2018 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 reforms, including the passage of a new electoral law in early 2016 ahead of legislative elections held in September, and significant economic liberalization and reforms to promote growth and address chronic budget deficits. In 2016, 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

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

elevation extremes

-431 m lowest point: Dead Sea

mean elevation

812 m

note

1854 highest point: Jabal Umm ad Dami

Environment Current Issues

limited natural freshwater resources; declining water table; salinity; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; biodiversity and ecosystem damage/loss

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

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

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% (2011 est.) / permanent crops: 1% (2011 est.) / permanent pasture: 8.4% (2011 est.)

agricultural land

11.4% (2011 est.)

forest

1.1% (2011 est.)

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; 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

0-14 years

34.14% (male 1,835,094 /female 1,735,773)

15-24 years

19.98% (male 1,114,783 /female 975,086)

25-54 years

37.72% (male 2,137,424 /female 1,807,573)

55-64 years

4.64% (male 253,029 /female 232,652)

65 years and over

3.51% (male 180,652 /female 186,347) (2018 est.)

Birth Rate

23.6 births/1,000 population (2018 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 (2018 est.)

Dependency Ratios

elderly dependency ratio

6.2 (2015 est.)

potential support ratio

16 (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

66.1 (2015 est.)

youth dependency ratio

59.8 (2015 est.)

Drinking Water Source

improved: urban: 97.8% of population

rural: 92.3% of population

total: 96.9% of population

unimproved: urban: 2.2% of population

rural: 7.7% of population

total: 3.1% of population (2015 est.)

Education Expenditures

3.9% of GDP (2016)

Ethnic Groups

Jordanian 69.3%, Syrian 13.3%, Palestinian 6.7%, Egyptian 6.7%, Iraqi 1.4%, other 2.6% (includes Armenian, Circassian) (2015 est.)

note

data represent population by self-identified nationality

Health Expenditures

7.5% of GDP (2014)

Hiv Aids Adult Prevalence Rate

<.1% (2016 est.)

Hiv Aids Deaths

<100 (2016 est.)

Hiv Aids People Living With Hiv Aids

<500 (2016 est.)

Hospital Bed Density

1.4 beds/1,000 population (2015)

Infant Mortality Rate

female

12.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

male

14.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

total

13.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

Languages

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

Life Expectancy At Birth

female

76.6 years (2018 est.)

male

73.6 years (2018 est.)

total population

75 years (2018 est.)

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write (2015 est.)

female

92.9% (2015 est.)

male

97.7% (2015 est.)

total population

95.4% (2015 est.)

Major Urban Areas Population

2.065 million AMMAN (capital) (2018)

Maternal Mortality Rate

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

Median Age

female

22.3 years (2018 est.)

male

23.2 years

total

22.8 years

Mother S Mean Age At First Birth

24.7 years (2012 est.)

note

median age at first birth among women 25-29

Nationality

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

3.43 physicians/1,000 population (2015)

Population

10,458,413 (July 2018 est.)

note

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

Population Growth Rate

2.02% (2018 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 <0.1, folk religionist <0.1, unaffiliated <0.1, other <0.1 (2010 est.)

Sanitation Facility Access

improved: urban: 98.6% of population (2015 est.)

rural: 98.9% of population (2015 est.)

total: 98.6% of population (2015 est.)

unimproved: urban: 1.4% of population (2015 est.)

rural: 1.1% of population (2015 est.)

total: 1.4% of population (2015 est.)

School Life Expectancy Primary To Tertiary Education

female

13 years (2012)

male

12 years (2012)

total

13 years (2012)

Sex Ratio

0-14 years

1.05 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

15-24 years

1.05 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

25-54 years

1 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

55-64 years

0.95 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

65 years and over

0.89 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

at birth

1.06 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

total population

1.02 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

Total Fertility Rate

3.14 children born/woman (2018 est.)

Unemployment Youth Ages 15 24

female

48.8% (2012 est.)

male

25.2% (2012 est.)

total

29.3% (2012 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

2.43% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

urban population

91% of total population (2018)

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

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

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

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 (2016)

Country Name

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

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

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

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 Omar al-RAZZAZ (since 4 June 2018)

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, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial Branch

highest courts

Court of Cassation or Supreme Court (consists of 11 members including the chief justice; Constitutional Court (consists of 15 members)

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 generally not limited; 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; Great Felonies Court; religious courts; military courts; juvenile courts; Land Settelment Courts; Income Tax Court; Higher Administrative Court; Customs Court; special courts to include State Security Court

Legal System

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

Legislative Branch

description

bicameral National Assembly or Majlis al-'Umma consists of:Senate or the House of Notables or Majlis al-Ayan (65 seats; members appointed by the monarch to serve 4-year terms) 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

