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Communications

Internet users (Internet Service Providers (ISPs)) [time series]

8 (1999)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 6, FM 5, shortwave 1 (1999)

Radios [time series]

1.66 million (1997)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

service has improved recently with the increased use of digital switching equipment, but better access to the telephone system is needed in the rural areas and easier access to pay telephones is needed by the urban public domestic: microwave radio relay transmission and coaxial and fiber-optic cable are employed on trunk lines; considerable use is made of mobile cellular systems; Internet service is available international: satellite earth stations - 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; connection to international submarine cable FLAG (Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe); participant in MEDARABTEL; international links total about 4,000

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

402,600 (1997)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

75,000 (1999)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

8 (plus approximately 42 repeaters and 1 TV receive-only satellite link) (1999)

Televisions [time series]

500,000 (1997)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

wheat, barley, citrus, tomatoes, melons, olives; sheep, goats, poultry

Budget [time series]

revenues: $2.8 billion expenditures: $3.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 Jordanian dinar (JD) = 1,000 fils

Debt - external [time series]

$8.4 billion (1998 est.)

Economic aid (Economic aid - recipient) [time series]

ODA, $850 million (1996 est.)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

Jordan is a small Arab country with inadequate supplies of water and other natural resources such as oil. The Persian Gulf crisis, which began in August 1990, aggravated Jordan's already serious economic problems, forcing the government to shelve the IMF program, stop most debt payments, and suspend rescheduling negotiations. Aid from Gulf Arab states, worker remittances, and trade contracted; and refugees flooded the country, producing serious balance-of-payments problems, stunting GDP growth, and straining government resources. The economy rebounded in 1992, largely due to the influx of capital repatriated by workers returning from the Gulf. After averaging 9% in 1992-95, GDP growth averaged only 2% during 1996-99. In an attempt to spur growth, King ABDALLAH has undertaken limited economic reform, including partial privatization of some state owned enterprises and Jordan's entry in January 2000 into the World Trade Organization (WTrO). Debt, poverty, and unemployment are fundamental ongoing economic problems.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

6.102 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - exports [time series]

2 million kWh (1998)

Electricity - imports [time series]

450 million kWh (1998)

Electricity - production [time series]

6.08 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - production by source [time series]

fossil fuel: 99.51% hydro: 0.49% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)

Exchange rates [time series]

Jordanian dinars (JD) per US$1 - 0.7090 (January 2000-1996), 0.7005 (1995) note: since May 1989, the dinar has been pegged to a group of currencies

Exports [time series]

$1.8 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

phosphates, fertilizers, potash, agricultural products, manufactures

Exports - partners [time series]

Iraq, India, Saudi Arabia, EU, Indonesia, UAE, Lebanon, Kuwait, Syria, Ethiopia

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $16 billion (1999 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 3% industry: 25% services: 72% (1998 est.)

Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $3,500 (1999 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]

2% (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 2.4% highest 10%: 34.7% (1991)

Imports [time series]

$3.3 billion (c.i.f., 1999 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

crude oil, machinery, transport equipment, food, live animals, manufactured goods

Imports - partners [time series]

Germany, Iraq, US, Japan, UK, Italy, Turkey, Malaysia, Syria, China

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

-3.4% (1996)

Industries [time series]

phosphate mining, petroleum refining, cement, potash, light manufacturing, tourism

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

3% (1999 est.)

Labor force [time series]

1.15 million note: in addition, at least 300,000 workers are employed abroad (1997 est.)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

industry 11.4%, commerce, restaurants, and hotels 10.5%, construction 10%, transport and communications 8.7%, agriculture 7.4%, other services 52% (1992)

Population below poverty line [time series]

30% (1998 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

15% official rate; actual rate is 25%-30% (1999 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 89,213 sq km land: 88,884 sq km water: 329 sq km

Area - comparative [time series]

slightly smaller than Indiana

Climate [time series]

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

Coastline [time series]

26 km

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: Dead Sea -408 m highest point: Jabal Ram 1,734 m

Environment - current issues [time series]

limited natural fresh water resources; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification

International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates [time series]

31 00 N, 36 00 E

Irrigated land [time series]

630 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 1,619 km border countries: Iraq 181 km, Israel 238 km, Saudi Arabia 728 km, Syria 375 km, West Bank 97 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 4% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 9% forests and woodland: 1% other: 85% (1993 est.)

Location [time series]

Middle East, northwest of Saudi Arabia

Map references [time series]

Middle East

Maritime claims [time series]

territorial sea: 3 nm

Natural hazards [time series]

Natural resources [time series]

phosphates, potash, shale oil

Terrain [time series]

mostly desert plateau in east, highland area in west; Great Rift Valley separates East and West Banks of the Jordan River

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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

Capital [time series]

Amman

Constitution [time series]

8 January 1952

Country name [time series]

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

Data code [time series]

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador William BURNS embassy: Abdoum, Amman mailing address: P. O. Box 354, Amman 11118 Jordan; APO AE 09892-0200 telephone: [962] (6) 5920101 FAX: [962] (6) 5927712

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Marwan Jamil MUASHER chancery: 3504 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 966-2664 FAX: [1] (202) 966-3110

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: King ABDALLAH bin al Hussein (since 7 February 1999); Crown Prince HAMZAH bin al Hussein (half brother of the King, born 29 March 1980) head of government: Prime Minister Abdur-Rauf RAWABDEH (since 4 March 1999) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister in consultation with the monarch elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

three equal horizontal bands of black (top), white, and green with a red isosceles triangle based on the hoist side bearing a small white seven-pointed star; the seven points on the star represent the seven fundamental laws of the Koran

