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Communications

Broadcast media [time series]

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 operational with JRTV operating the main government-owned station; transmissions of multiple international radio broadcasters are available (2007)

Internet country code [time series]

.jo

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

42,412 (2010) country comparison to the world: 92

Internet users [time series]

1.642 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 78

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

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; currently multiple mobile-cellular providers with subscribership rapidly approaching 100 per 100 persons international: country code - 962; landing point for the Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG) FEA and FLAG Falcon submarine cable networks; 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 (2010)

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

501,200 (2009) country comparison to the world: 96

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

6.014 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 85

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

citrus, tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, strawberries, stone fruits; sheep, poultry, dairy

Central bank discount rate [time series]

4.75% (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 73 6.25% (31 December 2008)

Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]

9.25% (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 104 9.03% (31 December 2008 est.)

Current account balance [time series]

-$975 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 135 -$1.27 billion (2009 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$5.522 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 101 $6.766 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

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

39.7 (2007) country comparison to the world: 63 36.4 (1997)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

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 poverty, unemployment, inflation, and a large budget deficit. Since assuming the throne in 1999, King ABDALLAH has implemented significant economic reforms, such as opening the trade regime, privatizing state-owned companies, and eliminating most fuel subsidies, which in the past few years have spurred economic growth by attracting foreign investment and creating some jobs. The global economic slowdown, however, has depressed Jordan's GDP growth. Export-oriented sectors such as manufacturing, mining, and the transport of re-exports have been hit the hardest. The Government approved two supplementary budgets in 2010, but sweeping tax cuts planned for 2010 did not materialize because of Amman's need for additional revenue to cover excess spending. The budget deficit is likely to remain high, at 5-6% of GDP, and Amman likely will continue to depend heavily on foreign assistance to finance the deficit in 2011. Jordan's financial sector has been relatively isolated from the international financial crisis because of its limited exposure to overseas capital markets. Jordan is currently exploring nuclear power generation to forestall energy shortfalls.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

10.4 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 85

Electricity - exports [time series]

176 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports [time series]

200 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

12.21 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 85

Exchange rates [time series]

Jordanian dinars (JOD) per US dollar - 0.709 (2010), 0.709 (2009), 0.709 (2008), 0.709 (2007), 0.709 (2006)

Exports [time series]

$7.333 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 98 $6.366 billion (2009 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

clothing, fertilizers, potash, phosphates, vegetables, pharmaceuticals

Exports - partners [time series]

US 17.13%, Iraq 17%, India 13.59%, Saudi Arabia 10.56%, Syria 4.18%, UAE 4.09% (2009)

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$27.13 billion (2010 est.)

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

$33.79 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 103 $32.74 billion (2009 est.) $31.98 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

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

agriculture: 3.4% industry: 30.3% services: 66.2% (2010 est.)

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

$5,300 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 141 $5,200 (2009 est.) $5,200 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

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

3.2% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 111 2.4% (2009 est.) 5.8% (2008 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 3% highest 10%: 30.7% (2006)

Imports [time series]

$12.97 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 82 $12.5 billion (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

crude oil, machinery, transport equipment, iron, cereals

Imports - partners [time series]

Saudi Arabia 17.3%, China 10.95%, US 6.94%, Germany 6.29%, Egypt 6.1% (2009)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

2.7% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 116

Industries [time series]

clothing, fertilizers, potash, phosphate mining, pharmaceuticals, petroleum refining, cement, inorganic chemicals, light manufacturing, tourism

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

4.4% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 128 -0.7% (2009 est.)