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

Ahrar al-Urdun (Free People of Jordan) Party [Samir al-ZU'BI]Al-Awn al-Watani (National Aid) Party [Faysal al-AWAR]Al-Balad al-Amin Party [Khalil al-SAYED]Al-Itijah al-Watani (National Trend Party) [Ahmad al-KAYED]Al-Mustaqbal (Future) Party [Salah al-QUDAH]Al-Nida’ Party [Abd-al-Majid ABU-KHALID]Al-Rayah Party (Flag Party) [Bilal DHEISAT]Al-Shahama Party [Mashhour ZREIQAT]Al-Shura Party [Firas al-ABBADI]Arab Socialist Ba’th Party [Zyad AL-HOMSI]Conservatives Party [Hasan RASHID]Democratic Popular Unity Party [Sa’eed DHIYAB]Democratic Sha’b Party (HASHD) [Abla ABU-OLBEH]Freedom and Equality Party [Hamad Abu ZEID]Islamic Action Front [Muhammad AL-ZYOUD]Islamic Centrist Party [Madallah AL-TARAWNEH]Jordanian Al-Ansar Party [Awni al-RJOUB]Jordanian Al-Hayah Party [Abd-al-Fattah al-KILANI]Jordanian Communist Party [Faraj ITMIZYEH]Jordanian Current Party [Abd-al-Hadi al-MAJALI]Jordanian Democratic Socialist Party [Jamil al-NIMRI]Jordanian Democratic Tabiy’ah (Nature) Party [Ali ASFOUR]Jordanian Equality Party [Zuhair al-SHURAFA]Jordanian Fursan (Cavaliers Party) [Ali al-DHWEIB]Jordanian Justice and Development Party [Ali al-SHURAFA]Jordanian National Action Party [Abd-al-Hadi al-MAHARMAH]Jordanian National Constitutional Party [Ahmad al-SHUNNAQ]Jordanian National Democratic Grouping Party [Shakir al-ABBADI]Jordanian National Party [Muna ABU-BAKR]Jordanian National Union Party [Zeid ABU-ZEID]Jordanian Progressive Ba’th Party [Fu’ad DABBOUR]Jordanian Promise Party [Mahmoud al-KHALILI]Jordanian Reform Party [Eid DHAYYAT]Jordanian Social Justice Party [Abd-al-Fattah al-NSOUR]Jordanian Wafa’ (Loyalty) Party [Mazin al-QADI]Justice and Reform Party [Sa’eed Nathir ARABIYAT]Modernity and Change Party [Nayef al-HAMAYDEH]National Renaissance Front Party [Isma’il KHATATBEH]National Unity Party [Muhammad al-ZBOUN]Pan Arab Movement Party [Dayfallah FARRAJ]Partnership and Salvation Party [Muhammad al-HAMMOURI]Reform and Renewal Party [Mazin RYAL]Risalah Party [Hazim QASHOU’]Stronger Jordan Party [Rula al-HROUB]Unified Jordanian Front Party [Farouq AL-ABBADI]Zamzam [Irhayil GHARAYBEH]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture Products

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

Budget

expenditures

11.51 billion (2017 est.)

revenues

9.462 billion (2017 est.)

Budget Surplus Or Deficit

-5.1% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Central Bank Discount Rate

3.75% (31 December 2015)

0.3% (31 December 2010)

Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate

8.65% (31 December 2017 est.)

7.83% (31 December 2016 est.)

Current Account Balance

-$4.257 billion (2017 est.)

-$3.693 billion (2016 est.)

Debt External

$29.34 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$26.38 billion (31 December 2016 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 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 2017 - with growth averaging about 2.5% per year - and hurt export-oriented sectors, construction/real estate, 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 approximately 660,000 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 Syrians as of early 2016.Jordan is nearly completely dependent on imported energy—mostly natural gas—and energy consistently makes up 25-30% of Jordan’s imports. To diversify its energy mix, Jordan has secured several contracts for liquefied and pipeline natural gas, developed several major renewables projects, and is currently exploring nuclear power generation and exploitation of abundant oil shale reserves. 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 (2017 est.)

0.71 (2016 est.)

0.71 (2015 est.)

0.71 (2014 est.)

0.71 (2013 est.)

Exports

$7.511 billion (2017 est.)

$7.509 billion (2016 est.)

Exports Commodities

textiles, fertilizers, potash, phosphates, vegetables, pharmaceuticals

Exports Partners

US 24.9%, Saudi Arabia 12.8%, India 8.2%, Iraq 8.2%, Kuwait 5.4%, UAE 4.6% (2017)

Fiscal Year

calendar year

Gdp Composition By End Use

exports of goods and services

34.2% (2017 est.)

government consumption

19.8% (2017 est.)

household consumption

80.5% (2017 est.)

imports of goods and services

-58% (2017 est.)

investment in fixed capital

22.8% (2017 est.)

investment in inventories

0.7% (2017 est.)

Gdp Composition By Sector Of Origin

agriculture

4.5% (2017 est.)

industry

28.8% (2017 est.)

services

66.6% (2017 est.)

