Jordan  
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This page was last updated on 4 September 2008


Map of Jordan



Legend: DefinitionDefinition Field ListingField Listing Rank OrderRank Order
   Introduction    Jordan Top of Page
Background:
Definition Field Listing
Following World War I and the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire, the UK received a mandate to govern much of the Middle East. Britain separated out a semi-autonomous region of Transjordan from Palestine in the early 1920s, and the area gained its independence in 1946; it adopted the name of Jordan in 1950. The country's long-time ruler was King HUSSEIN (1953-99). A pragmatic leader, he successfully navigated competing pressures from the major powers (US, USSR, and UK), various Arab states, Israel, and a large internal Palestinian population, despite several wars and coup attempts. In 1989 he reinstituted parliamentary elections and gradual political liberalization; in 1994 he signed a peace treaty with Israel. King ABDALLAH II, the son of King HUSSEIN, assumed the throne following his father's death in February 1999. Since then, he has consolidated his power and undertaken an aggressive economic reform program. Jordan acceded to the World Trade Organization in 2000, and began to participate in the European Free Trade Association in 2001. Municipal elections were held in July 2007 under a system in which 20% of seats in all municipal councils were reserved by quota for women. Parliamentary elections were held in November 2007 and saw independent pro-government candidates win the vast majority of seats. In November 2007, King Abdallah instructed his new prime minister to focus on socioeconomic reform, developing a healthcare and housing network for civilians and military personnel, and improving the educational system.
   Geography    Jordan Top of Page
Location:
Definition Field Listing
Middle East, northwest of Saudi Arabia
Geographic coordinates:
Definition Field Listing
31 00 N, 36 00 E
Map references:
Definition Field Listing
Middle East
Area:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 92,300 sq km
land: 91,971 sq km
water: 329 sq km
Area - comparative:
Definition Field Listing
slightly smaller than Indiana
Land boundaries:
Definition Field Listing
total: 1,635 km
border countries: Iraq 181 km, Israel 238 km, Saudi Arabia 744 km, Syria 375 km, West Bank 97 km
Coastline:
Definition Field Listing
26 km
Maritime claims:
Definition Field Listing
territorial sea: 3 nm
Climate:
Definition Field Listing
mostly arid desert; rainy season in west (November to April)
Terrain:
Definition Field Listing
mostly desert plateau in east, highland area in west; Great Rift Valley separates East and West Banks of the Jordan River
Elevation extremes:
Definition Field Listing
lowest point: Dead Sea -408 m
highest point: Jabal Ram 1,734 m
Natural resources:
Definition Field Listing
phosphates, potash, shale oil
Land use:
Definition Field Listing
arable land: 3.32%
permanent crops: 1.18%
other: 95.5% (2005)
Irrigated land:
Definition Field Listing
750 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
Definition Field Listing
0.9 cu km (1997)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
Definition Field Listing
total: 1.01 cu km/yr (21%/4%/75%)
per capita: 177 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
Definition Field Listing
droughts; periodic earthquakes
Environment - current issues:
Definition Field Listing
limited natural fresh water resources; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification
Environment - international agreements:
Definition Field Listing
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
Geography - note:
Definition Field Listing
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
   People    Jordan Top of Page
Population:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
6,198,677 (July 2008 est.)
Age structure:
Definition Field Listing
0-14 years: 32.2% (male 1,017,233/female 976,284)
15-64 years: 63.7% (male 2,110,293/female 1,840,531)
65 years and over: 4.1% (male 122,975/female 131,361) (2008 est.)
Median age:
Definition Field Listing
total: 23.9 years
male: 24.6 years
female: 23.2 years (2008 est.)
Population growth rate:
Definition Field Listing
2.338% (2008 est.)
Birth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
20.13 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2.72 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Net migration rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
5.97 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Sex ratio:
Definition Field Listing
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.15 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.94 male(s)/female
total population: 1.0575 male(s)/female (2008 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 15.57 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 18.62 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 12.34 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total population: 78.71 years
male: 76.19 years
female: 81.39 years (2008 est.)
Total fertility rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2.47 children born/woman (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
600 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
fewer than 500 (2003 est.)
