2008 Edition

Background

Following World War I and the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire, the UK received a mandate to govern much of the Middle East. Britain separated out a semi-autonomous region of Transjordan from Palestine in the early 1920s, and the area gained its independence in 1946; it adopted the name of Jordan in 1950. The country's long-time ruler was King HUSSEIN (1953-99). A pragmatic leader, he successfully navigated competing pressures from the major powers (US, USSR, and UK), various Arab states, Israel, and a large internal Palestinian population, despite several wars and coup attempts. In 1989 he reinstituted parliamentary elections and gradual political liberalization; in 1994 he signed a peace treaty with Israel. King ABDALLAH II, the son of King HUSSEIN, assumed the throne following his father's death in February 1999. Since then, he has consolidated his power and undertaken an aggressive economic reform program. Jordan acceded to the World Trade Organization in 2000, and began to participate in the European Free Trade Association in 2001. Municipal elections were held in July 2007 under a system in which 20% of seats in all municipal councils were reserved by quota for women. Parliamentary elections were held in November 2007 and saw independent pro-government candidates win the vast majority of seats. In November 2007, King Abdallah instructed his new prime minister to focus on socioeconomic reform, developing a healthcare and housing network for civilians and military personnel, and improving the educational system.

Area

total: 92,300 sq km land: 91,971 sq km water: 329 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Indiana

Climate

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

Coastline

26 km

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Dead Sea -408 m highest point: Jabal Ram 1,734 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, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 1.01 cu km/yr (21%/4%/75%) per capita: 177 cu m/yr (2000)

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

Irrigated land

750 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

total: 1,635 km border countries: Iraq 181 km, Israel 238 km, Saudi Arabia 744 km, Syria 375 km, West Bank 97 km

Land use

arable land: 3.32% permanent crops: 1.18% other: 95.5% (2005)

Location

Middle East, northwest of Saudi Arabia

Map references

Middle East

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 3 nm

Natural hazards

droughts; periodic earthquakes

Natural resources

phosphates, potash, shale oil

Terrain

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

Total renewable water resources

0.9 cu km (1997)

Age structure

0-14 years: 32.2% (male 1,017,233/female 976,284) 15-64 years: 63.7% (male 2,110,293/female 1,840,531) 65 years and over: 4.1% (male 122,975/female 131,361) (2008 est.)

Birth rate

20.13 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate

2.72 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Education expenditures

4.9% of GDP (1999)

Ethnic groups

Arab 98%, Circassian 1%, Armenian 1%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

fewer than 500 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

600 (2003 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total: 15.57 deaths/1,000 live births male: 18.62 deaths/1,000 live births female: 12.34 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 78.71 years male: 76.19 years female: 81.39 years (2008 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 89.9% male: 95.1% female: 84.7% (2003 est.)

Median age

total: 23.9 years male: 24.6 years female: 23.2 years (2008 est.)

Nationality

noun: Jordanian(s) adjective: Jordanian

Net migration rate

5.97 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Population

6,198,677 (July 2008 est.)

Population growth rate

2.338% (2008 est.)

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 Shia Muslim and Druze populations) (2001 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 13 years male: 13 years female: 13 years (2006)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.15 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.94 male(s)/female total population: 1.1 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.47 children born/woman (2008 est.)

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

Capital

name: Amman geographic coordinates: 31 57 N, 35 56 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Thursday in March; ends last Friday in September

Constitution

1 January 1952; amended many times

Country name

conventional long form: Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan conventional short form: Jordan local long form: Al Mamlakah al Urduniyah al Hashimiyah local short form: Al Urdun former: Transjordan

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Robert S. Beecroft embassy: Abdun, Amman mailing address: P. O. Box 354, Amman 11118 Jordan; Unit 70200, Box 5, APO AE 09892-0200 telephone: [962] (6) 590-6000

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador ZEID Ra'ad Zeid al-Hussein, Prince chancery: 3504 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 966-2664

Executive branch

chief of state: King ABDALLAH II (since 7 February 1999); Prince HUSSEIN (born 1994), eldest son of King ABDALLAH II, is considered to be first in line to inherit the throne head of government: Prime Minister Nader al-DAHABI (since 25 November 2007) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister in consultation with the monarch elections: the monarch is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch

FAX

[1] (202) 966-3110

[962] (6) 592-0121

Flag description

three equal horizontal bands of black (top), representing the Abbassid Caliphate, white, representing the Ummayyad Caliphate, and green, representing the Fatimid Caliphate; a red isosceles triangle on the hoist side, representing the Great Arab Revolt of 1916, and 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; design is based on the Arab Revolt flag of World War I

Government type

constitutional monarchy

Independence

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

International organization participation

ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, CAEU, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAS, MIGA, MINURCAT, MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNOMIG, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

