2015 Edition

Background

Following World War I and the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire, the League of Nations awarded Britain the mandate to govern much of the Middle East. Britain demarcated a semi-autonomous region of Transjordan from Palestine in the early 1920s. The area gained its independence in 1946 and thereafter became The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. The country's long-time ruler, King HUSSEIN (1953-99), 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 Six-Day War. King HUSSEIN in 1988 permanently relinquished Jordanian claims to the West Bank; in 1994 he signed a peace treaty with Israel. King ABDALLAH II, King HUSSEIN's eldest son, assumed the throne following his father's death in 1999. He implemented modest political and economic reforms, but in the wake of the "Arab Revolution" across the Middle East, Jordanians continue to press for further political liberalization, government reforms, and economic improvements. In January 2014, Jordan assumed a nonpermanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2014-15 term.

Area

land

88,802 sq km

total

89,342 sq km

water

540 sq km

Area - comparative

about three-quarters the size of Pennsylvania; 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 freshwater 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

166 cu m/yr (2005)

total

0.94 cu km/yr (31%/4%/65%)

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

788.6 sq km (2004)

Land boundaries

border countries (5)

Iraq 179 km, Israel 307 km, Saudi Arabia 731 km, Syria 379 km, West Bank 148 km

total

1,744 km

Land use

arable land 2%; permanent crops 1%; permanent pasture 8.4%

agricultural land

11.4%

forest

1.1%

other

87.5% (2011 est.)

Location

Middle East, northwest of Saudi Arabia, between Israel (to the west) and Iraq

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 eastern and western banks of the Jordan River

Total renewable water resources

0.94 cu km (2011)

Age structure

0-14 years

35.42% (male 1,474,464/female 1,400,926)

15-24 years

20.25% (male 840,714/female 803,237)

25-54 years

36.12% (male 1,468,388/female 1,463,452)

55-64 years

4.3% (male 169,857/female 179,275)

65 years and over

3.91% (male 149,207/female 168,044) (2015 est.)

Birth rate

25.37 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

3% (2012)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

61.2% (2012)

Death rate

3.79 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

6.2%

potential support ratio

16% (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

64.8%

youth dependency ratio

58.5%

Drinking water source

urban: 97.8% of population

rural: 92.3% of population

total: 96.9% of population

urban: 2.2% of population

rural: 7.7% of population

total: 3.1% of population (2015 est.)

Education expenditures

NA

Ethnic groups

Arab 98%, Circassian 1%, Armenian 1%

Health expenditures

7.2% of GDP (2013)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Hospital bed density

1.8 beds/1,000 population (2012)

Infant mortality rate

female

14.25 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)

male

16.05 deaths/1,000 live births

total

15.18 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

female

75.78 years (2015 est.)

male

73 years

total population

74.35 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

92.9% (2015 est.)

male

97.7%

total population

95.4%

Major urban areas - population

AMMAN (capital) 1.155 million (2015)

Median age

female

22.4 years (2015 est.)

male

21.7 years

total

22 years

Nationality

adjective

Jordanian

noun

Jordanian(s)

Net migration rate

-13.24 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

28.1% (2014)

Physicians density

2.56 physicians/1,000 population (2010)

Population

8,117,564

note

increased estimate reflects revised assumptions about the net migration rate due to the increased flow of Syrian refugees (July 2015 est.)

Population growth rate

0.83% (2015 est.)

Religions

Muslim 97.2% (official; predominantly Sunni), Christian 2.2% (majority Greek Orthodox, but some Greek and Roman Catholics, Syrian Orthodox, Coptic Orthodox, Armenian Orthodox, and Protestant denominations), Buddhist 0.4%, Hindu 0.1%, Jewish

Sanitation facility access

urban: 98.6% of population

rural: 98.9% of population

total: 98.6% of population

urban: 1.4% of population

rural: 1.1% of population

total: 1.4% of population (2015 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

14 years (2012)

male

13 years

total

14 years

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.05 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1.05 male(s)/female

25-54 years

1 male(s)/female

55-64 years

0.95 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.89 male(s)/female

at birth

1.06 male(s)/female

total population

1.02 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

Total fertility rate

3.17 children born/woman (2015 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

female

48.8% (2012 est.)