Nationality:
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noun: Jordanian(s)
adjective: Jordanian
Ethnic groups:
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Arab 98%, Circassian 1%, Armenian 1%
Religions:
Definition Field Listing
Sunni Muslim 92%, Christian 6% (majority Greek Orthodox, but some Greek and Roman Catholics, Syrian Orthodox, Coptic Orthodox, Armenian Orthodox, and Protestant denominations), other 2% (several small Shi'a Muslim and Druze populations) (2001 est.)
Languages:
Definition Field Listing
Arabic (official), English widely understood among upper and middle classes
Literacy:
Definition Field Listing
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 89.9%
male: 95.1%
female: 84.7% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
Definition Field Listing
total: 13 years
male: 13 years
female: 13 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
4.9% (1999)
   Government    Jordan Top of Page
Country name:
Definition Field Listing
conventional long form: Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
conventional short form: Jordan
local long form: Al Mamlakah al Urduniyah al Hashimiyah
local short form: Al Urdun
former: Transjordan
Government type:
Definition Field Listing
constitutional monarchy
Capital:
Definition Field Listing
name: Amman
geographic coordinates: 31 57 N, 35 56 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Thursday in March; ends last Friday in September
Administrative divisions:
Definition Field Listing
12 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Ajlun, Al 'Aqabah, Al Balqa', Al Karak, Al Mafraq, 'Amman, At Tafilah, Az Zarqa', Irbid, Jarash, Ma'an, Madaba
Independence:
Definition Field Listing
25 May 1946 (from League of Nations mandate under British administration)
National holiday:
Definition Field Listing
Independence Day, 25 May (1946)
Constitution:
Definition Field Listing
1 January 1952; amended many times
Legal system:
Definition Field Listing
based on Islamic law and French codes; judicial review of legislative acts in a specially provided High Tribunal; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
Definition Field Listing
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
Definition Field Listing
chief of state: King ABDALLAH II (since 7 February 1999); Prince HUSSEIN (born 1994), eldest son of King ABDALLAH II, is considered to be first in line to inherit the throne
head of government: Prime Minister Nader al-DAHABI (since 25 November 2007)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister in consultation with the monarch
elections: the monarch is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch
Legislative branch:
Definition Field Listing
bicameral National Assembly or Majlis al-'Umma consists of the Senate, also called the House of Notables or Majlis al-Ayan (55 seats; members appointed by the monarch from designated categories of public figures to serve four-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputies, also called the House of Representatives or Majlis al-Nuwaab (110 seats; members elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms; note - six seats are reserved for women and are allocated by a special electoral panel if no women are elected)
elections: Chamber of Deputies - last held 20 November 2007 (next to be held in 2011)
election results: Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - IAF 5.5 %, independents and other 94.5%; seats by party - IAF 6, independents and other 104; note - seven women will serve in the next Assembly - six of whom filled women's quota seats and one was directly elected
Judicial branch:
Definition Field Listing
Court of Cassation; Supreme Court (court of final appeal)
Political parties and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
al-Ahd Party; Arab Islamic Democratic Movement [Yusuf ABU BAKR]; Arab Land Party [Dr. Ayishah Salih HIJAZAYN]; Arab Socialist Ba'th Party [Taysir al-HIMSI]; Ba'th Arab Progressive Party [Fu'ad DABBUR]; Freedom Party; Future Party; Islamic Action Front or IAF [Zaki Sa'ed BANI IRSHEID]; Islamic Center Party [Marwan al-FAURI]; Jordanian Arab Ansar Party; Jordanian Arab New Dawn Party; Jordanian Arab Party; Jordanian Citizens' Rights Movement; Jordanian Communist Party [Munir HAMARINAH]; Jordanian Communist Workers Party; Jordanian Democratic Left Party [Musa MA'AYTEH]; Jordanian Democratic Popular Unity Party [Sa'id Dhiyab Ali MUSTAFA]; Jordanian Generations Party [Muhammad KHALAYLEH]; Jordanian Green Party [Muhammad BATAYNEH]; Jordanian Labor Party [Dr. Mazin Sulayman Jiryis HANNA]; Jordanian Peace Party; Jordanian People's Committees Movement; Jordanian People's Democratic Party (Hashd) [Ahmad YUSUF]; Jordanian Rafah Party; Jordanian Renaissance Party; Mission Party; Nation Party [Ahmad al-HANANDEH]; National Action Party (Haqq) [Tariq al-KAYYALI]; National Constitutional Party [Abdul Hadi MAJALI]; National Popular Democratic Movement [Mahmud al-NUWAYHI]; Progressive Party [Fawwaz al-ZUBI]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