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

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 or Majlis al-Ayan (55 seats; members appointed by the monarch from designated categories of public figures to serve four-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputies, also called the House of Representatives or 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) elections: Chamber of Deputies - last held 20 November 2007 (next to be held in 2011) election results: Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - IAF 5.5 %, independents and other 94.5%; seats by party - IAF 6, independents and other 104; note - seven women will serve in the next Assembly - six of whom filled women's quota seats and one was directly elected

National holiday

Independence Day, 25 May (1946)

Political parties and leaders

al-Ahd Party; Arab Islamic Democratic Movement [Yusuf ABU BAKR]; Arab Land Party [Dr. Ayishah Salih HIJAZAYN]; Arab Socialist Ba'th Party [Taysir al-HIMSI]; Ba'th Arab Progressive Party [Fu'ad DABBUR]; Freedom Party; Future Party; Islamic Action Front or IAF [Zaki Sa'ed BANI IRSHEID]; Islamic Center Party [Marwan al-FAURI]; Jordanian Arab Ansar Party; Jordanian Arab New Dawn Party; Jordanian Arab Party; Jordanian Citizens' Rights Movement; Jordanian Communist Party [Munir HAMARINAH]; Jordanian Communist Workers Party; Jordanian Democratic Left Party [Musa MA'AYTEH]; Jordanian Democratic Popular Unity Party [Sa'id Dhiyab Ali MUSTAFA]; Jordanian Generations Party [Muhammad KHALAYLEH]; Jordanian Green Party [Muhammad BATAYNEH]; Jordanian Labor Party [Dr. Mazin Sulayman Jiryis HANNA]; Jordanian Peace Party; Jordanian People's Committees Movement; Jordanian People's Democratic Party (Hashd) [Ahmad YUSUF]; Jordanian Rafah Party; Jordanian Renaissance Party; Mission Party; Nation Party [Ahmad al-HANANDEH]; National Action Party (Haqq) [Tariq al-KAYYALI]; National Constitutional Party [Abdul Hadi MAJALI]; National Popular Democratic Movement [Mahmud al-NUWAYHI]; Progressive Party [Fawwaz al-ZUBI]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Anti-Normalization Committee [Ali Abu SUKKAR, president vice chairman]; Jordan Bar Association [Hussein Mujalli, chairman]; Jordanian Press Association [Sayf al-SHARIF, president]; Muslim Brotherhood [Salem AL-FALAHAT, controller general]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

citrus, tomatoes, cucumbers, olives; sheep, poultry, stone fruits, strawberries, dairy

Budget

revenues: $5.117 billion expenditures: $6.468 billion (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate

7% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

8.68% (31 December 2007)

Currency (code)

Jordanian dinar (JOD)

Currency code

JOD

Current account balance

-$2.767 billion (2007 est.)

Debt - external

$8.133 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

38.8 (2003)

Economic aid - recipient

ODA, $752 million (2005 est.)

Economy - overview

Jordan is a small Arab country with insufficient supplies of water, oil, and other natural resources. Poverty, unemployment, and inflation are fundamental problems, but King ABDALLAH II, since assuming the throne in 1999, has undertaken some broad economic reforms in a long-term effort to improve living standards. Since Jordan's graduation from its most recent IMF program in 2002, Amman has continued to follow IMF guidelines, practicing careful monetary policy, making substantial headway with privatization, and opening the trade regime. Jordan's exports have significantly increased under the free trade accord with the US and Jordanian Qualifying Industrial Zones (QIZ), which allow Jordan to export goods duty free to the US. In 2006, Jordan reduced its debt-to-GDP ratio significantly. These measures have helped improve productivity and have made Jordan more attractive for foreign investment. Before the US-led war in Iraq, Jordan imported most of its oil from Iraq. Since 2003, however, Jordan has been more dependent on oil from other Gulf nations. The government ended subsidies for petroleum and other consumer goods in 2008 in an effort to control the budget. The main challenges facing Jordan are reducing dependence on foreign grants, reducing the budget deficit, attracting investments, and creating jobs.

Electricity - consumption

9.852 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports

13 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - imports

472 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - production

10.87 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: 99.4% hydro: 0.6% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Exchange rates

Jordanian dinars (JOD) per US dollar - 0.709 (2007), 0.709 (2006), 0.709 (2005), 0.709 (2004), 0.709 (2003)

Exports

$5.7 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities

clothing, pharmaceuticals, potash, phosphates, fertilizers, vegetables, manufactures;

Exports - partners

US 22.4%, Iraq 12.9%, India 8.3%, UAE 7.8%, Saudi Arabia 7.5%, Syria 4.9% (2007)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 3.5% industry: 10.3% services: 86.2% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$4,700 (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

6% (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$16.01 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$28.45 billion (2007 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.7% highest 10%: 30.6% (2003)

Imports

$12.02 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities

crude oil, textile fabrics, machinery, transport equipment, manufactured goods

Imports - partners

Saudi Arabia 21%, China 9.7%, Germany 7.5%, US 4.7%, Egypt 4.4% (2007)

Industrial production growth rate

7.7% (2007 est.)

