2010 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. Jordan lost the West Bank to Israel in the 1967 war and barely managed to defeat Palestinian rebels who attempted to overthrow the monarchy in 1970. King HUSSEIN in 1988 permanently relinquished Jordanian claims to the West Bank. In 1989, he reinstituted parliamentary elections and initiated a gradual political liberalization; political parties were legalized in 1992. 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. In 2003, Jordan staunchly supported the Coalition ouster of Saddam in Iraq and following the outbreak of insurgent violence in Iraq, absorbed thousands of displaced Iraqis. 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 2010 and saw independent pro-government candidates win the vast majority of seats.

Area

land

88,802 sq km

total

89,342 sq km

water

540 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Indiana

Climate

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

Coastline

26 km

Elevation extremes

highest point

Jabal Umm ad Dami 1,854 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, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

per capita

177 cu m/yr (2000)

total

1.01 cu km/yr (21%/4%/75%)

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

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

3.32%

other

95.5% (2005)

permanent crops

1.18%

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: 36% (male 1,161,484/female 1,096,441) 15-64 years: 59.4% (male 1,892,472/female 1,829,112) 65 years and over: 4.6% (male 143,058/female 146,718) (2010 est.)

Birth rate

27.06 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Death rate

2.66 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 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 (2007 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

16.48 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

male

17.55 deaths/1,000 live births

total

17.03 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

female

81.28 years (2010 est.)

male

78.64 years

total population

79.92 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

female

84.7% (2003 est.)

male

95.1%

total population

89.9%

Median age

female

22.1 years (2010 est.)

male

21.6 years

total

21.8 years

Nationality

adjective

Jordanian

noun

Jordanian(s)

Net migration rate

-2.81 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Population

6,407,085 (July 2010 est.)

Population growth rate

2.159% (2010 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)

female

13 years (2008)

male

13 years

total

13 years

Sex ratio

at birth

1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.97 male(s)/female

total population

1.04 male(s)/female (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate

3.42 children born/woman (2010 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

3.1% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

urban population

78% of total population (2008)

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

daylight saving time

+1hr, begins last Friday in March; ends last Friday in October

geographic coordinates

31 57 N, 35 56 E

name

Amman

time difference

UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution

1 January 1952; amended many times

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Robert S. BEECROFT

embassy

Abdoun, Amman

FAX

[962] (6) 592-0121

mailing address

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

telephone

[962] (6) 590-6000

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

3504 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Alia Hatough BOURAN

FAX

[1] (202) 966-3110

telephone

[1] (202) 966-2664

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the prime minister in consultation with the monarch (For more information visit the World Leaders website )

chief of state

King ABDALLAH II (since 7 February 1999); Crown Prince HUSSEIN (born 28 June 1994), eldest son of King ABDALLAH II

elections

the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch

head of government

Prime Minister Samir al-RIFAI (since 9 December 2009); Deputy Prime Ministers Ayman al-SAFADI, Khalid al-KARAKI, Sa'ad Hayel SROUR

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, CICA, FAO, G-11, 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, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

Court of Cassation (Supreme Court)

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 (60 seats; members appointed by the monarch to serve four-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputies, also called the House of Representatives or Majlis al-Nuwaab (120 seats; members elected using a single, non-transferable vote system in multi-member districts to serve four-year terms); note - the new electoral law enacted in May 2010 allocated an additional 10 seats (6 seats added to the number reserved for women, bringing the total to 12; 2 additional seats for Amman; and 1 seat each for the cities of Zarqa and Irbid; unchanged are 9 seats reserved for Christian candidates, 9 for Bedouin candidates, and 3 for Jordanians of Chechen or Circassian descent

election results

Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - independents and other 120 (includes 12 seats filled by women's quota and 1 woman was directly elected); note - the IAF boycotted the election

elections

Chamber of Deputies - last held on 9 November 2010 (next scheduled in 2014); note - the King dissolved the previous Chamber of Deputies in November 2009, midway through the parliamentary term

National anthem

lyrics/music

Abdul-Mone'm al-RIFAI'/Abdul-Qader al-TANEER note: adopted 1946; the shortened version of the anthem is used most commonly, while the full version is reserved for special occasions

name

"As-salam al-malaki al-urdoni" (Long Live the King of Jordan)

National holiday

Independence Day, 25 May (1946)

Political parties and leaders

Arab Ba'ath Socialist Party [Fuad DABBOUR]; Ba'ath Arab Progressive Party [Tayseer al-HAMSI]; Call Party [Mohammed Abu BAKR]; Democratic People's Party [Ablah al-ULBAH]; Democratic Popular Unity Party [Sa'ed DIAB]; Islamic Action Front or IAF [Hamzeh MANSOUR]; Islamic Center Party [Marwan al-FA'OURI; Jordanian Communist Party [Munir HAMARNEH]; Jordanian National Party [Mona Abu BAKR]; Jordanian United Front [Amjad al-MAJALI]; Life Party [Thaher 'AMROU]; Message Party [Hazem QASHOU]; National Constitution Party [Ahmed al-SHUNAQ]; National Current Party [Abd al-Hadi al-MAJALI]; National Movement for Direct Democracy [Mohammed al-QAQ]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Anti-Normalization Committee [Hamzeh MANSOUR, chairman]; Higher Coordination Committee of Opposition Parties [Hamzeh MANZOUR]; Jordan Bar Association [Saleh al-ARMUTI, chairman]; Jordanian Press Association [Sayf al-SHARIF, president]; Jordanian Muslim Brotherhood [Dr. Hamam SAID, controller general]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Central bank discount rate

4.75% (31 December 2009) 6.25% (31 December 2008)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

9.25% (31 December 2009 est.) 9.03% (31 December 2008 est.)

