2003 Edition

Administrative divisions

12 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Ajlun, Al 'Aqabah, Al Balqa', Al Karak, Al Mafraq, 'Amman, At Tafilah, Az Zarqa', Irbid, Jarash, Ma'an, Madaba

Age structure

0-14 years: 35.9% (male 1,001,174; female 959,157) 15-64 years: 60.5% (male 1,764,061; female 1,541,453) 65 years and over: 3.6% (male 95,566; female 98,854) (2003 est.)

Agriculture - products

wheat, barley, citrus, tomatoes, melons, olives; sheep, goats, poultry

Airports

17 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways

over 3,047 m

7 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6

total

15

under 914 m

1 (2002) 914 to 1,523 m: 1

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

2

under 914 m

2 (2002)

Area

land

91,971 sq km

total

92,300 sq km

water

329 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Indiana

Background

For most of its history since independence from British administration in 1946, Jordan was ruled by King HUSSEIN (1953-99). A pragmatic ruler, he successfully navigated competing pressures from the major powers (US, USSR, and UK), various Arab states, Israel, and a large internal Palestinian population, through several wars and coup attempts. In 1989 he resumed parliamentary elections and gradually permitted political liberalization; in 1994 a formal peace treaty was signed with Israel. King ABDALLAH II - the eldest son of King HUSSEIN and Princess MUNA - assumed the throne following his father's death in February 1999. Since then, he has consolidated his power and established his domestic priorities, including an aggressive economic reform program. Jordan acceded to the World Trade Organization in January 2000, and signed free trade agreements with the United States in 2000, and with the European Free Trade Association in 2001. Geography Jordan

Birth rate

23.68 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$3 billion, including capital expenditures of $614 million (2002 est.)

revenues

$2.7 billion

Capital

'Amman

Climate

mostly arid desert; rainy season in west (November to April)

Coastline

26 km

Constitution

8 January 1952

Country name

conventional long form

Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan

conventional short form

Jordan

former

Transjordan

local long form

Al Mamlakah al Urduniyah al Hashimiyah

local short form

Al Urdun

Currency

Jordanian dinar (JOD)

Currency code

JOD

Death rate

2.62 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Debt - external

$8.2 billion (2002 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Edward William GNEHM, Jr.

embassy

Abdoun, Amman

mailing address

P. O. Box 354, Amman 11118 Jordan; Unit 70200, Box 5, APO AE 09892-0200

telephone

[962] (6) 5920101

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

3504 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Karim Tawfiq KAWAR

Disputes - international

none This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

Distribution of family income - Gini index

36.4 (1997)

Economic aid - recipient

ODA, $553 million (2000 est.)

Economy - overview

Jordan is a small Arab country with inadequate supplies of water and other natural resources such as oil. Debt, poverty, and unemployment are fundamental problems, but King ABDALLAH since assuming the throne in 1999 has undertaken some broad economic reforms in a long-term effort to improve living standards. Amman in the past three years has worked closely with the IMF, practiced careful monetary policy, and made significant headway with privatization. The government also has liberalized the trade regime sufficiently to secure Jordan's membership in the WTrO (2000), a free trade accord with US (2000), and an association agreement with the EU (2001). These measures have helped improve productivity and have put Jordan on the foreign investment map. The US-led war in Iraq in 2003 dealt an economic blow to Jordan, which was dependent on Iraq for discounted oil. It remains unclear how Jordan will finance energy imports in the absence of such a deal. Other ongoing challenges include fiscal adjustment to reduce the budget deficit and broader investment incentives to promote job-creating ventures.

Electricity - consumption

6.86 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports

2 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports

267 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - production

7.091 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

99.4%

hydro

0.6%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (2001)

Elevation extremes

highest point

Jabal Ram 1,734 m

lowest point

Dead Sea -408 m

Environment - current issues

limited natural fresh water resources; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification

Environment - international agreements

party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

Ethnic groups

Arab 98%, Circassian 1%, Armenian 1%

Exchange rates

Jordanian dinars per US dollar - 0.71 (2002), 0.71 (2001), 0.71 (2000), 0.71 (1999), 0.71 (1998)

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the prime minister in consultation with the monarch

chief of state

King ABDALLAH II (since 7 February 1999); Crown Prince HAMZAH (half brother of the monarch, born 29 March 1980)

elections

none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch

head of government

Prime Minister Faisal al-FAYEZ (since 25 October 2003)