Investment (gross fixed) [time series]

30.1% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 18

Labor force [time series]

1.719 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 126

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture: 2.7% industry: 20% services: 77.4% (2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]

$31.86 billion (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 53 $35.85 billion (31 December 2008) $41.22 billion (31 December 2007)

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

2.97 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 73

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 83

Natural gas - imports [time series]

2.72 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 42

Natural gas - production [time series]

250 million cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 72

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

6.031 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 87

Oil - consumption [time series]

108,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 74

Oil - exports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 190

Oil - imports [time series]

108,200 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 62

Oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 169

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

1 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 97

Population below poverty line [time series]

14.2% (2002)

Public debt [time series]

61.4% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 29 64.7% of GDP (2009 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$12.64 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 50 $12.14 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money [time series]

$35.53 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 72 $33.38 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad [time series]

$NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home [time series]

$22.19 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 66 $19.76 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit [time series]

$26.85 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 72 $25.14 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money [time series]

$9.386 billion (31 December 2010 est) country comparison to the world: 72 $8.437 billion (31 December 2009 est)

Unemployment rate [time series]

13.4% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 139 12.9% (2009 est.) note: official rate; unofficial rate is approximately 30%

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 89,342 sq km country comparison to the world: 111 land: 88,802 sq km water: 540 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 Umm ad Dami 1,854 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, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Total water withdrawal (Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)) [time series]

total: 1.01 cu km/yr (21%/4%/75%) per capita: 177 cu m/yr (2000)

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 (2003)

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: 3.32% permanent crops: 1.18% other: 95.5% (2005)

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

Total renewable water resources [time series]

0.9 cu km (1997)

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]

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 Friday in March; ends last Friday in October

Constitution [time series]

1 January 1952; amended many times

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

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Robert S. BEECROFT embassy: Abdoun, Amman mailing address: P. O. Box 354, Amman 11118 Jordan; Unit 70200, Box 5, DPO AE 09892-0200 telephone: [962] (6) 590-6000 FAX: [962] (6) 592-0121

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Alia Hatough BOURAN 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 II (since 7 February 1999); Crown Prince HUSSEIN (born 28 June 1994), eldest son of King ABDALLAH II head of government: Prime Minister Samir al-RIFAI (since 9 December 2009); Deputy Prime Ministers Ayman al-SAFADI, Khalid al-KARAKI, Sa'ad Hayel SROUR cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister in consultation with the monarch (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website) elections: the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

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 [time series]

constitutional monarchy

Independence [time series]

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

International organization participation [time series]

ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, CAEU, CICA, FAO, G-11, 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, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch [time series]

Court of Cassation (Supreme Court)

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 or Majlis al-Ayan (60 seats; members appointed by the monarch to serve four-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputies, also called the House of Representatives or Majlis al-Nuwaab (120 seats; members elected using a single, non-transferable vote system in multi-member districts to serve four-year terms); note - the new electoral law enacted in May 2010 allocated an additional 10 seats (6 seats added to the number reserved for women, bringing the total to 12; 2 additional seats for Amman; and 1 seat each for the cities of Zarqa and Irbid; unchanged are 9 seats reserved for Christian candidates, 9 for Bedouin candidates, and 3 for Jordanians of Chechen or Circassian descent elections: Chamber of Deputies - last held on 9 November 2010 (next scheduled in 2014); note - the King dissolved the previous Chamber of Deputies in November 2009, midway through the parliamentary term election results: Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - independents and other 120 (includes 12 seats filled by women's quota and 1 woman was directly elected); note - the IAF boycotted the election

National anthem(s) (National anthem) [time series]

name: "As-salam al-malaki al-urdoni" (Long Live the King of Jordan) lyrics/music: Abdul-Mone'm al-RIFAI'/Abdul-Qader al-TANEER note: adopted 1946; the shortened version of the anthem is used most commonly, while the full version is reserved for special occasions

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 25 May (1946)

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

Arab Ba'ath Socialist Party [Fuad DABBOUR]; Ba'ath Arab Progressive Party [Tayseer al-HAMSI]; Call Party [Mohammed Abu BAKR]; Democratic People's Party [Ablah al-ULBAH]; Democratic Popular Unity Party [Sa'ed DIAB]; Islamic Action Front or IAF [Hamzeh MANSOUR]; Islamic Center Party [Marwan al-FA'OURI; Jordanian Communist Party [Munir HAMARNEH]; Jordanian National Party [Mona Abu BAKR]; Jordanian United Front [Amjad al-MAJALI]; Life Party [Thaher 'AMROU]; Message Party [Hazem QASHOU]; National Constitution Party [Ahmed al-SHUNAQ]; National Current Party [Abd al-Hadi al-MAJALI]; National Movement for Direct Democracy [Mohammed al-QAQ]