Current account balance

-$975 million (2010 est.) -$1.27 billion (2009 est.)

Debt - external

$5.522 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $6.766 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

39.7 (2007) 36.4 (1997)

Economy - overview

Jordan's economy is among the smallest in the Middle East, with insufficient supplies of water, oil, and other natural resources, underlying the government's heavy reliance on foreign assistance. Other economic challenges for the government include chronic high rates of poverty, unemployment, inflation, and a large budget deficit. Since assuming the throne in 1999, King ABDALLAH has implemented significant economic reforms, such as opening the trade regime, privatizing state-owned companies, and eliminating most fuel subsidies, which in the past few years have spurred economic growth by attracting foreign investment and creating some jobs. The global economic slowdown, however, has depressed Jordan's GDP growth. Export-oriented sectors such as manufacturing, mining, and the transport of re-exports have been hit the hardest. The Government approved two supplementary budgets in 2010, but sweeping tax cuts planned for 2010 did not materialize because of Amman's need for additional revenue to cover excess spending. The budget deficit is likely to remain high, at 5-6% of GDP, and Amman likely will continue to depend heavily on foreign assistance to finance the deficit in 2011. Jordan's financial sector has been relatively isolated from the international financial crisis because of its limited exposure to overseas capital markets. Jordan is currently exploring nuclear power generation to forestall energy shortfalls.

Electricity - consumption

10.4 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - exports

176 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports

200 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production

12.21 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Exchange rates

Jordanian dinars (JOD) per US dollar - 0.709 (2010), 0.709 (2009), 0.709 (2008), 0.709 (2007), 0.709 (2006)

Exports

$7.333 billion (2010 est.) $6.366 billion (2009 est.)

Exports - commodities

clothing, fertilizers, potash, phosphates, vegetables, pharmaceuticals

Exports - partners

US 17.13%, Iraq 17%, India 13.59%, Saudi Arabia 10.56%, Syria 4.18%, UAE 4.09% (2009)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

3.4%

industry

30.3%

services

66.2% (2010 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$5,300 (2010 est.) $5,200 (2009 est.) $5,200 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

3.2% (2010 est.) 2.4% (2009 est.) 5.8% (2008 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$27.13 billion (2010 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$33.79 billion (2010 est.) $32.74 billion (2009 est.) $31.98 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 3% highest 10%: 30.7% (2006)

Imports

$12.97 billion (2010 est.) $12.5 billion (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities

crude oil, machinery, transport equipment, iron, cereals

Imports - partners

Saudi Arabia 17.3%, China 10.95%, US 6.94%, Germany 6.29%, Egypt 6.1% (2009)

Industrial production growth rate

2.7% (2010 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

4.4% (2010 est.) -0.7% (2009 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

30.1% of GDP (2010 est.)

Labor force

1.719 million (2010 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

2.7%

industry

20%

services

77.4% (2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$31.86 billion (31 December 2009) $35.85 billion (31 December 2008) $41.22 billion (31 December 2007)

Natural gas - consumption

2.97 billion cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - imports

2.72 billion cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - production

250 million cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

6.031 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)

Oil - consumption

108,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - imports

108,200 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2008 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

1 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

14.2% (2002)

Public debt

61.4% of GDP (2010 est.) 64.7% of GDP (2009 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$12.64 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $12.14 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$35.53 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $33.38 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$22.19 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $19.76 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$26.85 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $25.14 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$9.386 billion (31 December 2010 est) $8.437 billion (31 December 2009 est)

Unemployment rate

13.4% (2010 est.) 12.9% (2009 est.) note: official rate; unofficial rate is approximately 30%

Broadcast media

radio and TV dominated by the government-owned Jordan Radio and Television Corporation (JRTV) that operates a main network, a sports network, a film network, and a satellite channel; first independent TV broadcaster aired in 2007; international satellite TV and Israeli and Syrian TV broadcasts are available; roughly 30 radio stations operational with JRTV operating the main government-owned station; transmissions of multiple international radio broadcasters are available (2007)

Internet country code

.jo

Internet hosts

42,412 (2010)

Internet users

1.642 million (2009)

Telephone system

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; currently multiple mobile-cellular providers with subscribership rapidly approaching 100 per 100 persons

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

international

country code - 962; landing point for the Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG) FEA and FLAG Falcon submarine cable networks; 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 (2010)

Telephones - main lines in use

501,200 (2009)

Telephones - mobile cellular

6.014 million (2009)

Airports

18 (2010)

Airports - with paved runways

total

16 over 3,047 m: 8 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

2 under 914 m: 2 (2010)

Heliports

1 (2010)

Merchant marine

by type

cargo 5, passenger/cargo 6, petroleum tanker 1, roll on/roll off 1

foreign-owned

7 (UAE 7)

registered in other countries

20 (Bahamas 2, Egypt 2, Panama 13, Syria 2, unknown 1) (2010)

total

13

Pipelines

gas 439 km; oil 49 km (2009)

Ports and terminals

Al 'Aqabah

Railways

narrow gauge

507 km 1.050-m gauge (2008)

total

507 km

Roadways

paved

7,891 km (2009)

total

7,891 km

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 1,646,215 females age 16-49: 1,579,268 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 1,416,681 females age 16-49: 1,358,608 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

69,359 (2010 est.)

male

73,554

Military branches

Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF)

Royal Jordanian Land Force (RJLF), 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)

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 in the Royal Jordanian Arab Army Women's Corps; conscription for males only resurrected in July 2007 in order to provide youth training necessary for job market needs (2010)

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

Refugees and internally displaced persons

IDPs

160,000 (1967 Arab-Israeli War) (2007) page last updated on January 20, 2011 ======================================================================

refugees (country of origin)

1,835,704 (Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA)); 500,000 (Iraq)