Ammon News - The number of Jordanian widows stands at approximately 221,000, compared with fewer than 3,000 widowers, according to Civil Status and Passports Department data cited by the Higher Population Council.

In remarks marking International Widows Day, observed annually on June 23, the council attributed the wide disparity to biological, demographic, social, and legislative factors.

Women in Jordan have a higher life expectancy at birth, averaging 77 years compared with 73.8 years for men, according to the latest Department of Statistics figures. The council said men also have higher exposure to hazardous occupations, tobacco use, and high-risk activities, contributing to higher mortality rates.

Age differences between spouses are another factor. Social norms generally favor marriages in which the husband is older than the wife, increasing the likelihood that women will outlive their spouses. Larger age gaps may also result in earlier and longer periods of widowhood.

Widows, particularly those with young children, face considerably lower prospects of remarriage than widowers. The limited number of older unmarried or widowed men further reduces remarriage opportunities for women.

The council said improved maternal healthcare, fewer pregnancies, and declining gender discrimination have also contributed to lower mortality rates among women. It added that delayed marriage among young men may widen age gaps between spouses, as men may marry younger women to allow sufficient time for childbearing.

Legislation can also discourage remarriage, the council said. Under existing regulations, a widow may lose a pension inherited from her late husband or parents, or National Aid Fund assistance, if she officially remarries.

The council called for increasing women’s economic participation and Social Security Corporation coverage, while amending provisions that encourage women to withdraw from social protection before qualifying for lifelong pensions.

Expanding women’s social security coverage would help ensure financial stability after widowhood, improve remarriage prospects, reduce demand for public assistance, and strengthen the Social Security Fund’s financial sustainability, it added.