2021 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

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% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 2% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 1% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 8.4% (2018 est.)

forest

1.1% (2018 est.)

other

87.5% (2018 est.)

Location

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

Major aquifers

Arabian Aquifer System

Major lakes (area sq km)

Salt water lake(s)

Dead Sea (shared with Israel and West Bank) - 1,020 sq kmnote - endorheic hypersaline lake; 9.6 times saltier than the ocean; lake shore is 431 meters below sea level

Major watersheds (area sq km)

Indian Ocean drainage: (Persian Gulf) Tigris and Euphrates (918,044 sq km)

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 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

33.05% (male 1,837,696/female 1,738,935)

15-24 years

19.77% (male 1,126,567/female 1,012,812)

25-54 years

38.39% (male 2,250,328/female 1,903,996)

55-64 years

5.11% (male 290,633/female 262,827)

65 years and over

3.67% (male 194,464/female 202,386) (2020 est.)

Birth rate

22.79 births/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

3% (2012)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

51.8% (2017/18)

Current Health Expenditure

7.8% (2018)

Death rate

3.44 deaths/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

6.3

potential support ratio

16 (2020 est.)

total dependency ratio

58.2

youth dependency ratio

52

Drinking water source

improved: rural

rural: 97.7% of population

improved: total

total: 98.9% of population

improved: urban

urban: 100% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 2.2% of population

unimproved: total

total: 1.1% of population (2017 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0% of population

Education expenditures

3% of GDP (2019)

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

note: data represent population by self-identified nationality

Hospital bed density

1.5 beds/1,000 population (2017)

Infant mortality rate

female

13 deaths/1,000 live births (2021 est.)

male

15.43 deaths/1,000 live births

total

14.25 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Languages

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

major-language sample(s)

كتاب حقائق العالم، المصدر الذي لا يمكن الاستغناء عنه للمعلومات الأساسية (Arabic)The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Life expectancy at birth

female

77.35 years (2021 est.)

male

74.25 years

total population

75.75 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

97.8% (2018)

male

98.6%

total population

98.2%

Major infectious diseases

note: widespread ongoing transmission of a respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is occurring throughout Jordan; as of 6 October 2021, Jordan has reported a total of 828,572 cases of COVID-19 or 8,120.76 cumulative cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 population with 105.48 cumulative deaths per 100,000 population; as of 5 October 2021, 36.52% of the population has received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine

Major urban areas - population

2.182 million AMMAN (capital) (2021)

Maternal mortality ratio

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

Median age

female

22.9 years (2020 est.)

male

23.9 years

total

23.5 years

Mother's mean age at first birth

24.6 years (2017/18 est.)

note

note: median age at first birth among women 25-49

Nationality

adjective

Jordanian

noun

Jordanian(s)

Net migration rate

-11.17 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

35.5% (2016)

Physicians density

2.32 physicians/1,000 population (2017)

Population

10,909,567 (July 2021 est.)

note

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

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

0.82% (2021 est.)

Religions

Muslim 97.1% (official; predominantly Sunni), Christian 2.1% (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%, other <0.1%, unaffiliated <0.1% (2020 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: rural

rural: 96.6% of population

improved: total

total: 98.5% of population

improved: urban

urban: 98.6% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 3.7% of population

unimproved: total

total: 1.5% of population (2017 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 1.4% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

11 years (2020)

male

10 years

total

11 years

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.06 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1.11 male(s)/female

25-54 years

1.18 male(s)/female

55-64 years

1.11 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.96 male(s)/female

at birth

1.06 male(s)/female

total population

1.11 male(s)/female (2020 est.)

