2019 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 and an effort to devolve some authority to governorate- and municipal-level councils following subnational elections in 2017. In 2016, the Islamic Action Front, which is the political arm of the Jordanian Muslim Brotherhood, returned to the National Assembly 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

Highest Point

Jabal Umm ad Dami 1,854 m

Lowest Point

Dead Sea -431 m

Mean Elevation

812 m

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; the Dead Sea, the lowest point in Asia and the second saltiest body of water in the world (after Lac Assal in Djibouti), lies on Jordan's western border with Israel and the West Bank; Jordan is almost landlocked but does have a 26 km southwestern coastline with a single port, Al 'Aqabah (Aqaba)

Irrigated Land

964 sq km (2012)

Land Boundaries

Border Countries

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

Total

1,744 km

Land Use

Agricultural Land

11.4% (2011 est.)

Agricultural Land Arable Land

2% (2011 est.)

Agricultural Land Permanent Crops

1% (2011 est.)

Agricultural Land Permanent Pasture

8.4% (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

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 arid desert plateau; a great north-south geological rift along the west of the country is the dominant topographical feature and includes the Jordan River Valley, the Dead Sea, and the Jordanian Highlands

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

51.8% (2017/18)

Current Health Expenditure

5.5% (2016)

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 Rural

92.3% of population

Improved Total

96.9% of population

Improved Urban

97.8% of population

Unimproved Rural

7.7% of population

Unimproved Total

3.1% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Urban

2.2% of population

Education Expenditures

3.6% of GDP (2017)

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.)

HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate

<.1% (2018 est.)

HIV/AIDS Deaths

<100 (2018 est.)

HIV/AIDS People Living With HIV/AIDS

<500 (2018 est.)

Hospital Bed Density

1.4 beds/1,000 population (2015)

Infant Mortality Rate

Female

12.9 deaths/1,000 live births

Male

14.5 deaths/1,000 live births

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

Male

73.6 years

Total Population

75 years (2018 est.)

Literacy

Definition

age 15 and over can read and write

Female

92.9% (2015)

Male

97.7%

Total Population

95.4%

Major Urban Areas Population

2.109 million AMMAN (capital) (2019)

Maternal Mortality Rate

46 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)

Median Age

Female

22.3 years

Male

23.2 years

Total

22.8 years (2018 est.)

Mother's Mean Age at First Birth

24.8 years (2017/18 est.)

Nationality

Adjective

Jordanian

Noun

Jordanian(s)

Net Migration Rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate

35.5% (2016)

Physicians Density

2.34 physicians/1,000 population (2017)

Population

10,458,413 (July 2018 est.)

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 <0.1, unaffiliated <0.1, other <0.1 (2010 est.)

Sanitation Facility Access

Improved Rural

98.9% of population (2015 est.)

Improved Total

98.6% of population (2015 est.)

Improved Urban

98.6% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Rural

1.1% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Total

1.4% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Urban

1.4% of population (2015 est.)

School Life Expectancy Primary To Tertiary Education

Female

13 years (2012)

Male

12 years

Total

13 years

Sex Ratio

0 14 Years

1.06 male(s)/female

15 24 Years

1.14 male(s)/female

25 54 Years

1.18 male(s)/female

55 64 Years

1.09 male(s)/female

65 Years And Over

0.97 male(s)/female

At Birth

1.06 male(s)/female

Total Population

1.12 male(s)/female (2018 est.)

Total Fertility Rate

3.14 children born/woman (2018 est.)

Unemployment Youth Ages 15 24

Female

57% (2016 est.)

Male

31.5%

Total

35.6%

Urbanization

Rate Of Urbanization

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

Urban Population

91.2% of total population (2019)

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

constitutional amendments require at least a two-thirds majority vote of both the Senate and the House and ratification by the king; no amendment of the constitution affecting the rights of the king and the succession to the throne is permitted during the regency period; 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

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 Karen SASAHARA (since March 2019)

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 15 members, including the chief justice); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 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 policymaking 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 Settlement Courts; Income Tax Court; Higher Administrative Court; Customs Court; special courts including the 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)