Industries

clothing, phosphate mining, fertilizers, pharmaceuticals, petroleum refining, cement, potash, inorganic chemicals, light manufacturing, tourism

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

5.4% (2007 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

27.9% of GDP (2007 est.)

Labor force

1.563 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

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

Market value of publicly traded shares

$29.73 billion (2006)

Natural gas - consumption

2.25 billion cu m (2006 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports

2.4 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - production

320 million cu m (2006 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

6.031 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Oil - consumption

110,700 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - imports

112,300 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

1 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Population below poverty line

14.2% (2002)

Public debt

72.4% of GDP (2007 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$7.929 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$18.18 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$19.53 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of money

$6.765 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money

$15.38 billion (31 December 2007)

Unemployment rate

13.5% official rate; unofficial rate is approximately 30% (2007 est.)

Internet country code

.jo

Internet hosts

21,150 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

5 (2000)

Internet users

1.127 million (2007)

Radio broadcast stations

FM 31 (2007)

Radios

1.66 million (1997)

Telephone system

general assessment: service has improved recently with increased use of digital switching equipment; microwave radio relay transmission and coaxial and fiber-optic cable are employed on trunk lines; growing mobile-cellular usage in both urban and rural areas is reducing use of fixed-line services; Internet penetration remains modest and slow-growing domestic: 1995 telecommunications law opened all non-fixed-line services to private competition; in 2005, monopoly over fixed-line services terminated and the entire telecommunications sector was opened to competition; mobile-cellular usage is increasing rapidly and teledensity reached 80 per 100 persons in 2007 international: country code - 962; landing point for the Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG) submarine cable network that provides links to Asia, Middle East, Europe; satellite earth stations - 33 (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; participant in Medarabtel (2007)

Telephones - main lines in use

585,500 (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular

4.771 million (2007)

Television broadcast stations

22 (2007)

Televisions

500,000 (1997)

Airports

17 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 15 over 3,047 m: 7 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 2 under 914 m: 2 (2007)

Heliports

1 (2007)

Merchant marine

total: 21 by type: cargo 8, container 1, passenger/cargo 7, petroleum tanker 2, roll on/roll off 3 foreign-owned: 13 (UAE 13) registered in other countries: 24 (Algeria 7, Bahamas 2, Panama 13, Syria 2) (2008)

Pipelines

gas 426 km; oil 49 km (2007)

Ports and terminals

Al 'Aqabah

Railways

total: 505 km narrow gauge: 505 km 1.050-m gauge (2006)

Roadways

total: 7,694 km paved: 7,694 km (2006)

Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF)

Royal Jordanian Land Force, Royal Jordanian Navy, Royal Jordanian Air Force (Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Malakiya al-Urduniya, RJAF), Special Operations Command (Socom); Public Security Directorate (normally falls under Ministry of Interior, but comes under JAF in wartime or crisis) (2008)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 1,812,551 females age 16-49: 1,559,155 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 1,546,766 females age 16-49: 1,339,366 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 68,067 female: 65,512 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures

8.6% of GDP (2006)

Military service age and obligation

17 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription at age 18 was suspended in 1999, although all males under age 37 are required to register; women not subject to conscription, but can volunteer to serve in non-combat military positions (2004)

Disputes - international

approximately two million Iraqis have fled the conflict in Iraq, with the majority taking refuge in Syria and Jordan; 2004 Agreement settles border dispute with Syria pending demarcation

IDPs

160,000 (1967 Arab-Israeli War) (2007)

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin): 1,835,704 (Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA)); 500,000 (Iraq)

Trafficking in persons

current situation: Jordan is a destination and transit country for women and men from South and Southeast Asia trafficked for the purpose of forced labor; Jordan is also a destination for women from Eastern Europe and Morocco for prostitution; women from Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, and the Philippines migrate willingly to work as domestic servants, but some are subjected to conditions of forced labor, including unlawful withholding of passports, restrictions on movement, non-payment of wages, threats, and physical or sexual abuse tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Jordan is on the Tier 2 Watch List for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to combat trafficking in persons in 2007, particularly in the area of law enforcement against trafficking for forced labor; the government made minimal efforts to investigate or prosecute numerous allegations related to exploitation of foreign domestic workers; Jordan failed for a second year to criminally prosecute and punish those who committed acts of forced labor; Jordan also continues to lack victim protection services; Jordan has not ratified the 2000 UN TIP Protocol (2008) This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008