Total fertility rate

3 children born/woman (2021 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

female

49.4% (2019 est.)

male

34.8%

total

37.3%

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

0.98% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

91.6% of total population (2021)

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 February; ends last Friday in October

etymology

in the 13th century B.C., the Ammonites named their main city "Rabbath Ammon"; "rabbath" designated "capital," so the name meant "The Capital of [the] Ammon[ites]"; over time, the "Rabbath" came to be dropped and the city became known simply as "Ammon" and then "Amman"

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

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 Henry T. WOOSTER (since 8 October 2020)

email address and website

Amman-ACS@state.govhttps://jo.usembassy.gov/

embassy

Abdoun, Al-Umawyeen St., Amman

FAX

[962] (6) 592-0163

mailing address

6050 Amman Place, Washington DC  20521-6050

telephone

[962] (6) 590-6000

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

3504 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Dina Khalil Tawfiq KAWAR (since 27 June 2016)

email address and website

hkjconsular@jordanembassyus.orghttp://www.jordanembassyus.org/

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); Heir Apparent Crown Prince HUSSEIN (eldest son of the monarch, born on 28 June 1994)

elections/appointments

the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch

head of government

Prime Minister Bisher AL-KHASAWNEH (since 7 October 2020)

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 ICC 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 23 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 - note - tribal, centrist, and pro-government candidates dominated in the 130-seat election; the Islamic Action Front, the political wing of the Muslim Brotherhood, garnered only 10 seats, down from 15 in the previous election; women, who are guaranteed 15 seats by Jordan’s legislative quota system, only won the requisite number, down from the 20 seats won in the previous election  

elections

Chamber of Deputies - last held on 10 November 2020 (next to be held in November 2024)

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

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 [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’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 Congress Party [Irhayil GHARAYBEH] (formerly the Zamzam party)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]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agricultural products

tomatoes, poultry, olives, milk, potatoes, cucumbers, vegetables, watermelons, green chillies/peppers, peaches/nectarines

Budget

expenditures

11.51 billion (2017 est.)

revenues

9.462 billion (2017 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

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

Credit ratings

Fitch rating

BB- (2019)

Moody's rating

B1 (2013)

Standard & Poors rating

B+ (2017)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2018

-$2.964 billion (2018 est.)

Current account balance 2019

-$1.222 billion (2019 est.)

Debt - external

Debt - external 2018

$29.916 billion (2018 est.)

Debt - external 2019

$32.088 billion (2019 est.)

Economic 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

currency

Jordanian dinars (JOD) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2013

0.71 (2013 est.)

Exchange rates 2014

0.71 (2014 est.)

Exchange rates 2018

0.70925 (2018 est.)

Exchange rates 2019

0.709 (2019 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

0.709 (2020 est.)

Exports

Exports 2018

$15.09 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.)

Exports 2019

$16.29 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.)

Exports - commodities

fertilizers, calcium phosphates, packaged medicines, clothing and apparel, phosphoric acid (2019)

Exports - partners

United States 21%, Saudi Arabia 13%, India 8%, Iraq 7%, United Arab Emirates 5%, China 5% (2019)

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)

$44.568 billion (2019 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 1997

36.4 (1997)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2010

33.7 (2010 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

28.7% (2010 est.)

lowest 10%

3.4%

Imports

Imports 2018

$22.92 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.)

Imports 2019

$22.04 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.)

Imports - commodities

cars, refined petroleum, natural gas, crude petroleum, clothing and apparel (2019)

Imports - partners

China 17%, Saudi Arabia 15%, United States 6%, United Arab Emirates 6%, Egypt 5%, India 5% (2019)

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)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017

3.3% (2017 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018

4.4% (2018 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019

0.3% (2019 est.)

Labor force

731,000 (2020 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

2%

industry

20%

services

78% (2013 est.)

Population below poverty line

15.7% (2018 est.)

Public debt

note

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

Public debt 2016

95.1% of GDP (2016 est.)

Public debt 2017

95.9% of GDP (2017 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

note

note: data are in 2017 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2018

$99.79 billion note: data are in 2017 dollars (2018 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019

$101.74 billion note: data are in 2017 dollars (2019 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020

$100.16 billion note: data are in 2017 dollars (2020 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2017

2.12% (2017 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2018

1.94% (2018 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2019

2% (2019 est.)

