Jordan has been recognized as one of the world’s leading nations for reformist progress in supporting women’s economic rights, according to the latest “Women, Business and the Law 2026” report by the World Bank. The report highlights significant legislative and regulatory advancements that position Jordan alongside countries like Egypt, Oman, and Somalia in making substantial strides toward economic equality.
The findings underscore a concerted effort within the kingdom to create a more inclusive and equitable environment for female professionals and entrepreneurs, a critical development for the country’s evolving startup ecosystem. The report, which assesses 190 economies, introduced a new methodology that not only evaluates written laws but also the supportive frameworks and the perceived enforcement on the ground.
A Closer Look at the Scores
Under the report’s expanded framework, Jordan’s performance shows a nuanced picture. The country scored an impressive 68.55 on the “Supportive Frameworks” index, significantly surpassing the global average of 47. This indicates strong official policies and services designed to support women’s economic activity.
However, the report also revealed a gap between policy and practice. Jordan scored 52.50 on the “Legal Framework” index (below the 67 global average) and 40.22 on “Enforcement Perceptions” (below the 53 global average). This suggests that while supportive structures are being established, the full implementation and real-world impact of legal rights are still catching up—a challenge the report notes is a global phenomenon.
Key Legislative Milestones
The kingdom’s high ranking is a direct result of several impactful reforms enacted over the past two years. These changes target critical areas for women in the workplace and business.
In the area of Pay, Jordan achieved a perfect score of 100, up from 75, after introducing amendments that reinforce the principle of equality and non-discrimination. The Workplace environment score also rose to 75 following new laws that ban gender-based discrimination, remove restrictions on women’s work, and formalize flexible work arrangements.
Crucially for the startup scene, Jordan maintained a perfect score of 100 in Entrepreneurship, reflecting sustained full legal equality for women entering the business world. The report also noted progress in Parenthood protections, with maternity leave extended to 90 days and a ban on terminating employment during pregnancy. Furthermore, new legislation now requires employers to provide childcare facilities or alternatives, addressing a major barrier for working mothers.
The Road Ahead: Bridging the Participation Gap
Despite this significant legal progress, Jordan still faces the challenge of translating these reforms into tangible economic outcomes. The report notes that women’s participation in the labor force has hovered around 14% for the past two decades, one of the lowest rates among non-conflict nations.
However, the reform trajectory is promising. Jordan’s overall score has climbed from 40.6 in 2020 to 59.4 in 2024, now exceeding the MENA regional average of 38.6. These foundational legal changes are a critical first step toward closing the gender gap in the workforce and unleashing the full potential of female talent in Jordan’s economy.
About The World Bank’s Women Business and the Law Report
The Women, Business and the Law report is an annual study by the World Bank Group that analyzes laws and regulations affecting women’s economic opportunities in 190 economies. The 2026 edition introduced a new, more comprehensive methodology based on three pillars: the Legal Framework, which measures laws on the books; Supportive Frameworks, which assesses policies and services that enable the implementation of laws; and Enforcement Perceptions, which captures expert opinions on the real-world outcomes of these laws. This provides a more holistic view of the environment for women’s economic inclusion.
Source: Jordan Zad
