STUDY Optimism During Uncertain Times A Report on Jordanian Youth FES MENA Youth Study: Country Analysis Jordan NADINE KREITMEYR February 2018 n The Jordanian society is a very youthful society, approximately 70 per cent are be­low the age of 30 of which 20 per cent are between 15 and 24 years old. However, the youth unemployment rate amongst the latter alone is at 33,4 per cent(2015). Amongst youth with a high educational level this rate is even higher. This has strong implications for their current and future prospects with regard to their economic, social, and political situation and perspectives. n The Arab Spring has underlined that economic, social, and political issues comple­ment each other and have resulted in particular amongst youth in a feeling of uncer­tainty. Contrary to other countries in the Middle East and North Africa, Jordan only faced limited protests. This prompts questions about how Jordanian youth evaluate the political, economic, and social situation in Jordan as well as their personal situ­ation. n All in all, Jordanian youth appear rather optimistic in terms of the(future) overall situation in Jordan, in their family and in their personal life.