Real GDP per capita

note

note: data are in 2010 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2018

$10,000 note: data are in 2017 dollars (2018 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2019

$10,100 note: data are in 2017 dollars (2019 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2020

$9,800 note: data are in 2017 dollars (2020 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2016

$15.54 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2017

$15.56 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

23.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment rate

note

note: official rate; unofficial rate is approximately 30%

Unemployment rate 2018

18.61% (2018 est.)

Unemployment rate 2019

19.1% (2019 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

female

49.4% (2019 est.)

male

34.8%

total

37.3%

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 - 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.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population

100% (2020)

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

6.13 (2020 est.)

total

625,657 (2020)

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

66.79% (2019 est.)

total

6.84 million (2021 est.)

Telecommunication systems

domestic

1995 a telecommunications law opened all non-fixed-line services to private competition; in 2005, the monopoly over fixed-line services terminated and the entire telecommunications sector was opened to competition; currently fixed-line 4 per 100 persons and multiple mobile-cellular providers with subscribership up to 77 per 100 persons (2019)

general assessment

Jordan is host to a growing number of ICT companies and has emerged as a technology start-up hub for the Middle East; recently focused on telecom solutions to pandemic issues such as e-health and education; progress in the digital financial services; economic goals rely on digital economy, developed mobile sector, and extensive LTE infrastructure; preparation for 5G and e-commerce; importer of broadcasting equipment from Vietnam and China (2020)

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)

note

note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

3.84 (2020 est.)

total subscriptions

391,486 (2020)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

68.49 (2020 est.)

total subscriptions

6,987,891 (2020)

Airports

total

18 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

2

2,438 to 3,047 m

5

914 to 1,523 m

1 (2017)

over 3,047 m

8

total

16

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

2

under 914 m

2 (2013)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

JY

Heliports

1 (2012)

Merchant marine

by type

general cargo 6, oil tanker 1, other 28 (2021)

total

35

National air transport system

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers

175.84 million mt-km (2018)

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers

3,383,805 (2018)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

54

number of registered air carriers

4 (2020)

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

1,596 km (2014)

Roadways

paved

7,203 km (2011)

total

7,203 km (2011)

Military - note

the Jordanian military traces its origins back to the Arab Legion, which was formed under the British protectorate of Transjordan in the 1920s due largely to its proximity to regional conflicts in Iraq and Syria, the presence of major terrorist organizations in both of those countries, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the highest priorities of Jordan’s military and security services in 2021 included securing its borders and the potential for domestic terrorist attacks; the terrorist group Hizballah and Iranian-backed militia forces were operating in southwestern Syria near Jordan’s border while fighters from the Islamic State of ash-Sham and Syria (ISIS) terrorist group continued operating in both Iraq and Syria; ISIS fighters included Jordanian nationals, some of whom have returned to Jordan; meanwhile, individuals and groups sympathetic to Palestine have planned and conducted terrorist attacks in Jordan Jordan has Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status with the US; MNNA is a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation; while MNNA status provides military and economic privileges, it does not entail any security commitmentsJordan signed a peace treaty with Israel in 1994

Military and security forces

Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF): Royal Jordanian Army (includes Special Operations Forces, Border Guards, Royal Guard), Royal Jordanian Air Force, Royal Jordanian Coast Guard; Ministry of Interior: Public Security Directorate (includes national police, the Gendarmerie, and the Civil Defense Directorate) (2021)

Military and security service personnel strengths

approximately 90,000 active JAF personnel (77,000 Army; 500 Navy; 12,500 Air Force); approximately 15,000 Gendarmerie Forces (2021)

Military deployments

325 Mali (MINUSMA) (Oct 2021)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the JAF inventory is comprised of a wide mix of imported weapons, mostly second-hand equipment from Europe, the Gulf States, and the US (2021)

Military expenditures

Military Expenditures 2016

4.6% of GDP (2016)

Military Expenditures 2017

4.8% of GDP (2017)

Military Expenditures 2018

4.7% of GDP (2018)

Military Expenditures 2019

4.7% of GDP (2019)

Military Expenditures 2020

4.7% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military service age and obligation