male

25.2%

total

29.3%

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

3.79% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

83.7% of total population (2015)

Administrative divisions

12 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); 'Ajlun, Al 'Aqabah, Al Balqa', Al Karak, Al Mafraq, Al'Asimah, 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

previous 1928 (preindependence); latest initially adopted 28 November 1947, revised and ratified 1 January 1952; amended several times, last in 2014 (2014)

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 Alice G. WELLS (since 31 August 2014)

embassy

Abdoun, Al-Umawyeen St., Amman

FAX

[962] (6) 592-0163

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 (since 14 September 2010)

FAX

[1] (202) 966-3110

telephone

[1] (202) 966-2664

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 HUSSEIN (born 28 June 1994), eldest son of King ABDALLAH II

elections/appointments

the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch

head of government

Prime Minister Abdullah NSOUR (since 11 October 2012)

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 law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, CAEU, CD, CICA, EBRD, FAO, G-11, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAS, MIGA, MINUSTAH, MINUSMA, MONUSCO, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

highest court(s)

Court of Cassation or Supreme Court (consists of 7 judges including the chief justice; 7-judge panels for important cases and 5 judge panels for most appeals cases)

judge selection and term of office

chief justice appointed by the king; other judges nominated by the Higher Judicial Council and approved by the king; judge tenure NA

subordinate courts

courts of appeal; magistrate courts; courts of first instance; religious courts; State Security Court

Legal system

mixed legal system of civil law and Islamic religious law; judicial review of legislative acts in a specially provided High Tribunal

Legislative branch

description

bicameral National Assembly or Majlis al-'Umma consists of the Senate, or the House of Notables or Majlis al-Ayan (60 seats; members appointed by the monarch to serve 4-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputies or House of Representatives or Majlis al-Nuwaab (150 seats; 108 members directly elected in single- and multi-seat constituencies by simple majority vote, 27 directly elected in a single national constituency by proportional representation vote, and 15 seats reserved for women; members serve 4-year terms); note - the electoral law enacted in July 2012 allocated an additional 10 seats - 6 for women, 2 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 - 27 elected on closed national list to include: Islamic Centrist Party 3, Nation 2, National Union 2, Stronger Jordan 2, Ahl al-Himma 1, Al-Bayyan 1, Citizenship 1, Construction 1, Cooperation 1, Dawn 1, Dignity 1, Free Voice 1, Labor and Trade 1, National Accord Youth Block 1, National Action 1, National Current 1 (member resigned in February 2013), National Unity 1, Nobel Jerusalem 1, Salvation 1, The People 1, Unified Front 1, Voice of Nation 1; other 123; note - the IAF boycotted the election

elections

Chamber of Deputies - last held on 23 January 2013 (next election 2017); note - the King dissolved the previous Chamber of Deputies in November 2012, midway through the parliamentary term

National anthem

lyrics/music

Abdul-Mone'm al-RIFAI'/Abdul-Qader al-TANEER

name

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

note

adopted 1946; the shortened version of the anthem is used most commonly, while the full version is reserved for special occasions

National holiday

Independence Day, 25 May (1946)

National symbol(s)

eagle; national colors: black, white, green, red

Political parties and leaders

Ahl al-Himma

Al-Bayyan

Al-Hayah Jordanian Party [Zahier AMR]

Arab Ba'ath Socialist Party [Akram al-HIMSI]

Ba'ath Arab Progressive Party [Fuad DABBOUR]

Citizenship

Construction

Cooperation

Dawn

Democratic People's Party [Ablah ABU ULBAH]

Democratic Popular Unity Party [Sa'id DIAB]

Dignity

Du'a Party [Muhammed ABU BAKR]

Free Voice

Islamic Action Front or IAF [Hamzah MANSOUR]

Islamic Centrist Party [Muhammad al-HAJ]

Jordanian Communist Party [Munir HAMARNAH]

Jordanian National Party [Muna ABU BAKR]

Jordanian United Front [Amjad al-MAJALI]

