Arabia, IFES, IPU Parline
February 2024
Increased crackdown on activists and protestors
Recent developments in Jordan have seen an escalation in actions against pro-Palestinian activists, with a notable increase in arrests and harassment since October. This crackdown has extended to those participating in demonstrations or engaging in online advocacy for Palestine. A significant aspect of this repression is the application of a new, controversial cybercrime law, which critics argue has been leveraged to prosecute activists and suppress dissent. Similarly, a recent investigation revealed that numerous political activists, journalists, and human rights lawyers were targeted by the government and had their mobile devices compromised by sophisticated spyware. Several rights organizations have documented these actions and raised concerns over the growing repression and constraints on essential freedoms of expression and assembly. These measures have raised alarms about the broader implications for civil liberties in Jordan, highlighting a troubling trend toward limiting public discourse and political activism.
Sources: Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, International IDEA, Access Now, Al Monitor
July 2023
Parliament approves controversial cybercrime legislation
On 27 July, Jordan's parliament passed a controversial cybercrime law which was subsequently ratified by King Abdullah II on 12 August. The legislation has received widespread criticism from opposition MPs, several rights groups, legal experts, and journalists, who argue it undermines free speech and independent journalism. The new law criminalizes certain online activities and imposes penalties for content considered harmful to national unity. Following the implementation of the law, a prominent journalist was sentenced to prison over a Facebook post expressing dissatisfaction with the government's handling of the demonstrations against fuel prices in late 2022, contributing further to concerns over shrinking civic space and restricted press freedom in Jordan.
Sources: Al Jazeera, Middle East Eye, Human Rights Watch, Al Quds, International Press Institute, Middle East Monitor
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