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‘Syrian refugee influx threatening demographic opportunity’

By Petra - Apr 22,2015 - Last updated at Apr 22,2015

AMMAN — The influx of Syrian refugees to Jordan threatens the Kingdom’s demographic opportunity, the Higher Population Council (HPC) said Wednesday.

The demographic opportunity refers to the stage in a country’s development at which the ratio of dependents to workers is lowest.

HPC Secretary General Sawsan Majali noted that the ongoing increase in the number of young people in a way that exceeds economic growth is one of the major challenges facing Jordan now.

She added that the influx of Syrians also affects the age composition as Syrian women and children make up more than 20 per cent of the total population in Jordan.

Majali made the remarks following her participation in a meeting of the UN Commission on Population and Development in New York, during which she presented a paper on the Kingdom’s priorities in these areas.

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