View Intelligence Dossier Back to 2003 CSV Excel Print All Years

Communications

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

5 (2000)

Internet country code [time series]

.jo

Internet users [time series]

212,000 (2002)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 6, FM 5, shortwave 1 (1999)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: 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 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]

403,000 (1997)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

11,500 (1995)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

20 (plus 96 repeaters) (1995)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $2.7 billion expenditures: $3 billion, including capital expenditures of $614 million (2002 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

Jordanian dinar (JOD)

Exchange rates (Currency code) [time series]

JOD

Debt - external [time series]

$8.2 billion (2002 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income (Distribution of family income - Gini index) [time series]

36.4 (1997)

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

ODA, $553 million (2000 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. Debt, poverty, and unemployment are fundamental problems, but King ABDALLAH since assuming the throne in 1999 has undertaken some broad economic reforms in a long-term effort to improve living standards. Amman in the past three years has worked closely with the IMF, practiced careful monetary policy, and made significant headway with privatization. The government also has liberalized the trade regime sufficiently to secure Jordan's membership in the WTrO (2000), a free trade accord with US (2000), and an association agreement with the EU (2001). These measures have helped improve productivity and have put Jordan on the foreign investment map. The US-led war in Iraq in 2003 dealt an economic blow to Jordan, which was dependent on Iraq for discounted oil. It remains unclear how Jordan will finance energy imports in the absence of such a deal. Other ongoing challenges include fiscal adjustment to reduce the budget deficit and broader investment incentives to promote job-creating ventures.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

6.86 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports [time series]

2 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports [time series]

267 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - production [time series]

7.091 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source [time series]

fossil fuel: 99.4% hydro: 0.6% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%

Exchange rates [time series]

Jordanian dinars per US dollar - 0.71 (2002), 0.71 (2001), 0.71 (2000), 0.71 (1999), 0.71 (1998)

Exports [time series]

$2.5 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

phosphates, fertilizers, potash, agricultural products, manufactures, pharmaceuticals

Exports - partners [time series]

Iraq 20.1%, US 14.5%, India 8.1%, Saudi Arabia 5.4%, Israel 4.4% (2002)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

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

purchasing power parity - $22.63 billion (2002 est.)

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

agriculture: 3.7% industry: 26% services: 70.3% (2001 est.)

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

purchasing power parity - $4,300 (2002 est.)

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

4.9% (2002 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 3.3% highest 10%: 29.8% (1997)

Imports [time series]

$4.4 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

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

Imports - partners [time series]

Iraq 13.4%, Germany 8.8%, US 8%, China 6%, France 4.2%, UK 4.1%, Italy 4.1% (2002)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

1% (2002 est.)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

3.3% (2002 est.)

Labor force [time series]

1.36 million (2002)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

services 82.5%, industry 12.5%, agriculture 5% (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

290 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports [time series]

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - production [time series]

290 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

3.256 billion cu m (37257)

Oil - consumption [time series]

103,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports [time series]

NA (2001)

Oil - imports [time series]

NA (2001)

Oil - production [time series]

40 bbl/day NA bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

445,000 bbl (37257)

Population below poverty line [time series]

30% (2001 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

16% official rate; actual rate is 25%-30% (2001 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 92,300 sq km water: 329 sq km land: 91,971 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, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, 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

Geography - note [time series]

strategic location at the head of the Gulf of Aqaba and as the Arab country that shares the longest border with Israel and the occupied West Bank

Irrigated land [time series]

750 sq km (1998 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 1,635 km border countries: Iraq 181 km, Israel 238 km, Saudi Arabia 744 km, Syria 375 km, West Bank 97 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 2.87% permanent crops: 1.52% other: 95.61% (1998 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]

droughts; periodic earthquakes

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 short form: Al Urdun local long form: Al Mamlakah al Urduniyah al Hashimiyah former: Transjordan

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Edward William GNEHM, Jr. embassy: Abdoun, Amman mailing address: P. O. Box 354, Amman 11118 Jordan; Unit 70200, Box 5, APO AE 09892-0200 telephone: [962] (6) 5920101 FAX: [962] (6) 5920121

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

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

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: King ABDALLAH II (since 7 February 1999); Crown Prince HAMZAH (half brother of the monarch, born 29 March 1980) head of government: Prime Minister Faisal al-FAYEZ (since 25 October 2003) 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, the Abbassid Caliphate of Islam), white (the Ummayyad Caliphate of Islam), and green (the Fatimid Caliphate of Islam) with a red isosceles triangle (representing the Great Arab Revolt of 1916) based on the hoist side 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