Government type [time series]

constitutional monarchy

Independence [time series]

25 May 1946 (from League of Nations mandate under British administration)

International organization participation [time series]

ABEDA, ACC, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOP, UNMOT, UNOMIG, UNRWA, UNTAET, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Judicial branch [time series]

Court of Cassation; Supreme Court (court of final appeal)

Legal system [time series]

based on Islamic law and French codes; judicial review of legislative acts in a specially provided High Tribunal; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch [time series]

bicameral National Assembly or Majlis al-'Umma consists of the Senate (a 40-member body appointed by the monarch from designated categories of public figures; members serve four-year terms) and the House of Representatives (80 seats; members elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms) elections: House of Representatives - last held 4 November 1997 (next to be held NA November 2001) election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - National Constitutional Party 2, Arab Land Party 1, independents 75, other 2 note: the House of Representatives has been convened and dissolved by the monarch several times since 1974; in November 1989 the first parliamentary elections in 22 years were held

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 25 May (1946)

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

Al-Ahrar (Freedom) Party [Dr. Ahmad ZO'BI, secretary general]; Arab Ba'th Progressive Party [Mahmoud al-MA'AYTAH, secretary general]; Arab Islamic Democratic Party (Doa'a) [Yousif ABU BAKR, secretary general]; Arab Jordanian Ansar Party [Muhammad MAJALI, secretary general]; Arab Land Party [Dr. Muhammad al-'ORAN, secretary general]; Democratic Party of the Left [Musa MA'AITAH, secretary general]; Islamic Action Front [Abd-al-Latif ARABIYAT, secretary general]; Jordanian Arab Constitutional Front Party [Milhem TELL, secretary general]; Jordanian Arab New Dawn Party [leader NA]; Jordanian Ba'th Arab Socialist Party [Tayseer al-HOMSI, secretary general]; Jordanian Communist Party [Ya'acoub ZAYADIN, secretary general]; Jordanian Democratic Popular Unity Party [Sa'eed MUSTAPHA, secretary general]; Jordanian Labor Party [Muhammad KHATAYIBAH, secretary general]; Jordanian Peace Party [Dr. Shaher KHREIS, secretary general]; Jordanian People's Democratic Party or HASHD [Salem NAHHAS, secretary general]; Al-Mustaqbal (Future) Party [Suleiman 'ARAR, secretary general]; National Action Party or Haqq [Muhammad ZO'BI, secretary general]; National Constitutional Party [Abdul Hadi MAJALI, secretary general]; National Democratic Public Movement Party [Muhammad al-'AMER, secretary general]; Progressive Party [Na'el BARAKAT, secretary general]; Al-Umma (Nation) Party [Ahmad HNEIDI, secretary general]; The Generations [Hamad al-KHALAYLA, chairman]

Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]

Council of Professional Association Presidents [Ahmad al-QADIRI, chairman]; Jordanian Press Association [Sayf al-SHARIF, president]; Muslim Brotherhood [Abd-al-Majid DHUNAYBAT, secretary general]

Suffrage [time series]

20 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

For most of its history since independence from British administration in 1946, Jordan was ruled by King HUSSEIN (1953-1999). A pragmatic ruler, he successfully navigated competing pressures from the major powers (US, USSR, and UK), various Arab states, Israel, and a large internal Palestinian population, through several wars and coup attempts. In 1989 he resumed parliamentary elections and gradually permitted political liberalization; in 1994 a formal peace treaty was signed with Israel.

Military

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF; includes Royal Jordanian Land Force, Royal Naval Force, and Royal Jordanian Air Force); Badiya (irregular) Border Guards; Ministry of the Interior's Public Security Force (falls under JAF only in wartime or crisis situations)

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$608.9 million (FY98)

Military expenditures (Military expenditures - percent of GDP) [time series]

7.8% (FY98)

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 1,399,138 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males age 15-49: 993,730 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - military age [time series]

18 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually [time series]

males: 55,742 (2000 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 38% (male 968,579; female 925,987) 15-64 years: 59% (male 1,568,615; female 1,374,303) 65 years and over: 3% (male 79,748; female 81,332) (2000 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

26.24 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate [time series]

2.63 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

Arab 98%, Circassian 1%, Armenian 1%

Infant mortality rate [time series]

21.11 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 77.36 years male: 74.94 years female: 79.93 years (2000 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 86.6% male: 93.4% female: 79.4% (1995 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Jordanian(s) adjective: Jordanian

Net migration rate [time series]

7.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Population [time series]

4,998,564 (July 2000 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

3.1% (2000 est.)

Religions [time series]

Sunni Muslim 96%, Christian 4% (1997 est.)

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.14 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.98 male(s)/female total population: 1.1 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

3.44 children born/woman (2000 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

none [Country Listing] [ The World Factbook Home]

Transportation

Airports [time series]

20 (1999 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 16 over 3,047 m: 9 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 under 914 m: 3 (1999 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 2 (1999 est.)

Heliports [time series]

1 (1999 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 8,000 km paved: 8,000 km unpaved: 0 km (2000 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 7 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 42,746 GRT/59,100 DWT ships by type: bulk 2, cargo 2, container 1, livestock carrier 1, roll-on/roll-off 1 (1999 est.)

Pipelines [time series]

crude oil 209 km; note - may not be in use

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Al 'Aqabah

Railways [time series]

total: 677 km narrow gauge: 677 km 1.050-m gauge (2000)