2016 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 2011 "Arab Revolution" across the Middle East, Jordanians continue to press for further political liberalization, government reforms, and economic improvements. Jordan held a nonpermanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2014-15 term.

Area

89,342 sq km 88,802 sq km 540 sq km

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

812 m lowest point: Dead Sea -408 m highest point: Jabal Umm ad Dami 1,854 m

elevation extremes

lowest point: Dead Sea -408 m

highest point

Jabal Umm ad Dami 1,854 m

mean elevation

812 m

Environment - current issues

limited natural freshwater resources; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification

Environment - international agreements

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands none of the selected 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

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

964 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries

1,744 km Iraq 179 km, Israel 307 km, Saudi Arabia 731 km, Syria 379 km, West Bank 148 km

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

11.4% arable land 2%; permanent crops 1%; permanent pasture 8.4% 1.1% 87.5% (2011 est.)

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

3 nm

territorial sea

3 nm

Natural hazards

droughts; periodic earthquakes

Natural resources

phosphates, potash, shale oil

Population - distribution

population heavily concentrated in the west, and particularly the northwest, in and around the capital of Amman; a sizeable, but smaller population is located in the southwest along the shore of the Gulf of Aqaba

Terrain

mostly desert plateau in east, highland area in west; Great Rift Valley separates eastern and western banks of the Jordan River

Age structure

35.04% (male 1,470,865/female 1,397,057) 20.12% (male 842,202/female 804,557) 36.44% (male 1,491,855/female 1,491,302) 4.46% (male 177,720/female 187,181) 3.94% (male 151,071/female 171,574) (2016 est.)

0-14 years

35.04% (male 1,470,865/female 1,397,057)

15-24 years

20.12% (male 842,202/female 804,557)

25-54 years

36.44% (male 1,491,855/female 1,491,302)

55-64 years

4.46% (male 177,720/female 187,181)

65 years and over

3.94% (male 151,071/female 171,574) (2016 est.)

Birth rate

25.5 births/1,000 population (2016 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

3% (2012)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

61.2% (2012)

Death rate

3.8 deaths/1,000 population (2016 est.)

Dependency ratios

64.8% 58.5% 6.2% 16% (2015 est.)

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.)

rural

7.7% of population

total

3.1% of population (2015 est.)

urban

2.2% of population

Education expenditures

NA

Ethnic groups

Arab 98%, Circassian 1%, Armenian 1%

Health expenditures

7.5% of GDP (2014)

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

14.7 deaths/1,000 live births 15.5 deaths/1,000 live births 13.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2016 est.)

female

13.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2016 est.)

male

15.5 deaths/1,000 live births

total

14.7 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

74.6 years 73.2 years 76.1 years (2016 est.)

female

76.1 years (2016 est.)

male

73.2 years

total population

74.6 years

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write 95.4% 97.7% 92.9% (2015 est.)

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)

Maternal mortality rate

58 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

Median age

22.3 years 21.9 years 22.7 years (2016 est.)

female

22.7 years (2016 est.)

male

21.9 years

total

22.3 years

Mother's mean age at first birth

24.7 median age at first birth among women 25-29 (2012 est.)

note

median age at first birth among women 25-29 (2012 est.)

Nationality

Jordanian(s) Jordanian

adjective

Jordanian

noun

Jordanian(s)

Net migration rate

-13.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2016 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

28.1% (2014)

Physicians density

2.56 physicians/1,000 population (2010)

Population

8,185,384 increased estimate reflects revised assumptions about the net migration rate due to the increased flow of Syrian refugees (July 2016 est.)

note

increased estimate reflects revised assumptions about the net migration rate due to the increased flow of Syrian refugees (July 2016 est.)

Population distribution

population heavily concentrated in the west, and particularly the northwest, in and around the capital of Amman; a sizeable, but smaller population is located in the southwest along the shore of the Gulf of Aqaba

Population growth rate

0.83% (2016 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.)

rural

1.1% of population

total

1.4% of population (2015 est.)

urban

1.4% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

13 years 12 years 13 years (2012)

female

13 years (2012)

male

12 years

total

13 years

Sex ratio

1.06 male(s)/female 1.05 male(s)/female 1.05 male(s)/female 1 male(s)/female 0.95 male(s)/female 0.89 male(s)/female 1.02 male(s)/female (2016 est.)