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, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MONUC, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMISET, UNMOP, UNMOT, UNOMIG, UNRWA, UPU, WCO, 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, also called the House of Notables (Majlis al-Ayan) (40 seats; members appointed by the monarch from designated categories of public figures; members serve four-year terms) and the House of Representatives, also called the House of Deputies (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: House of Representatives - last held 17 June 2003, next to be held NA 2007 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; political parties were not legalized until 1992; King Abdallah delayed the 2001 elections until 2003 election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - independents and others 89.6%, Islamic Action Front 10.4%; seats by party - independents and others 92, Islamic Action Front 18 (note - one of the six quota seats was given to a female IAF candidate)

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 25 May (1946)

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

Al-Umma (Nation) Party [Ahmad al-HANANDEH, secretary general]; Arab Land Party [Dr. Muhammad al-'ORAN, secretary general]; Communist Party [Munir HAMARINAH, secretary general]; Constitutional Front [Mahdi al-TALL, secretary general]; Jordanian Democratic Popular Unity Party [Sa'id DHIYAB, secretary general]; Jordanian Progressive Party [Fawwaz al-ZUBI, secretary general]; Jordanian People's Democratic (Hashd) Party [Salim al-NAHHAS, secretary general]; Islamic Action Front [Hazma MANSOUR, secretary general]; National Action (Haqq) Party [Muhammad al-ZUBI, secretary general]; National Constitutional Party [Abdul Hadi MAJALI, secretary general]; (Arab) Socialist Ba'th Party [Taysif al-HIMSI, secretary general]; Pan-Arab (Democratic) Movement [Mahmud al-NUWAYHI, secretary general]

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

Anti-Normalization Committee [Ali Abu SUKKAR, president vice chairman]; Jordanian Bar Association [Saleh ARMOUTI, president]; Jordanian Press Association [Sayf al-SHARIF, president]; Muslim Brotherhood [Abd-al-Majid DHUNAYBAT, secretary general]

Suffrage [time series]

18 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 (1953-99). 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. King ABDALLAH II - the eldest son of King HUSSEIN and Princess MUNA - assumed the throne following his father's death in February 1999. Since then, he has consolidated his power and established his domestic priorities, including an aggressive economic reform program. Jordan acceded to the World Trade Organization in January 2000, and signed free trade agreements with the United States in 2000, and with the European Free Trade Association in 2001.

Military

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

Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF) (Royal Jordanian Land Force, Royal Naval Force, Royal Jordanian Air Force, and Special Operations Command or SOCOM); note - Public Security Directorate normally falls under Ministry of Interior but comes under JAF in wartime or crisis situations

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$757.5 million (FY01)

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

8.6% (FY01)

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 1,577,136 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males age 15-49: 1,113,787 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - military age [time series]

18 years of age (2003 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually [time series]

males: 58,840 (2003 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 35.9% (male 1,001,174; female 959,157) 15-64 years: 60.5% (male 1,764,061; female 1,541,453) 65 years and over: 3.6% (male 95,566; female 98,854) (2003 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

23.68 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Death rate [time series]

2.62 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

Arab 98%, Circassian 1%, Armenian 1%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

less than 1,000

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 18.86 deaths/1,000 live births female: 14.98 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.) male: 22.51 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 77.88 years male: 75.42 years female: 80.5 years (2003 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 91.3% male: 95.9% female: 86.3% (2003 est.)

Median age [time series]

total: 21.8 years male: 22.4 years female: 21.1 years (2002)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Jordanian(s) adjective: Jordanian

Net migration rate [time series]

6.78 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Population [time series]

5,460,265 (July 2003 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

2.78% (2003 est.)

Religions [time series]

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.)

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.14 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.97 male(s)/female total population: 1.1 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

3 children born/woman (2003 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

none

Transportation

Airports [time series]

17 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 15 over 3,047 m: 7 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 under 914 m: 1 (2002) 914 to 1,523 m: 1

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 2 under 914 m: 2 (2002)

Heliports [time series]

2 (2002)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 7,245 km paved: 7,245 km unpaved: 0 km (2000)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 9 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 63,522 GRT/79,776 DWT ships by type: cargo 3, container 1, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 3, short-sea passenger 1 note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Greece 6 (2002 est.)

Pipelines [time series]

gas 10 km; oil 743 km (2003)

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Al 'Aqabah

Railways [time series]

total: 505 km narrow gauge: 505 km 1.050-m gauge (2002)

Waterways [time series]

none