2017 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 has implemented modest political and economic reforms, including the passage of a new electoral law in early 2016 ahead of legislative elections held in September. The Islamic Action Front, which is the political arm of the Jordanian Muslim Brotherhood, returned to parliament with 15 seats after boycotting the previous two elections in 2010 and 2013.

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 -431 m highest point: Jabal Umm ad Dami 1,854 m

elevation extremes

lowest point: Dead Sea -431 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; flash floods

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

34.68% (male 1,827,554/female 1,726,691) 20.07% (male 1,103,042/female 953,704) 37.36% (male 2,073,211/female 1,755,290) 4.44% (male 236,435/female 218,469) 3.45% (male 174,470/female 179,203) (2017 est.)

0-14 years

34.68% (male 1,827,554/female 1,726,691)

15-24 years

20.07% (male 1,103,042/female 953,704)

25-54 years

37.36% (male 2,073,211/female 1,755,290)

55-64 years

4.44% (male 236,435/female 218,469)

65 years and over

3.45% (male 174,470/female 179,203) (2017 est.)

Birth rate

23.9 births/1,000 population (2017 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

3% (2012)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

61.2% (2012)

Death rate

3.4 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.)

Dependency ratios

66.1 59.8 6.2 16 (2015 est.)

elderly dependency ratio

6.2

potential support ratio

16 (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

66.1

youth dependency ratio

59.8

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)

Hospital bed density

1.8 beds/1,000 population (2012)

Infant mortality rate

14.2 deaths/1,000 live births 15 deaths/1,000 live births 13.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.)

female

13.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.)

male

15 deaths/1,000 live births

total

14.2 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

74.8 years 73.4 years 76.3 years (2017 est.)

female

76.3 years (2017 est.)

male

73.4 years

total population

74.8 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

22.5 years 22.9 years 22 years (2017 est.)

female

22 years (2017 est.)

male

22.9 years

total

22.5 years

Mother's mean age at first birth

24.7 years 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

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

35.5% (2016)

Physicians density

2.65 physicians/1,000 population (2014)

Population

10,248,069 increased estimate reflects revised assumptions about the net migration rate due to the increased flow of Syrian refugees (July 2017 est.)

note

increased estimate reflects revised assumptions about the net migration rate due to the increased flow of Syrian refugees (July 2017 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

2.05% (2017 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

3.19 children born/woman (2017 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

84.1% of total population (2017) 1.26% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

rate of urbanization

1.26% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

urban population

84.1% of total population (2017)

Administrative divisions

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

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 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 proposed by 10 or more members of the Senate or by the House of Representatives followed by referral to the relevant House committee for its review and opinion; if accepted, the proposal is referred to the government for restatement as a draft; passage requires two-thirds majority vote of both the Senate and the House and ratification by the king; amended several times, last in 2016 (2016)

amendments

proposed by 10 or more members of the Senate or by the House of Representatives followed by referral to the relevant House committee for its review and opinion; if accepted, the proposal is referred to the government for restatement as a draft; passage requires two-thirds majority vote of both the Senate and the House and ratification by the king; amended several times, last in 2016 (2016)

history

previous 1928 (preindependence); latest initially adopted 28 November 1947, revised and ratified 1 January 1952

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 (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Henry T. WOOSTER (since 24 March 2017) 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 (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Henry T. WOOSTER (since 24 March 2017)

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 (65 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 (65 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

Al-Hayah Jordanian Party [Zahier AMR] Arab Ba'ath Socialist Party [Akram al-HIMSI] Ba'ath Arab Progressive Party [Fuad DABBOUR] Democratic People's Party [Ablah ABU ULBAH] Democratic Popular Unity Party [Sa'id DIAB] Du'a Party [Muhammed ABU BAKR] 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] Muslim Center Party [Haitham ALAMAERAH] National Congress Party [Raheeh GHARAYBEH] National Constitution Party [Ahmad al-SHUNAQ] National Current Party [Abd al-Hadi al-MAJALI] National Movement for Direct Democracy [Muhammad al-QAQ] Risalah Party [Hazem QASHOU] The Direct Democratic Nationalists Movement Party [Nash'at KHALIFAH]

Political pressure groups and leaders

15 April Movement [Mohammad SUNEID] 24 March Movement [Mu'az al-KHAWALIDAH, Abdel Rahman HASANEIN] 1952 Constitution Movement Anti-Normalization Committee [Saleh al-ARMOUTI] Economic and Social Association of Retired Servicemen and Veterans or ESARSV [Abdulsalam al-HASSANAT] Group of 36 Higher Coordination Committee of Opposition Parties [Said DIAB] Higher National Committee for Military Retirees or HNCMR [Ali al-HABASHNEH] Hirak Jordan Bar Association [Samir KHIRFAN] Jordanian Campaign for Change or Jayin Jordanian Muslim Brotherhood [Dr. Hamam SAID] Jordanian Press Association [Sayf al-SHARIF] National Front for Reform or NFR [Ahmad OBEIDAT] Popular Gathering for Reform Professional Associations Council [Abd al-Hadi al-FALAHAT] Sons of Jordan

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

$8.78 billion $11.19 billion (2016 est.)

expenditures

$11.19 billion (2016 est.)

revenues

$8.78 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-6.2% of GDP (2016 est.)

Central bank discount rate

3.75% (31 December 2015) 0.3% (31 December 2010)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

7.83% (31 December 2016 est.) 8.24% (31 December 2015 est.)

Current account balance

$-3.613 billion (2016 est.) $-3.406 billion (2015 est.)