Anti-Normalization Committee [Ali Abu SUKKAR, president vice chairman]; Jordan Bar Association [Hussein Mujalli, chairman]; Jordanian Press Association [Sayf al-SHARIF, president]; Muslim Brotherhood [Salem AL-FALAHAT, controller general]
International organization participation:
Definition Field Listing
ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, CAEU, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAS, MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNOMIG, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Definition Field Listing
chief of mission: Ambassador ZEID Ra'ad Zeid al-Hussein, Prince
chancery: 3504 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 966-2664
FAX: [1] (202) 966-3110
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Definition Field Listing
chief of mission: Ambassador David HALE
embassy: Abdun, Amman
mailing address: P. O. Box 354, Amman 11118 Jordan; Unit 70200, Box 5, APO AE 09892-0200
telephone: [962] (6) 590-6000
FAX: [962] (6) 592-0121
Flag description:
Definition Field Listing
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
   Economy    Jordan Top of Page
Economy - overview:
Definition Field Listing
Jordan is a small Arab country with insufficient supplies of water, oil, and other natural resources. Poverty, unemployment, and inflation are fundamental problems, but King ABDALLAH II, since assuming the throne in 1999, has undertaken some broad economic reforms in a long-term effort to improve living standards. Since Jordan's graduation from its most recent IMF program in 2002, Amman has continued to follow IMF guidelines, practicing careful monetary policy, making substantial headway with privatization, and opening the trade regime. Jordan's exports have significantly increased under the free trade accord with the US and Jordanian Qualifying Industrial Zones (QIZ), which allow Jordan to export goods duty free to the US. In 2006, Jordan reduced its debt-to-GDP ratio significantly. These measures have helped improve productivity and have made Jordan more attractive for foreign investment. Before the US-led war in Iraq, Jordan imported most of its oil from Iraq. Since 2003, however, Jordan has been more dependent on oil from other Gulf nations. The government ended subsidies for petroleum and other consumer goods in 2008 in an effort to control the budget. The main challenges facing Jordan are reducing dependence on foreign grants, reducing the budget deficit, attracting investments, and creating jobs.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$27.99 billion (2007 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
Definition Field Listing
$16.01 billion (2007 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
5.7% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$4,900 (2007 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: 3.5%
industry: 10.3%
services: 86.2% (2007 est.)
Labor force:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.563 million (2007 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: 5%
industry: 12.5%
services: 82.5% (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
13.5% official rate; unofficial rate is approximately 30% (2007 est.)
Population below poverty line:
Definition Field Listing
14.2% (2002)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Definition Field Listing
lowest 10%: 2.7%
highest 10%: 30.6% (2003)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
Definition Field Listing
38.8 (2003)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
5.4% (2007 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
27.8% of GDP (2007 est.)
Budget:
Definition Field Listing
revenues: $5.117 billion
expenditures: $6.468 billion (2007 est.)
Public debt:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
72.7% of GDP (2007 est.)
Agriculture - products:
Definition Field Listing
citrus, tomatoes, cucumbers, olives; sheep, poultry, stone fruits, strawberries, dairy
Industries:
Definition Field Listing
clothing, phosphate mining, fertilizers, pharmaceuticals, petroleum refining, cement, potash, inorganic chemicals, light manufacturing, tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
7.7% (2007 est.)
Electricity - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
9.074 billion kWh (2005)
Electricity - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
8.49 billion kWh (2005)
Electricity - exports:
Definition Field Listing
4 million kWh (2005)
Electricity - imports:
Definition Field Listing
741 million kWh (2005)
Oil - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
109,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
106,400 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - proved reserves:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1 million bbl (1 January 2006 est.)
Natural gas - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
268.5 million cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.496 billion cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.228 billion cu m (2005)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
5.975 billion cu m (1 January 2006 est.)
Current account balance:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
-$2.769 billion (2007 est.)
Exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$5.7 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
clothing, pharmaceuticals, potash, phosphates, fertilizers, vegetables, manufactures;
Exports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
US 22.4%, Iraq 12.9%, India 8.3%, UAE 7.8%, Saudi Arabia 7.5%, Syria 4.9% (2006)
Imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$12.02 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
crude oil, textile fabrics, machinery, transport equipment, manufactured goods
Imports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
Saudi Arabia 21%, China 9.7%, Germany 7.5%, US 4.7%, Egypt 4.4% (2006)
Economic aid - recipient:
Definition Field Listing
ODA, $752 million (2005 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$7.929 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$8.206 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$10.24 billion (2007 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$29.73 billion (2006)
Currency (code):
Definition Field Listing
Jordanian dinar (JOD)
Exchange rates:
Definition Field Listing
Jordanian dinars per US dollar - 0.709 (2007), 0.709 (2006), 0.709 (2005), 0.709 (2004), 0.709 (2003)
Fiscal year:
Definition Field Listing
calendar year
   Communications    Jordan Top of Page
Telephones - main lines in use:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
614,000 (2006)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
4.771 million (2007)
Telephone system:
Definition Field Listing
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; Internet penetration remains modest and slow-growing
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; mobile-cellular usage is increasing rapidly and teledensity is approaching 75 per 100 persons
international: country code - 962; landing point for the Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG) submarine cable network that provides links to Asia, Middle East, Europe; 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
Radio broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
FM 31 (2007)
Television broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
22 (2007)
Internet country code:
Definition Field Listing
.jo
Internet hosts:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2,500 (2007)
Internet users:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
796,900 (2006)
   Transportation    Jordan Top of Page
Airports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
17 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 15
over 3,047 m: 7
2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2007)
Heliports:
Definition Field Listing
1 (2007)
Pipelines:
Definition Field Listing
gas 426 km; oil 49 km (2007)
Railways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 505 km
narrow gauge: 505 km 1.050-m gauge (2006)
Roadways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 7,601 km
paved: 7,601 km (2005)
Merchant marine:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 26 ships (1000 GRT or over) 384,778 GRT/510,752 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 1, cargo 10, container 1, passenger/cargo 9, petroleum tanker 2, roll on/roll off 3
foreign-owned: 15 (UAE 15)
registered in other countries: 21 (Algeria 4, Bahamas 2, Panama 13, Syria 2) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Definition Field Listing
Al 'Aqabah
   Military    Jordan Top of Page
Military branches:
Definition Field Listing
Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF): Royal Jordanian Land Force, 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) (2008)
Military service age and obligation:
Definition Field Listing
17 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription at age 18 was suspended in 1999, although all males under age 37 are required to register; women not subject to conscription, but can volunteer to serve in non-combat military positions (2004)
Manpower available for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 16-49: 1,812,551
females age 16-49: 1,559,155 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 16-49: 1,546,766
females age 16-49: 1,339,366 (2008 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
Definition Field Listing
males age 16-49: 68,067
females age 16-49: 65,512 (2008 est.)
Military expenditures:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
8.6% (2006)
   Transnational Issues    Jordan Top of Page
Disputes - international:
Definition Field Listing
approximately two million Iraqis have fled the conflict in Iraq, with the majority taking refuge in Syria and Jordan; 2004 Agreement settles border dispute with Syria pending demarcation
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
Definition Field Listing
refugees (country of origin): 1,835,704 (Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA)); 500,000 (Iraq)
IDPs: 160,000 (1967 Arab-Israeli War) (2007)
Trafficking in persons:
Definition Field Listing
current situation: Jordan is a destination and transit country for women and men from South and Southeast Asia trafficked for the purpose of forced labor; Jordan is also a destination for women from Eastern Europe and Morocco for prostitution; women from Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, and the Philippines migrate willingly to work as domestic servants, but some are subjected to conditions of forced labor, including unlawful withholding of passports, restrictions on movement, non-payment of wages, threats, and physical or sexual abuse
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Jordan is on the Tier 2 Watch List for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to combat trafficking in persons in 2007, particularly in the area of law enforcement against trafficking for forced labor; the government made minimal efforts to investigate or prosecute numerous allegations related to exploitation of foreign domestic workers; Jordan failed for a second year to criminally prosecute and punish those who committed acts of forced labor; Jordan also continues to lack victim protection services; Jordan has not ratified the 2000 UN TIP Protocol (2008)

This page was last updated on 4 September 2008


 

Source : The World Factbook