A survey on the government of Prime Minister Jaafar Hassan, conducted after one and a half years in office and issued by the Center for Strategic Studies at the University of Jordan, has revealed a decline in public confidence in the government’s performance and in the prime minister’s ability to manage responsibilities, alongside continued high trust in security institutions.

The nationwide poll was conducted between March 24 and April 4, 2026, on a sample of 1,810 citizens aged 18 and above, compared with 1,200 respondents in previous surveys.

The results show that only 25 percent of Jordanians express strong confidence in the government, while public sentiment is divided between moderate and low levels of trust among the remainder.

Around half of Jordanians believe that national affairs are moving in the wrong direction, while the share of those who believe things are going in the right direction has declined compared with earlier surveys. In addition, 67 percent expect their living conditions will not improve over the coming year, while only 10 percent say their economic situation has improved compared with last year.

Unemployment, poverty, and youth job opportunities top the list of national challenges, followed by rising prices and cost of living pressures, and broader economic concerns.

Government performance and responsibility

In assessing the government’s ability to manage responsibilities, 62 percent of the national sample believe the government has been capable of handling its duties after one and a half years in office, a slight variation compared with earlier measurements.

Regarding the prime minister, 64 percent say he has been able to assume his responsibilities, while 56 percent evaluate the ministerial team positively.

Among the opinion leaders’ sample, 69 percent believe the government is capable of carrying its responsibilities, reflecting a comparatively higher level of confidence. Meanwhile, 75 percent of opinion leaders expressed confidence in the prime minister, and 60 percent in the ministerial team excluding the prime minister.

Follow-up and trust in government

More than half of Jordanians, 58 percent, say they follow government performance and activities since its formation, while this figure rises to 90 percent among opinion leaders.

Trust levels remain relatively moderate, with 66 percent of Jordanians expressing some level of trust in the current government, compared with 67 percent among opinion leaders.

Public services and responsiveness

Only 26 percent of respondents strongly agree that the government is doing everything it can to provide public services, while the combined approval rate reaches around 70 percent when including moderate agreement.

Around half of both Jordanians and opinion leaders believe the government listens to citizens’ feedback.

Economic conditions and expectations

Public sentiment regarding the economy remains largely negative. About 51 percent say their current economic situation is worse than it was a year ago, while only 10 percent say it has improved. A further 38 percent report no change.

Looking ahead, 33 percent expect their household situation to improve in the next 12 months, 31 percent expect it to worsen, and 31 percent expect no change.

A large majority, 86 percent, believe that the national economy will deteriorate in the coming period.

Public opinion and criticism

The survey indicates that 58 percent believe people are now able to criticize the government without fear, compared with 50 percent in earlier measurements. Meanwhile, the share of those who feel unable to do so has declined.

Field visits by the prime minister

Public approval of the prime minister’s field visits is high, at 83 percent. The main reason cited is the desire for officials to directly observe conditions on the ground, followed by improving communication with citizens and better understanding of public concerns.

Confidence in state institutions

Trust in security institutions remains exceptionally high at 99 percent.

Other institutions also maintain relatively strong confidence levels, including the judiciary at 86 percent, university professors at 76 percent, and the Integrity and Anti-Corruption Commission at 64 percent. In contrast, trust in political parties stands at 29 percent, and in parliament at 39 percent.

Education, local governance, and administrative reforms

Support for the school transport initiative in southern regions is relatively strong, with most respondents expecting it to reduce school dropout rates and encourage school attendance, particularly for girls.

On local governance reform, 54 percent of the national sample support appointing mayors instead of electing them, while opinion leaders show lower support at 43 percent. Opinions are also divided on maintaining decentralized provincial councils.

Foreign policy and regional stance

Opinion leaders largely view Jordan’s foreign policy role as important, particularly in economic cooperation, regional security, relations with global powers, support for Palestinian rights, and Arab political issues.

A large majority of respondents also believe recent royal visits to Gulf countries had a positive impact on bilateral relations.

Regional conflict and its impact

The survey highlights strong public concern over regional conflicts involving Israel, the United States, and Iran. Nearly 70 percent believe the conflict will have negative economic consequences for Jordan, particularly through rising prices, energy costs, and disruptions to tourism.

Most respondents expect the Jordanian economy to be negatively affected in the coming months.

Views are divided on whether the conflict will change the balance of power in the region, including Iran’s and Israel’s influence. Public opinion is also split on whether Iran or Israel poses a direct threat to Jordan’s national security, with Israel viewed as a greater threat by a majority.

Overall outlook

Despite economic pessimism, the survey shows continued high trust in Jordan’s security institutions and generally positive views of state stability. At the same time, it reflects growing public concern over economic pressures, cost of living, and future living standards, alongside mixed evaluations of government performance and reform efforts.