Labor and Trade

Nation

National Accord Youth Block

National Action

National Constitution Party [Ahmad al-SHUNAQ]

National Current Party [Abd al-Hadi al-MAJALI]

National Movement for Direct Democracy [Muhammad al-QAQ]

National Union

National Unity

Nobel Jerusalem

Risalah Party [Hazem QASHOU]

Salvation

Stronger Jordan

The Direct Democratic Nationalists Movement Party [Nash'at KHALIFAH]

The People

Unified Front

United Front

Voice of the Nation

Political pressure groups and leaders

15 April Movement [Mohammad SUNEID, chairman]

24 March Movement [Mu'az al-KHAWALIDAH, Abdel Rahman HASANEIN, spokespersons]

1952 Constitution Movement

Anti-Normalization Committee [Hamzah MANSOUR, chairman]

Economic and Social Association of Retired Servicemen and Veterans or ESARSV [Abdulsalam al-HASSANAT, chairman]

Group of 36

Higher Coordination Committee of Opposition Parties [Said DIAB]

Higher National Committee for Military Retirees or HNCMR [Ali al-HABASHNEH, chairman]

Hirak

Jordan Bar Association [Saleh al-ARMUTI, chairman]

Jordanian Campaign for Change or Jayin

Jordanian Muslim Brotherhood [Dr. Hamam SAID, controller general]

Jordanian Press Association [Sayf al-SHARIF, president]

National Front for Reform or NFR [Ahmad OBEIDAT, chairman]

Popular Gathering for Reform

Professional Associations Council [Abd al-Hadi al-FALAHAT, chairman]

Sons of Jordan

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

expenditures

$11.42 billion (2014 est.)

revenues

$9.845 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-4.3% of GDP (2014 est.)

Central bank discount rate

0.3% (31 December 2010)

4.75% (31 December 2009)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

8.74% (31 December 2014 est.)

8.85% (31 December 2013 est.)

Current account balance

-$2.512 billion (2014 est.)

-$3.452 billion (2013 est.)

Debt - external

$26.06 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$22.61 billion (31 December 2013 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 and resulting government debt. King ABDALLAH, during the first decade of the 2000s, implemented significant economic reforms, such as opening up foreign trade and privatizing state-owned companies, that attracted foreign investment and contributed to average annual economic growth of 8% for 2004 through 2008. The global economic slowdown and regional turmoil since, however, reduced the average annual growth rate to 2.6% for the 2010-2013 period and hurt export-oriented sectors, construction, and tourism. Jordan's finances have been strained by a series of natural gas pipeline attacks in Egypt, causing Jordan to substitute more expensive diesel imports, primarily from Saudi Arabia, to generate electricity. To diversify its energy mix, Jordan is currently exploring nuclear power generation, exploitation of abundant oil shale reserves and renewable technologies, as well as the import of Israeli offshore gas. In August 2012, to correct budgetary and balance of payments imbalances, Jordan entered into a $2.1 billion, three year International Monetary Fund Stand-By Arrangement. In 2014, fiscal reform measures enacted in the previous few years continued to boost government revenues and reduced the budget deficit even as an influx of over 620,000 Syrian refugees since 2011 put additional pressure on expenditures.

Exchange rates

Jordanian dinars (JOD) per US dollar -

0.709 (2014 est.)

0.709 (2013 est.)

0.709 (2012 est.)

0.709 (2011 est.)

0.71 (2010 est.)

Exports

$8.556 billion (2014 est.)

$7.921 billion (2013 est.)

Exports - commodities

clothing, fertilizers, potash, phosphates, vegetables, pharmaceuticals

Exports - partners

US 15.8%, Iraq 15.3%, Saudi Arabia 12.4%, India 7.8% (2014)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by end use

(2014 est.)

exports of goods and services

41.6%

government consumption

23.6%

household consumption

81.5%

imports of goods and services

-77%

investment in fixed capital

28.5%

investment in inventories

1.8%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

3.2%

industry

29.3%

services

67.4% (2014 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$11,900 (2014 est.)

$11,600 (2013 est.)

$11,300 (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

3.1% (2014 est.)

2.8% (2013 est.)

