Jordan is clearly advancing in the field of entrepreneurship, demonstrating an increasing presence in international reports and indices that measure the activity of emerging projects and the innovation environment, to the point that it is now viewed as one of the rising actors in the region. Data from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor for the years 2024–2025 reveals that Jordan ranked second among Arab countries in terms of the percentage of individuals engaged in early-stage entrepreneurship, with a rate exceeding 21% of the adult population, a figure that reflects a significant cultural shift in young people's perspectives on self-employment and initiative.
This progress is reinforced by a closing gender gap in entrepreneurial activity to about 3%, down from over 9% a few years ago, which indicates a widening participation circle and equal opportunities between women and men. This is paralleled by a notable growth in the number of startups, with estimates pointing to the existence of more than 1200 operational startups in the Jordanian market, with an annual growth rate of about 15%, mostly concentrated in the sectors of financial technology, digital health, agricultural technology, and services based on smart solutions.
This scene is linked to a pivotal role played by partnerships between the public and private sectors, alongside supporting international organizations. The Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship has contributed to policy formulation and providing an institutional framework, while the Fund for Supporting Startups and Small and Medium Enterprises has been a strategic financing tool that has attracted millions of dollars in investments and created thousands of job opportunities. International entities like the German Agency for International Cooperation and the European Union have played an active role in capacity building and knowledge transfer, in addition to commendation from the World Bank for the progress Jordan has made in integrating innovation and digital transformation within its economic strategy.
Despite this momentum, financing remains the biggest challenge for startups, as a large percentage of them rely on personal resources or support from family and friends, amid limited access to venture capital and institutional financing. This limitation translates into difficulty in regional and international expansion, which explains why Jordan's ranking in global indices remains in the medium category despite continuous improvement in its entrepreneurial environment.
The results of the National Context Index for Entrepreneurship indicate an increase in Jordan's ranking to the eighteenth position among more than fifty participating countries, after an improvement in its score from 4.7 to 5.0, an important development that reflects progress in regulatory infrastructure and institutional support. However, it also highlights the distance still separating us from the leading economies in this field.
Today, Jordan stands at a clear crossroads, possessing young human energies, a promising innovation environment, and effective international partnerships. However, sustainability of this path requires doubling efforts in legislation, expanding financing tools, and linking education with the entrepreneurial job market, ensuring that small initiatives are transformed into companies capable of growing and competing globally. Between a reality that is taking shape and an ambition that is expanding, entrepreneurship in Jordan remains an open national project to the future, not measured only by what has been achieved, but by what can be achieved if investment in people, ideas, and opportunities continues.
