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AMMAN — The number of Jordanian widows far exceeds that of widowers, the Higher Population Council (HPC) said on Monday, noting that there are currently around 221,000 widows compared to fewer than 3,000 widowers.
On the occasion of International Widows Day, marked annually on June 23, the council, citing Civil Status and Passports Department data, attributed this significant disparity to nine primary biological, demographic, and socio-economic factors, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.
The first factor is a biological one related to life expectancy at birth, where in Jordan, the average life expectancy stands at 73.8 years for males and 77 years for females, according to the latest figures from the Department of Statistics.
The remaining eight factors involve demographic, social, and legislative dynamics.
HPC noted that men predominantly occupy professions with higher health and safety risks, which increases mortality rates among males compared to females.
Men are also more likely to consume tobacco and engage in high-risk activities.
Social norms also play a major role, as prevailing customs favour men marrying younger women.
In the majority of annual marriages, the groom is older than the bride, making it more likely for the husband to predecease his wife. A larger age gap further increases the probability of early and prolonged widowhood among women.
HPC added that remarriage opportunities for widows, particularly those with young children, are substantially lower than those for widowers.
The limited number of single or older widowers further reduces the likelihood of widows transitioning back into marriage.
On the other hand, the council pointed out that maternal mortality risks have dropped significantly due to improved healthcare and lower fertility rates, which has further extended female life expectancy.
HPC said that as young men delay marriage, the age gap between spouses may continue to widen, as grooms often seek younger brides to ensure sufficient childbearing years, further compounding the issue.