Exports

$2.5 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities

phosphates, fertilizers, potash, agricultural products, manufactures, pharmaceuticals

Exports - partners

Iraq 20.1%, US 14.5%, India 8.1%, Saudi Arabia 5.4%, Israel 4.4% (2002)

FAX

[1] (202) 966-3110

[962] (6) 5920121

telephone

[1] (202) 966-2664

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications Jordan

Flag description

three equal horizontal bands of black (top, the Abbassid Caliphate of Islam), white (the Ummayyad Caliphate of Islam), and green (the Fatimid Caliphate of Islam) with a red isosceles triangle (representing the Great Arab Revolt of 1916) based on the hoist side bearing a small white seven-pointed star symbolizing the seven verses of the opening Sura (Al-Fatiha) of the Holy Koran; the seven points on the star represent faith in One God, humanity, national spirit, humility, social justice, virtue, and aspirations Economy Jordan

GDP

purchasing power parity - $22.63 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

3.7%

industry

26%

services

70.3% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $4,300 (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

4.9% (2002 est.)

Geographic coordinates

31 00 N, 36 00 E

Geography - note

strategic location at the head of the Gulf of Aqaba and as the Arab country that shares the longest border with Israel and the occupied West Bank People Jordan

Government type

constitutional monarchy

Heliports

2 (2002) Military Jordan

Highways

paved

7,245 km

total

7,245 km

unpaved

0 km (2000)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

less than 1,000

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

29.8% (1997)

lowest 10%

3.3%

Imports

$4.4 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities

crude oil, machinery, transport equipment, food, live animals, manufactured goods

Imports - partners

Iraq 13.4%, Germany 8.8%, US 8%, China 6%, France 4.2%, UK 4.1%, Italy 4.1% (2002)

Independence

25 May 1946 (from League of Nations mandate under British administration)

Industrial production growth rate

1% (2002 est.)

Industries

phosphate mining, pharmaceuticals, petroleum refining, cement, potash, light manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, tourism

Infant mortality rate

female

14.98 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)

male

22.51 deaths/1,000 live births

total

18.86 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3.3% (2002 est.)

International organization participation

ABEDA, ACC, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MONUC, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMISET, UNMOP, UNMOT, UNOMIG, UNRWA, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Internet country code

.jo

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

5 (2000)

Internet users

212,000 (2002) Transportation Jordan

Irrigated land

750 sq km (1998 est.)

Judicial branch

Court of Cassation; Supreme Court (court of final appeal)

Labor force

1.36 million (2002)

Labor force - by occupation

services 82.5%, industry 12.5%, agriculture 5% (2001 est.)

Land boundaries

border countries

Iraq 181 km, Israel 238 km, Saudi Arabia 744 km, Syria 375 km, West Bank 97 km

total

1,635 km

Land use

arable land

2.87%

other

95.61% (1998 est.)

permanent crops

1.52%

Languages

Arabic (official), English widely understood among upper and middle classes

Legal system

based on Islamic law and French codes; judicial review of legislative acts in a specially provided High Tribunal; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch

bicameral National Assembly or Majlis al-'Umma consists of the Senate, also called the House of Notables (Majlis al-Ayan) (40 seats; members appointed by the monarch from designated categories of public figures; members serve four-year terms) and the House of Representatives, also called the House of Deputies (Majlis al-Nuwaab) (110 seats; members elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms; note - six seats are reserved for women and are allocated by a special electoral panel if no women are elected)

election results

House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - independents and others 89.6%, Islamic Action Front 10.4%; seats by party - independents and others 92, Islamic Action Front 18 (note - one of the six quota seats was given to a female IAF candidate)

elections

House of Representatives - last held 17 June 2003, next to be held NA 2007

note

the House of Representatives has been convened and dissolved by the monarch several times since 1974; in November 1989, the first parliamentary elections in 22 years were held; political parties were not legalized until 1992; King Abdallah delayed the 2001 elections until 2003

Life expectancy at birth

female

80.5 years (2003 est.)

male

75.42 years

total population

77.88 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

86.3% (2003 est.) Government Jordan

male

95.9%

total population

91.3%

Location

Middle East, northwest of Saudi Arabia

Map references

Middle East

Maritime claims

territorial sea

3 NM

Median age

female

21.1 years (2002)

male

22.4 years

total

21.8 years

Merchant marine

convenience

Greece 6 (2002 est.)

