IRI Jordan Poll Shows Dissatisfaction over Country’s Direction, Distrust in Political Institutions, Strong Desire for Democratic Development
Amman, Jordan – A newly released nationwide public opinion poll in Jordan by the International Republican Institute’s (IRI) Center for Insights and Survey Research (CISR) shows dissatisfaction with the direction of the country, distrust in political institutions, but a strong desire to expand democratic governance.
When asked if Jordan was headed in the right direction, 40% said things are mostly going in the wrong direction, compared to 24% who said the same in a previous poll from 2020. Only 11% stated that things are going mostly in the right direction, down from 16%.
“It is very clear that Jordanians across the country are not happy with how things are going,” said Patricia Karam, Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa at IRI. “Much of this stems from a struggling economy and widespread pessimism about future opportunities for financial stability.”
The poll also showed a wide distrust in several of Jordan’s political institutions. Only 5% of Jordanians said they trusted political parties to a large degree, while 7% agreed when asked about the Parliament. Ten percent of Jordanians stated the same about the Independent Elections Commission (IEC). In total, 30% feel that the country is governed in the interests of the majority of people while 69% believe it is governed in the interests of a few.
Additionally, the survey found a strong desire for more democratic development and direct representation in Jordan. When asked how important it is to live in a country that is governed democratically, 92% of adults said it was important or very important. Further, 36% of Jordanians believe the Prime Minister should be elected by popular vote as opposed to being appointed by the King. While the majority still support an appointment, this represents an eleven-point increase from the 2020 poll.
“It is encouraging to see that the people of Jordan want more political openness and direct representation,” said Karam. “The fact that Jordanians see more democracy as a solution to the problems they face is a very positive development.”
Methodology
The survey was conducted on behalf of the International Republican Institute’s Center for Insights in Survey Research by NAMA Strategic Intelligence Solutions. The sample consists of 3,010 Jordanians aged 18+ and older through face-to-face computer-assisted personal interviews (CAPI) conducted at respondents’ homes between November 11th, and November 30th, 2021.
The margin of error for the mid-range of the full sample is ±1.8-points at the 95% confidence level. The response rate for the survey was 76%. The data was weighted by governorate, age, sex, and educational attainment according to 2020 population estimates from the Jordanian Department of Statistics (DOS).
This survey was made possible by the generous support of the American people through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
Top