17 years of age for voluntary male military service (women can volunteer to serve in noncombat military positions in the Royal Jordanian Arab Army Women's Corps and RJAF); initial service term 2 years, with option to reenlist for 18 years; conscription abolished in 1991; however, in 2020, Jordan announced the reinstatement of compulsory military service for jobless men aged between 25 and 29 with 12 months of service, made up of three months of military training and nine months of professional and technical training; in 2019, announced a voluntary 4-month National Military Service program for men and women aged between 18-25 years who have been unemployed for at least six months; service would include one month for military training with the remaining three months dedicated to vocational training in the sectors of construction and tourism (2021)

Disputes - international

2004 Agreement settles border dispute with Syria pending demarcation

Illicit drugs

primarily a transshipment country for amphetamine tablets originating in Lebanon and Syria and destined for Saudi Arabia, Israel, and Gulf countries; the government is increasingly concerned about domestic consumption of illicit drugs. 

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin)

2,307,011 (Palestinian refugees) (2020); 672,804 (Syria), 66,665 (Iraq), 12,866 (Yemen), 6,013 Sudan (2021)

stateless persons

17 (2020)

Trafficking in persons

current situation

human traffickers exploit domestic and foreign victims in Jordan and Jordanians abroad; victims are primarily from South and Southeast Asia, East Africa, Egypt, and Syria; foreign migrants, many undocumented, working in construction, agriculture, textiles, and domestic work are the most vulnerable to trafficking because of informal work agreements and frequently changing employers; forced labor victims experience withheld or unpaid wages, confiscation of identity documents, restricted freedom of movement, unsafe living conditions, long hours without rest, isolation, and verbal and physical abuse; child labor and potential forced child labor increased; traffickers exploit Lebanese, North African, and Eastern European women who have migrated to Jordan to work in restaurants and nightclubs are subject to sex trafficking

tier rating

Tier 2 Watch List — Jordan does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so; the government increased the training of law enforcement personnel and victim advocates, maintained a trafficking shelter offering a wide range of services, partnered with civil society actors to proactively identify and protect trafficking victims, and conducted anti-trafficking awareness campaigns; the government did not demonstrate overall increasing efforts as fewer traffickers were investigated, prosecuted, and convicted; fewer victims were identified and assisted, and victims were still arrested, detained, and deported for unlawful acts traffickers compelled them to commit; under Jordan’s anti-trafficking law, penalties for sex trafficking offenses were not commensurate with penalties for other serious crimes (2020)

Terrorist group(s)

Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)

Air pollutants

carbon dioxide emissions

25.11 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions

6.04 megatons (2020 est.)

particulate matter emissions

32.09 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)

Climate

mostly arid desert; rainy season in west (November to April)

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, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

Land use

agricultural land

11.4% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 2% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 1% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 8.4% (2018 est.)

forest

1.1% (2018 est.)

other

87.5% (2018 est.)

Major aquifers

Arabian Aquifer System

Major infectious diseases

note: widespread ongoing transmission of a respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is occurring throughout Jordan; as of 6 October 2021, Jordan has reported a total of 828,572 cases of COVID-19 or 8,120.76 cumulative cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 population with 105.48 cumulative deaths per 100,000 population; as of 5 October 2021, 36.52% of the population has received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine

Major lakes (area sq km)

Salt water lake(s)

Dead Sea (shared with Israel and West Bank) - 1,020 sq kmnote - endorheic hypersaline lake; 9.6 times saltier than the ocean; lake shore is 431 meters below sea level

Major watersheds (area sq km)

Indian Ocean drainage: (Persian Gulf) Tigris and Euphrates (918,044 sq km)

Revenue from coal

coal revenues

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Revenue from forest resources

forest revenues

0.02% of GDP (2018 est.)

Total renewable water resources

937 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

Total water withdrawal

agricultural

554.7 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

industrial

32.5 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

municipal

456.9 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

0.98% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

91.6% of total population (2021)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

2,529,997 tons (2013 est.)

municipal solid waste recycled annually

177,100 tons (2014 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled

7% (2014 est.)