2.7% (2012 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$35.77 billion (2014 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$79.62 billion (2014 est.)

$77.22 billion (2013 est.)

$75.1 billion (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

Gross national saving

14.3% of GDP (2014 est.)

10.5% of GDP (2013 est.)

6.5% of GDP (2012 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

28.7% (2010 est.)

lowest 10%

3.4%

Imports

$22.8 billion (2014 est.)

$22.1 billion (2013 est.)

Imports - commodities

crude oil, refined petroleum products, machinery, transport equipment, iron, cereals

Imports - partners

Saudi Arabia 19.6%, China 10.5%, US 5.8%, India 5.5%, UAE 4.8% (2014)

Industrial production growth rate

2.4% (2014 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.9% (2014 est.)

5.6% (2013 est.)

Labor force

1.959 million (2014 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

2%

industry

20%

services

78% (2013 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$27 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

$27.18 billion (31 December 2011)

$30.86 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

14.2% (2002 est.)

Public debt

90% of GDP (2014 est.)

86.8% of GDP (2013 est.)

note

data cover central government debt, and include debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data exclude debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$16.51 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$13.82 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of broad money

$42.26 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$38.58 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$532.9 million (31 December 2014 est.)

$524.9 million (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$28.65 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$26.67 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$40.72 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$38.08 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$13.52 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$11.86 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

26.9% of GDP (2014 est.)

Unemployment rate

11.9% (2014 est.)

12.6% (2013 est.)

note

official rate; unofficial rate is approximately 30%

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

16.86 million Mt (2012 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Crude oil - imports

59,440 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Crude oil - production

19 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

1 million bbl (1 January 2014 est.)

Electricity - consumption

14.56 billion kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - exports

59 million kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

99.6% of total installed capacity (2013)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

0.3% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0.1% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)

Electricity - imports

381 million kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

3.193 million kW (2013 est.)

Electricity - production

17.26 billion kWh (2013 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

709 million cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - imports

484 million cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - production

225 million cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

6.031 billion cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

122,700 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

68,040 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

57,790 bbl/day (2013 est.)

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 with JRTV operating the main government-owned station; transmissions of multiple international radio broadcasters are available (2007)

Internet country code

.jo

Internet users

percent of population

45.0% (2014 est.)

total

3.6 million

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 28 (2010)

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 reaching 115 per 100 persons in 2011

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

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 (2011)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

5 (2014 est.)

total subscriptions

380,000

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

140 (2014 est.)

total

11.1 million

Television broadcast stations

4 (2009)

Airports

18 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

2

2,438 to 3,047 m

5

914 to 1,523 m

1 (2013)

over 3,047 m

8

total

16

Airports - with unpaved runways

2 (2013)

total

2

Heliports

1 (2012)

Merchant marine

by type

cargo 4, passenger/cargo 6, petroleum tanker 1, roll on/roll off 1

foreign-owned

2 (UAE 2)

registered in other countries

16 (Bahamas 2, Egypt 2, Indonesia 1, Panama 11) (2010)

total

12

Pipelines

gas 473 km; oil 49 km (2013)

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s)

Al 'Aqabah

Railways

narrow gauge

507 km 1.050-m gauge (2008)

total

507 km

Roadways

paved

7,203 km (2011)

total

7,203 km

Manpower available for military service

females age 16-49

1,611,315 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

1,674,260

Manpower fit for military service

females age 16-49

1,384,500 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

1,439,192

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

69,420 (2010 est.)

male

73,574

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) (2013)

Military expenditures

4.65% of GDP (2012)

4.64% of GDP (2011)

4.65% of GDP (2010)

Military service age and obligation

17 years of age for voluntary male military service; initial service term 2 years, with option to reenlist for 18 years; conscription at age 18 suspended in 1999; women not subject to conscription, but can volunteer to serve in noncombat military positions in the Royal Jordanian Arab Army Women's Corps and RJAF (2013)

Disputes - international

2004 Agreement settles border dispute with Syria pending demarcation

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin)

2,097,338 (Palestinian refugees (UNRWA)) (2014); 628,887 (Syria); 50,638 (Iraq) (2015)