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 (2016 est.)

Total fertility rate

3.18 children born/woman (2016 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

29.3% 25.2% 48.8% (2012 est.)

female

48.8% (2012 est.)

male

25.2%

total

29.3%

Urbanization

83.7% of total population (2015) 3.79% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

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, Ma'daba

Capital

Amman 31 57 N, 35 56 E UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) +1hr, begins last Friday in March; ends last Friday in October

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)

Citizenship

no the father must be a citizen of Jordan yes 15 years Citizenship

citizenship by birth

no

citizenship by descent only

the father must be a citizen of Jordan

dual citizenship recognized

yes

residency requirement for naturalization

15 years

Constitution

previous 1928 (preindependence); latest initially adopted 28 November 1947, revised and ratified 1 January 1952; amended several times, last in 2016 (2016)

Country name

Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan Jordan Al Mamlakah al Urduniyah al Hashimiyah Al Urdun Transjordan named for the Jordan River, which makes up part of Jordan's northwest border

conventional long form

Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan

conventional short form

Jordan

etymology

named for the Jordan River, which makes up part of Jordan's northwest border

former

Transjordan

local long form

Al Mamlakah al Urduniyah al Hashimiyah

local short form

Al Urdun

Diplomatic representation from the US

Ambassador Alice G. WELLS (since 31 August 2014) Abdoun, Al-Umawyeen St., Amman P. O. Box 354, Amman 11118 Jordan; Unit 70200, Box 5, DPO AE 09892-0200 [962] (6) 590-6000 [962] (6) 592-0163

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

Ambassador Dina Khalil Tawiq KAWAR (since 27 June 2016) 3504 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008 [1] (202) 966-2664 [1] (202) 966-3110

chancery

3504 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Dina Khalil Tawiq KAWAR (since 27 June 2016)

FAX

[1] (202) 966-3110

telephone

[1] (202) 966-2664

Executive branch

King ABDALLAH II (since 7 February 1999); Crown Prince HUSSEIN (born 28 June 1994), eldest son of King ABDALLAH II Prime Minister Hani MULKI (since 1 June 2016) Cabinet appointed by the prime minister in consultation with the monarch the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch

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 Hani MULKI (since 1 June 2016)

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

parliamentary 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

Court of Cassation or Supreme Court (consists of 15 judges including the chief justice; 7-judge panels for important cases and 5 judge panels for most appeals cases); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 members including the court chairman) Supreme Court chief justice appointed by the king; other judges nominated by the Judicial Council, an 11-member judicial policy-making body consisting of high-level judicial officials and judges, and approved by the king; judge tenure NA; Constitutional Court members appointed by the king for 6-year non-renewable terms with one-third of the membership renewed every 2 years Courts of Appeal; Major Felonies Court; Courts of First Instance; Magistrate Courts; religious courts; state security courts

highest court(s)

Court of Cassation or Supreme Court (consists of 15 judges including the chief justice; 7-judge panels for important cases and 5 judge panels for most appeals cases); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 members including the court chairman)

judge selection and term of office

Supreme Court chief justice appointed by the king; other judges nominated by the Judicial Council, an 11-member judicial policy-making body consisting of high-level judicial officials and judges, and approved by the king; judge tenure NA; Constitutional Court members appointed by the king for 6-year non-renewable terms with one-third of the membership renewed every 2 years

subordinate courts

Courts of Appeal; Major Felonies Court; Courts of First Instance; Magistrate Courts; religious courts; state security courts

Legal system

mixed system developed from codes instituted by the Ottoman Empire (based on French law), British common law, and Islamic law

Legislative branch

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 (130 seats; 115 members directly elected in single- and multi-seat constituencies by open-list proportional representation vote and 15 seats for women; 12 of the 115 seats reserved for Christian, Chechen, and Circassian candidates; members serve 4-year terms) Chamber of Deputies - last held on 20 September 2016 (next to be held in 2020) Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA

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 (130 seats; 115 members directly elected in single- and multi-seat constituencies by open-list proportional representation vote and 15 seats for women; 12 of the 115 seats reserved for Christian, Chechen, and Circassian candidates; members serve 4-year terms)

election results

Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA

elections

Chamber of Deputies - last held on 20 September 2016 (next to be held in 2020)

National anthem

"As-salam al-malaki al-urdoni" (Long Live the King of Jordan) Abdul-Mone'm al-RIFAI'/Abdul-Qader al-TANEER adopted 1946; the shortened version of the anthem is used most commonly, while the full version is reserved for special occasions

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

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 Muslim Center Party [Haitham ALAMAERAH] 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 Homeland (Hizb Al-Watan) The People Unified Front United Front Voice of the Nation; qtgan

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

$8.324 billion $10.88 billion (2015 est.)

expenditures

$10.88 billion (2015 est.)

revenues

$8.324 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-6.8% of GDP (2015 est.)

Central bank discount rate

0.3% (31 December 2010) 4.75% (31 December 2009)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

8.24% (31 December 2015 est.) 8.84% (31 December 2014 est.)

Current account balance

-$3.299 billion (2015 est.) -$2.362 billion (2014 est.)

Debt - external

$25.16 billion (31 December 2015 est.) $24.26 billion (31 December 2014 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 and underemployment, budget and current account deficits, and government debt. King ABDALLAH, during the first decade of the 2000s, implemented significant economic reforms, such as expanding 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 contributed to slower growth from 2010 to 2014 - with growth averaging 2.8% per year - and hurt export-oriented sectors, construction, and tourism. Through 2014, Jordan's finances were strained by a series of natural gas pipeline attacks in Egypt, disrupting natural gas exports to Jordan, and led Jordan to rely on more expensive diesel imports, primarily from Saudi Arabia, to generate electricity. To diversify its energy mix, Jordan has secured several contracts for liquefied natural gas and 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 2015, Jordan completed a $2.1 billion, three-year IMF Stand-By Arrangement, which the government had entered to help correct budgetary and balance of payments imbalances. Jordan plans to expand on its fiscal reform measures enacted over the previous few years with a follow-on IMF agreement in 2016 to boost government revenues, reduce the budget deficit, and manage its burgeoning debt, brought on in part by an influx of over 650,000 Syrian refugees since 2011, which put additional pressure on expenditures.

Exchange rates

Jordanian dinars (JOD) per US dollar - 0.71 (2015 est.) 0.71 (2014 est.) 0.71 (2013 est.) 0.709 (2012 est.) 0.709 (2011 est.)

Exports

$7.829 billion (2015 est.) $8.385 billion (2014 est.)

Exports - commodities

textiles, fertilizers, potash, phosphates, vegetables, pharmaceuticals

Exports - partners

US 21%, Saudi Arabia 16.5%, Iraq 10.3%, India 8.7%, UAE 4.8%, Kuwait 4.4% (2015)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by end use

82% 19.8% 22.5% 2.3% 35.6% -62.2% (2015 est.)

exports of goods and services

35.6%

government consumption

19.8%

household consumption

82%

imports of goods and services

-62.2% (2015 est.)

investment in fixed capital

22.5%

investment in inventories

2.3%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

4.2% 29.6% 66.2% (2015 est.)

agriculture

4.2%

industry

29.6%

services

66.2% (2015 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$12,100 (2015 est.) $12,100 (2014 est.) $12,000 (2013 est.) data are in 2015 US dollars

note

data are in 2015 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

2.5% (2015 est.) 3.1% (2014 est.) 2.8% (2013 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$37.62 billion (2015 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$82.73 billion (2015 est.) $80.71 billion (2014 est.) $78.28 billion (2013 est.) data are in 2015 US dollars

note

data are in 2015 US dollars

Gross national saving

15.8% of GDP (2015 est.) 18.3% of GDP (2014 est.) 16.8% of GDP (2013 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

3.4% 28.7% (2010 est.)

highest 10%

28.7% (2010 est.)

lowest 10%

3.4%

Imports

$18.04 billion (2015 est.) $20.35 billion (2014 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

Saudi Arabia 15.4%, China 12.8%, US 6.2%, Germany 4.7%, UAE 4.2% (2015)

Industrial production growth rate

2.2% (2015 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

-0.9% (2015 est.) 2.9% (2014 est.)