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&rsquo; 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&rsquo;th Party [Zyad AL-HOMSI] Conservatives Party [Hasan RASHID] Democratic Popular Unity Party [Sa&rsquo;eed DHIYAB] Democratic Sha&rsquo;b Party (HASHD) [Abla ABU-OLBEH] Freedom and Equality Party [Hamad Abu ZEID] Islamic Action Front [Murad AL-ADAYLAH] 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 Democratic Socialist Party [Jamil al-NIMRI] Jordanian Democratic Tabiy&rsquo;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&rsquo;th Party [Fu&rsquo;ad DABBOUR] Jordanian Promise Party [Mahmoud al-KHALILI] Jordanian Reform Party [Eid DHAYYAT] Jordanian Social Justice Party [Abd-al-Fattah al-NSOUR] Jordanian Wafa&rsquo; (Loyalty) Party [Mazin al-QADI] Justice and Reform Party [Sa&rsquo;eed Nathir ARABIYAT] Modernity and Change Party [Nayef al-HAMAYDEH] National Congress Party [Irhayil GHARAYBEH] (formerly the Zamzam party) National Renaissance Front Party [Isma&rsquo;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&rsquo;] Stronger Jordan Party [Rula al-HROUB] Unified Jordanian Front Party [Farouq AL-ABBADI]

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

31 December 2010

0.3%

31 December 2015

3.75%

Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate

31 December 2016

7.83%

31 December 2017

8.65%

Current Account Balance

2016

-$3.693 billion

2017

-$4.257 billion

Debt External

31 December 2016

$26.38 billion

31 December 2017

$29.34 billion

Distribution Of Family Income Gini Index

1997

36.4

2007

39.7

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

2013

0.71

2014

0.71

2015

0.71

2016

0.71

2017

0.71

Currency

Jordanian dinars (JOD) per US dollar -

Exports

2016

$7.509 billion

2017

$7.511 billion

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.)

GDP Per Capita Ppp

2015

$9,300

2016

$9,200

2017

$9,200

GDP Purchasing Power Parity

2015

$85.56 billion

2016

$87.28 billion

2017

$89 billion

GDP Real Growth Rate

2015

2.4%

2016

2%

2017

2%

Gross National Saving

2015

10.2% of GDP

2016

9.3% of GDP

2017

9.1% of GDP

Household Income Or Consumption By Percentage Share

Highest 10

28.7% (2010 est.)

Lowest 10

3.4%

Imports

2016

$17.14 billion

2017

$18.21 billion

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

2016

-0.8%

2017

3.3%

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

31 December 2014

$25.55 billion

31 December 2015

$25.45 billion

31 December 2016

$24.25 billion

Population Below Poverty Line

14.2% (2002 est.)

Public Debt

2016

95.1% of GDP

2017

95.9% of GDP

Reserves Of Foreign Exchange And Gold

31 December 2016

$15.54 billion

31 December 2017

$15.56 billion

Stock Of Broad Money

31 December 2016

$14.63 billion

31 December 2017

$14.64 billion

Stock Of Direct Foreign Investment Abroad

31 December 2016

$612.5 million

31 December 2017

$646.5 million

Stock Of Direct Foreign Investment at Home

31 December 2016

$32.15 billion

31 December 2017

$33.83 billion

Stock Of Domestic Credit

31 December 2016

$41.87 billion

31 December 2017

$42.7 billion

Stock Of Narrow Money

31 December 2016

$14.63 billion

31 December 2017

$14.64 billion

Taxes And Other Revenues

23.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment Rate

2016

15.3%

2017

18.3%

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 (2018 est.)

Crude Oil Proved Reserves

1 million bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

Electricity Access

100% (2016)

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

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

Internet Country Code

.jo

Internet Users

Percent Of Population

62.3% (July 2016 est.)

Total

5,099,674

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 (2018)

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 (2018)

International

country code - 962; landing point for the FEA and Taba-Aqaba submarine cable networks providing connectivity to Europe, the Middle East, Southeast Asia and Asia; satellite earth stations - 33 (3 Intelsat, 1 Arabsat, and 29 land and maritime Inmarsat terminals (2019)

Telephones Fixed Lines

Subscriptions Per 100 Inhabitants

4 (July 2016 est.)

Total Subscriptions

404,112

Telephones Mobile Cellular

Subscriptions Per 100 Inhabitants

96 (July 2016 est.)

Total Subscriptions

9,818,446

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 8, oil tanker 1, other 23 (2018)

Total

32

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

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 And Security Forces

Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF): Royal Jordanian Army (includes Special Operations Forces, Border Guards, Royal Guard), Royal Jordanian Navy, Royal Jordanian Air Force (2019)

Military Expenditures

2014

4.32% of GDP

2015

4.31% of GDP

2016

4.58% of GDP

2017

4.8% of GDP

2018

4.68% of GDP

Military Note

Ministry of Interior: General Directorate of Gendarmerie Forces, Public Security Directorate (2019)

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

2,242,579 (Palestinian refugees), 654,192 (Syria), 67,266 (Iraq), 14,730 (Yemen), 6,116 Sudan (2019)