Public trust in government rises to 65%, highest level since 2011 – CSS poll

-71% of respondentsbelieve prime minister is capable of handling duties
-Two thirds of respondents express satisfaction with prime minister’s field visits
-Over half of respondents express optimism about ministerial team
-52% of Jordanians see national economy heading in positive direction, 74% believe Jordan on right track

AMMAN — New poll conducted by the University of Jordan's Centre for Strategic Studies (CSS) revealed a rise of 65 per cent in public confidence in the government, the highest level of confidence in a Jordanian government since 2011.

The poll, conducted at the end of April, reflected a steady rise in public approval since the government was formed [in September 2024] when confidence stood at 54 per cent. It rose to 51 per cent at the 100-day mark and has now reached 65 per cent after 200 days in office.

Among opinion leaders, 64 per cent said the government was successfully handling its responsibilities, slightly lower than the 70 per cent at the 100-day mark, but still higher than the 52 per cent at its formation.

At a press conference announcing the results, CSS noted that the government has achieved unprecedented levels of public trust compared to previous governments, with both Prime Minister Jafar Hassan and his Cabinet receiving improved ratings.

Compared to previous governments, the poll revealed that Hassan and his Cabinet have earned the highest level of public trust in their ability to handle their duties of the current stage since 2011.

Confidence in Hassan personally has also rose, with 71 per cent of the public saying he is capable of leading the government, compared to 55 per cent at 100 days and 57 per cent at the government’s formation. Among opinion leaders, the figure reached 75 per cent.

Regarding the economic situation, around 52 per cent of Jordanians believe the national economy is heading in a positive direction, compared to 14 per cent who believed so two years ago.

According to the survey, 58 per cent of the national sample and 47 per cent of the opinion leaders sample expressed optimism about the Jordanian economy under the current government.

The performance of the ministerial team showed similar gains, with 60 per cent of respondents now believing that the ministers are competent, up from 47 per cent at the 100-day mark. Optimism about the direction of the cabinet reached 58 per cent among the general public and 50 per cent among opinion leaders.

Public perceptions of the Kingdom's direction have also improved, with 74 per cent believing that Jordan is on the right track, up from 47 per cent at the 100-day mark.

The prime minister's field visits appear to have had a positive impact on citizens. Two thirds of respondents expressed satisfaction with these visits, while 40 per cent reported tangible benefits in their local areas as a result.

Engagement with government activities is also on the rise, according to the poll. More than half of respondents, some 52 per cent, said they follow government’s activities, while an overwhelming 94 per cent of opinion leaders reported doing the same.

Belief in the government's commitment to service delivery has also increased, with the results showing that 36 per cent of the public said they "strongly agree" and 39 per cent "somewhat agree" that the government is doing its best, up from 17 per cent and 45 per cent respectively in the previous survey.

Despite the generally positive mood, a majority of both the public (65 per cent) and opinion leaders (56 per cent) oppose a cabinet reshuffle at this time.

Meanwhile, confidence in Jordan's core institutions remains high. The Jordanian Armed Forces, the General Intelligence Directorate and the Civil Defence each received approval ratings of 99 per cent, while Public Security scored 99 per cent.

The nationally representative survey included 1,225 adults and 356 opinion leaders from seven professional and political sectors. It was conducted between 17 and 27 April with a margin of error of ±3 per cent and a confidence level of 94 per cent.

Economist Waseem Hussein told The Jordan Times that the shift reflects "a mix of public relief and adjusted expectations," noting that “people are responding to the clarity and discipline of the government.” Hussein cautioned that “if this does not translate into visible results in job creation and other key areas, the trust may prove fragile.”

Sociologist Hussein Habashneh said the results reflect a broader social trend: “Citizens are becoming more engaged and aware. Trust in institutions is not only about performance, but about being seen, heard, and respected.”