Labor force

2.055 million (2015 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

2% 20% 78% (2013 est.)

agriculture

2%

industry

20%

services

78% (2013 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$27 billion (31 December 2015 est.) $27.18 billion (31 December 2014 est.) $30.86 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Population below poverty line

14.2% (2002 est.)

Public debt

85.5% of GDP (2015 est.) 80.8% of GDP (2014 est.) data cover central government debt and include debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury, and 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

note

data cover central government debt and include debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury, and 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

$16.57 billion (31 December 2015 est.) $16.04 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

Stock of broad money

$43.64 billion (31 December 2015 est.) $41.18 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$609.3 million (31 December 2015 est.) $608.3 million (31 December 2014 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$29.96 billion (31 December 2015 est.) $28.71 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$39.57 billion (31 December 2015 est.) $38.04 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$13.92 billion (31 December 2015 est.) $13 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

22.1% of GDP (2015 est.)

Unemployment rate

13.1% (2015 est.) 11.9% (2014 est.) official rate; unofficial rate is approximately 30%

note

official rate; unofficial rate is approximately 30%

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

19 million Mt (2013 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Crude oil - imports

62,220 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Crude oil - production

22 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

1 million bbl (1 January 2016 es)

Electricity - consumption

16 billion kWh (2014 est.)

Electricity - exports

64 million kWh (2014 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

99.6% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)

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

400 million kWh (2014 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

4.2 million kW (2014 est.)

Electricity - production

17 billion kWh (2014 est.)

Electricity access

40,926 99.5% 99% 99.4% (2012)

electrification - rural areas

99.4% (2012)

electrification - total population

99.5%

electrification - urban areas

99%

population without electricity

40,926

Natural gas - consumption

499 million cu m (2014 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - imports

300 million cu m (2014 est.)

Natural gas - production

199 million cu m (2014 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

6.031 billion cu m (1 January 2016 es)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

146,000 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

70,890 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

67,760 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

4.335 million 53.4% (July 2015 est.)

percent of population

53.4% (July 2015 est.)

total

4.335 million

Telephone system

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 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 up to 170 per 100 persons 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 (2015)

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 up to 170 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

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 (2015)

Telephones - fixed lines

368,938 5 (July 2015 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

5 (July 2015 est.)

total subscriptions

368,938

Telephones - mobile cellular

13.798 million 170 (July 2015 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

170 (July 2015 est.)

total

13.798 million

Airports

18 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

1 (2013)

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

under 914 m

2 (2013)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

JY (2016)

Heliports

1 (2012)

Merchant marine

cargo 4, passenger/cargo 6, petroleum tanker 1, roll on/roll off 1 2 (UAE 2) 16 (Bahamas 2, Egypt 2, Indonesia 1, Panama 11) (2010)

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

National air transport system

3,065,145 169.105 million mt-km (2015)

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers

169.105 million mt-km (2015)

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers

3,065,145

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

40

number of registered air carriers

7

Pipelines

gas 473 km; oil 49 km (2013)

Ports and terminals

Al 'Aqabah

major seaport(s)

Al 'Aqabah

Railways

507 km 507 km 1.050-m gauge (2008)

narrow gauge

507 km 1.050-m gauge (2008)

total

507 km

Roadways

7,203 km 7,203 km (2011)

paved

7,203 km (2011)

total

7,203 km

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)

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

2,117,361 (Palestinian refugees) (2015); 655,833 (Syria); 59,196 (Iraq) (2016)

refugees (country of origin)

2,117,361 (Palestinian refugees) (2015); 655,833 (Syria); 59,196 (Iraq) (2016)