IRI Jordan Poll Shows Little Confidence in Political Parties, More Enthusiasm for Local Elections

Amman, Jordan – A newly released nationwide public opinion poll in Jordan by the International Republican Institute’s (IRI) Center for Insights in Survey Research shows little confidence in political parties, more enthusiasm for local than national elections, and possible emigration on the horizon for younger Jordanians.

When asked about political parties, only 20% of Jordanians expressed a “large” or “moderate” degree of confidence and only 37% think that empowering political parties can lead to much- needed political reforms.

“Jordanians do not see yet political parties as a solution to the country’s ills,” said Patricia Karam, Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa at IRI. “Political parties, and the government’s promotion of them, have a long way to go in convincing Jordanians they can play a meaningful role in the country.”

People appear to be more confident in the direction of their municipality than the country. In total, 54% of Jordanians say their municipality is going in right direction, compared to 48% who say the same about the country as a whole. Jordanians are also more likely to participate locally, with 41% likely to vote in municipal contests while only 30% are likely to vote in parliamentary elections.

“These numbers reflect growing confidence among Jordanians with their municipality,” said Karam. “Party leaders and members of Parliament will need to better address citizens’ concerns if they wish to gain more credibility among their constituents.”

The poll also found that many younger Jordanians have recently thought of leaving the country to pursue a better future abroad. Forty-five percent of Jordanians, ages 18-35, said they have thought about emigrating in the last few years. Only 35% of all adults believe the youth can have a good future in Jordan.

Click here for the full report.

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 n=1,504 computer-assisted personal interviewing (CAPI) administered face-to-face interviews, with Jordanians aged 18 and above, and was conducted nationwide between May 2 and May 23, 2021.

The margin of error is ±2.5-points at the 95 percent confidence level. ​The response rate was 73 %.​ The data was weighted to ensure its national representativeness across age groups, governorates, urbanicity and educational attainment.​

​This survey was made possible by the generous support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development.​