Gdp Official Exchange Rate

$40.13 billion (2017 est.) (2017 est.)

Gdp Per Capita Ppp

$9,200 (2017 est.)

$9,200 (2016 est.)

$9,300 (2015 est.)

note

data are in 2017 dollars

Gdp Purchasing Power Parity

$89 billion (2017 est.)

$87.28 billion (2016 est.)

$85.56 billion (2015 est.)

note

data are in 2017 dollars

Gdp Real Growth Rate

2% (2017 est.)

2% (2016 est.)

2.4% (2015 est.)

Gross National Saving

9.1% of GDP (2017 est.)

9.3% of GDP (2016 est.)

10.2% of GDP (2015 est.)

Household Income Or Consumption By Percentage Share

highest 10%

28.7% (2010 est.)

lowest 10%

28.7% (2010 est.)

Imports

$18.21 billion (2017 est.)

$17.14 billion (2016 est.)

Imports Commodities

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

Imports Partners

China 13.6%, Saudi Arabia 13.6%, US 9.9%, UAE 4.9%, Germany 4.4% (2017)

Industrial Production Growth Rate

1.4% (2017 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation Rate Consumer Prices

3.3% (2017 est.)

-0.8% (2016 est.)

Labor Force

2.295 million (2017 est.)

Labor Force By Occupation

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

95.9% of GDP (2017 est.)

95.1% of GDP (2016 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 intragovernmental debt; intragovernmental 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

$15.56 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$15.54 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock Of Broad Money

$14.64 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$14.63 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock Of Direct Foreign Investment Abroad

$646.5 million (31 December 2017 est.)

$612.5 million (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock Of Direct Foreign Investment At Home

$33.83 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$32.15 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock Of Domestic Credit

$42.7 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$41.87 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock Of Narrow Money

$14.64 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$14.63 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Taxes And Other Revenues

23.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment Rate

18.3% (2017 est.)

15.3% (2016 est.)

note

official rate; unofficial rate is approximately 30%

Carbon Dioxide Emissions From Consumption Of Energy

27.39 million Mt (2017 est.)

Crude Oil Exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude Oil Imports

67,980 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude Oil Production

22 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Crude Oil Proved Reserves

1 million bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

Electricity Access

electrification - rural areas

99.4% (2012)

electrification - total population

99.5% (2012)

electrification - urban areas

99% (2012)

population without electricity

40,926 (2012)

Electricity Consumption

16.82 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity Exports

50 million kWh (2015 est.)

Electricity From Fossil Fuels

87% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity From Hydroelectric Plants

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity From Nuclear Fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity From Other Renewable Sources

12% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity Imports

334 million kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity Installed Generating Capacity

4.764 million kW (2016 est.)

Electricity Production

18.6 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Natural Gas Consumption

5.238 billion cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Exports

1.359 billion cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Imports

6.456 billion cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Production

121.8 million cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Proved Reserves

6.031 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Consumption

139,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Imports

68,460 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Production

67,240 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Broadband Fixed Subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

4 (2017 est.)

total

456,610 (2017 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

62.3% (July 2016 est.)

total

5,099,674 (July 2016 est.)

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 up to 96 per 100 persons; fixed-line 4 per 100 persons (2017)

general assessment

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; recent influx of refugees putting burden on country's econmy, infrastructure and society; mobile broadband area of growth with 4G services (2017)

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

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

4 (July 2016 est.)

total subscriptions

404,112 (July 2016 est.)

Telephones Mobile Cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

96 (July 2016 est.)

total subscriptions

9,818,446 (July 2016 est.)

Airports

18 (2013)

Airports With Paved Runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

2 (2017)

2,438 to 3,047 m

5 (2017)

914 to 1,523 m

1 (2017)

over 3,047 m

8 (2017)

total

16 (2017)

Airports With Unpaved Runways

total

2 (2013)

under 914 m

2 (2013)

Civil Aircraft Registration Country Code Prefix

JY (2016)

Heliports

1 (2012)

Merchant Marine

by type

general cargo 9, oil tanker 1, other 21 (2017)

total

31 (2017)

National Air Transport System

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers

169.105 million mt-km (2015)

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers

3,065,145 (2015)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

40 (2015)

number of registered air carriers

7 (2015)

Pipelines

473 km gas, 49 km oil (2013)

Ports And Terminals

major seaport(s)

Al 'Aqabah

Railways

narrow gauge

509 km 1.050-m gauge (2014)

total

509 km (2014)

Roadways

paved

7,203 km (2011)

total

7,203 km (2011)

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) (2017)

Military Expenditures

4.8% of GDP (2017)

4.58% of GDP (2016)

4.31% of GDP (2015)

4.32% of GDP (2014)

4.3% of GDP (2013)

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

refugees (country of origin)

2,175,491 (Palestinian refugees) (2017), 671,148 (Syria), 67,084 (Iraq), 12,967 (Yemen), 5,307 Sudan (2018)