note

includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of

ships by type

cargo 3, container 1, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 3, short-sea passenger 1

total

9 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 63,522 GRT/79,776 DWT

Military branches

Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF) (Royal Jordanian Land Force, Royal Naval Force, Royal Jordanian Air Force, and Special Operations Command or SOCOM); note - Public Security Directorate normally falls under Ministry of Interior but comes under JAF in wartime or crisis situations

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$757.5 million (FY01)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

8.6% (FY01) Transnational Issues Jordan

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49

1,577,136 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49

1,113,787 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - military age

18 years of age (2003 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males

58,840 (2003 est.)

National holiday

Independence Day, 25 May (1946)

Nationality

adjective

Jordanian

noun

Jordanian(s)

Natural gas - consumption

290 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - production

290 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

3.256 billion cu m (37257)

Natural hazards

droughts; periodic earthquakes

Natural resources

phosphates, potash, shale oil

Net migration rate

6.78 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption

103,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA (2001)

Oil - imports

NA (2001)

Oil - production

40 bbl/day NA bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

445,000 bbl (37257)

Pipelines

gas 10 km; oil 743 km (2003)

Political parties and leaders

Al-Umma (Nation) Party [Ahmad al-HANANDEH, secretary general]; Arab Land Party [Dr. Muhammad al-'ORAN, secretary general]; Communist Party [Munir HAMARINAH, secretary general]; Constitutional Front [Mahdi al-TALL, secretary general]; Jordanian Democratic Popular Unity Party [Sa'id DHIYAB, secretary general]; Jordanian Progressive Party [Fawwaz al-ZUBI, secretary general]; Jordanian People's Democratic (Hashd) Party [Salim al-NAHHAS, secretary general]; Islamic Action Front [Hazma MANSOUR, secretary general]; National Action (Haqq) Party [Muhammad al-ZUBI, secretary general]; National Constitutional Party [Abdul Hadi MAJALI, secretary general]; (Arab) Socialist Ba'th Party [Taysif al-HIMSI, secretary general]; Pan-Arab (Democratic) Movement [Mahmud al-NUWAYHI, secretary general]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Anti-Normalization Committee [Ali Abu SUKKAR, president vice chairman]; Jordanian Bar Association [Saleh ARMOUTI, president]; Jordanian Press Association [Sayf al-SHARIF, president]; Muslim Brotherhood [Abd-al-Majid DHUNAYBAT, secretary general]

Population

5,460,265 (July 2003 est.)

Population below poverty line

30% (2001 est.)

Population growth rate

2.78% (2003 est.)

Ports and harbors

Al 'Aqabah

Radio broadcast stations

AM 6, FM 5, shortwave 1 (1999)

Radios

1.66 million (1997)

Railways

narrow gauge

505 km 1.050-m gauge (2002)

total

505 km

Religions

Sunni Muslim 92%, Christian 6% (majority Greek Orthodox, but some Greek and Roman Catholics, Syrian Orthodox, Coptic Orthodox, Armenian Orthodox, and Protestant denominations), other 2% (several small Shi'a Muslim and Druze populations) (2001 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth

1.06 male(s)/female

total population

1.1 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

under 15 years

1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.14 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.97 male(s)/female

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Telephone system

domestic

microwave radio relay transmission and coaxial and fiber-optic cable are employed on trunk lines; considerable use of mobile cellular systems; Internet service is available

general assessment

service has improved recently with the increased use of digital switching equipment, but better access to the telephone system is needed in the rural areas and easier access to pay telephones is needed by the urban public

international

satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat, 1 Arabsat, and 29 land and maritime Inmarsat terminals; fiber-optic cable to Saudi Arabia and microwave radio relay link with Egypt and Syria; connection to international submarine cable FLAG (Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe); participant in MEDARABTEL; international links total about 4,000

Telephones - main lines in use

403,000 (1997)

Telephones - mobile cellular

11,500 (1995)

Television broadcast stations

20 (plus 96 repeaters) (1995)

Televisions

500,000 (1997)

Terrain

mostly desert plateau in east, highland area in west; Great Rift Valley separates East and West Banks of the Jordan River

Total fertility rate

3 children born/woman (2003 est.)

Unemployment rate

16% official rate; actual rate is 25%-30% (2001 est.)

Waterways

none