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

Anti-Normalization Committee [Hamzeh MANSOUR, chairman]; Higher Coordination Committee of Opposition Parties [Hamzeh MANZOUR]; Jordan Bar Association [Saleh al-ARMUTI, chairman]; Jordanian Press Association [Sayf al-SHARIF, president]; Jordanian Muslim Brotherhood [Dr. Hamam SAID, controller general]

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

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. Jordan lost the West Bank to Israel in the 1967 war and barely managed to defeat Palestinian rebels who attempted to overthrow the monarchy in 1970. King HUSSEIN in 1988 permanently relinquished Jordanian claims to the West Bank. In 1989, he reinstituted parliamentary elections and initiated a gradual political liberalization; political parties were legalized in 1992. 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. In 2003, Jordan staunchly supported the Coalition ouster of Saddam in Iraq and following the outbreak of insurgent violence in Iraq, absorbed thousands of displaced Iraqis. 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 2010 and saw independent pro-government candidates win the vast majority of seats.

Military

Manpower available for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 1,646,215 females age 16-49: 1,579,268 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 1,416,681 females age 16-49: 1,358,608 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]

male: 73,554 female: 69,359 (2010 est.)

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

Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF): Royal Jordanian Land Force (RJLF), 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 expenditures [time series]

8.6% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 5

Military service age and obligation [time series]

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 in the Royal Jordanian Arab Army Women's Corps; conscription for males only resurrected in July 2007 in order to provide youth training necessary for job market needs (2010)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 36% (male 1,161,484/female 1,096,441) 15-64 years: 59.4% (male 1,892,472/female 1,829,112) 65 years and over: 4.6% (male 143,058/female 146,718) (2010 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

27.06 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 52

Death rate [time series]

2.66 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 222

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

4.9% of GDP (1999) country comparison to the world: 72

Ethnic groups [time series]

Arab 98%, Circassian 1%, Armenian 1%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

less than 0.1% (2001 est.) country comparison to the world: 149

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

fewer than 500 (2003 est.) country comparison to the world: 86

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

600 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 146

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 17.03 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 109 male: 17.55 deaths/1,000 live births female: 16.48 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 79.92 years country comparison to the world: 27 male: 78.64 years female: 81.28 years (2010 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 89.9% male: 95.1% female: 84.7% (2003 est.)

Median age [time series]

total: 21.8 years male: 21.6 years female: 22.1 years (2010 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Jordanian(s) adjective: Jordanian

Net migration rate [time series]

-2.81 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 182

Population [time series]

6,407,085 (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 102

Population growth rate [time series]

2.159% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 41

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 Shia Muslim and Druze populations) (2001 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]

total: 13 years male: 13 years female: 13 years (2008)

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.97 male(s)/female total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

3.42 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 49

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 78% of total population (2008) rate of urbanization: 3.1% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

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 [time series]

refugees (country of origin): 1,835,704 (Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA)); 500,000 (Iraq) IDPs: 160,000 (1967 Arab-Israeli War) (2007)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

18 (2010) country comparison to the world: 138

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 16 over 3,047 m: 8 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 2 under 914 m: 2 (2010)

Heliports [time series]

1 (2010)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 13 country comparison to the world: 108 by type: cargo 5, passenger/cargo 6, petroleum tanker 1, roll on/roll off 1 foreign-owned: 7 (UAE 7) registered in other countries: 20 (Bahamas 2, Egypt 2, Panama 13, Syria 2, unknown 1) (2010)

Pipelines [time series]

gas 439 km; oil 49 km (2009)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

Al 'Aqabah

Railways [time series]

total: 507 km country comparison to the world: 114 narrow gauge: 507 km 1.050-m gauge (2008)

Roadways [time series]

total: 7,891 km country comparison to the world: 143 paved: 7,891 km (2009)