Debt - external

$26.38 billion (31 December 2016 est.) $25.75 billion (31 December 2015 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 2016 - with growth averaging 2.8% per year - and hurt export-oriented sectors, construction, and tourism. Since the onset of the civil war in Syria and resulting refugee crisis, one of Jordan’s most pressing socioeconomic challenges has been managing the influx of 650,000 UN-registered refugees, more than 80% of whom live in Jordan’s urban areas. Jordan’s own official census estimated the refugee number at 1.3 million as of early 2016. Jordan is nearly completely dependent on imported energy—mostly natural gas—and energy consistently makes up 25-30 percent of Jordan’s imports. 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 2016, Jordan and the IMF agreed to a $723 million Extended Fund Facility that aims to build on the three-year, $2.1 billion IMF program that ended in August 2015 with the goal of helping Jordan correct budgetary and balance of payments imbalances.

Exchange rates

Jordanian dinars (JOD) per US dollar - 0.71 (2016 est.) 0.71 (2015 est.) 0.71 (2014 est.) 0.71 (2013 est.) 0.709 (2012 est.)

Exports

$7.509 billion (2016 est.) $7.833 billion (2015 est.)

Exports - commodities

textiles, fertilizers, potash, phosphates, vegetables, pharmaceuticals

Exports - partners

US 25.2%, Saudi Arabia 14.2%, India 8.4%, Iraq 6.8%, UAE 5.6%, Kuwait 5.1% (2016)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by end use

79.4% 19.5% 22.2% 1.9% 33.6% -56.7% (2016 est.)

exports of goods and services

33.6%

government consumption

19.5%

household consumption

79.4%

imports of goods and services

-56.7% (2016 est.)

investment in fixed capital

22.2%

investment in inventories

1.9%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

4.3% 28.9% 66.8% (2016 est.)

agriculture

4.3%

industry

28.9%

services

66.8% (2016 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$12,300 (2016 est.) $12,300 (2015 est.) $12,300 (2014 est.) data are in 2016 dollars

note

data are in 2016 dollars

GDP - real growth rate

2% (2016 est.) 2.4% (2015 est.) 3.1% (2014 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$38.71 billion (2016 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$85.55 billion (2016 est.) $82.81 billion (2015 est.) $80.01 billion (2014 est.) data are in 2016 dollars

note

data are in 2016 dollars

Gross national saving

9.5% of GDP (2016 est.) 10.2% of GDP (2015 est.) 14% of GDP (2014 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

$17.03 billion (2016 est.) $18.17 billion (2015 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

China 14%, Saudi Arabia 11.8%, US 7.4%, Germany 4.8%, Italy 4.7%, UAE 4.4% (2016)

Industrial production growth rate

1% (2016 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

-0.8% (2016 est.) -0.9% (2015 est.)

Labor force

2.205 million (2016 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

2% 20% 78% (2013 est.)

agriculture

2%

industry

20%

services

78% (2013 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$24.25 billion (31 December 2016 est.) $25.45 billion (31 December 2015 est.) $25.55 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

Population below poverty line

14.2% (2002 est.)

Public debt

87.7% of GDP (2016 est.) 85.8% of GDP (2015 est.) 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

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

$15.54 billion (31 December 2016 est.) $16.57 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

Stock of broad money

$46.3 billion (31 December 2016 est.) $44.52 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$612.5 million (31 December 2016 est.) $609.3 million (31 December 2015 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$32.15 billion (31 December 2016 est.) $30.63 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$41.87 billion (31 December 2016 est.) $39.57 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$14.63 billion (31 December 2016 est.) $13.92 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

22.7% of GDP (2016 est.)

Unemployment rate

15.3% (2016 est.) 13.1% (2015 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 (2014 est.)

Crude oil - imports

63,220 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Crude oil - production

22 bbl/day (2016 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

1 million bbl (1 January 2017 es)

Electricity - consumption

16.13 billion kWh (2015 est.)

Electricity - exports

50 million kWh (2015 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

96.3% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

0.3% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

9.5% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

Electricity - imports

604 million kWh (2015 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

4.382 million kW (2015 est.)

Electricity - production

17.76 billion kWh (2015 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

3.509 billion cu m (2015 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - imports

2.746 billion cu m (2015 est.)

Natural gas - production

151 million cu m (2015 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

6.031 billion cu m (1 January 2017 es)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

160,000 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

93,860 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

65,150 bbl/day (2014 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

5,099,674 62.3% (July 2016 est.)

percent of population

62.3% (July 2016 est.)

total

5,099,674

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 185 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 (2016)

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 185 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 (2016)

Telephones - fixed lines

355,821 4 (July 2016 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

4 (July 2016 est.)

total subscriptions

355,821

Telephones - mobile cellular

15.352 million 188 (July 2016 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

188 (July 2016 est.)

total

15.352 million

Airports

18 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

1 (2017)

1,524 to 2,437 m

2

2,438 to 3,047 m

5

914 to 1,523 m

1 (2017)

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

509 km 509 km 1.050-m gauge (2014)

narrow gauge

509 km 1.050-m gauge (2014)

total

509 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

4.58% of GDP (2016) 4.31% of GDP (2015) 4.32% of GDP (2014) 4.3% of GDP (2013) 4.76% of GDP (2012)

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 are not conscripted, 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

2,175,491 (Palestinian refugees) (2017); 655,056 (Syria); 64,860 (Iraq) (2017)

refugees (country of origin)

2,175,491 (Palestinian refugees) (2017); 655,056 (Syria); 64,860 (Iraq) (2017)