Jordan

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

Internet country code

.jo

Internet hosts

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

Internet users

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

Telephone system

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 - main lines in use

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

Telephones - mobile cellular

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

Agriculture - products

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

Central bank discount rate

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

Commercial bank prime lending rate

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

Current account balance

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

Debt - external

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

Distribution of family income - Gini index

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

Economy - 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 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

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

Electricity - exports

176 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports

200 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production

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

Exchange rates

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

Exports

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

Exports - commodities

clothing, fertilizers, potash, phosphates, vegetables, pharmaceuticals

Exports - partners

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

GDP (official exchange rate)

$27.13 billion (2010 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$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

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

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$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

GDP - real growth rate

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

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

Imports

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

Imports - commodities

crude oil, machinery, transport equipment, iron, cereals

Imports - partners

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

Industrial production growth rate

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

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

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

Investment (gross fixed)

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

Labor force

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

Labor force - by occupation

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

Market value of publicly traded shares

$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

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

Natural gas - exports

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

Natural gas - imports

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

Natural gas - production

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

Natural gas - proved reserves

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

Oil - consumption

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

Oil - exports

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

Oil - imports

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

Oil - production

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

Oil - proved reserves

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

Population below poverty line

14.2% (2002)

Public debt

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

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

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

Stock of broad money

$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

$NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

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

Stock of domestic credit

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

Stock of narrow money

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

Unemployment rate

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

Area

total: 89,342 sq km country comparison to the world: 111 land: 88,802 sq km water: 540 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Indiana

Climate

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

Coastline

26 km

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Dead Sea -408 m highest point: Jabal Umm ad Dami 1,854 m

Environment - current issues

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

Environment - international agreements

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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

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

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

Irrigated land

750 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

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

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

Location

Middle East, northwest of Saudi Arabia

Map references

Middle East

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 3 nm

Natural hazards

droughts; periodic earthquakes

Natural resources

phosphates, potash, shale oil

Terrain

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

0.9 cu km (1997)

Administrative divisions

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

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

1 January 1952; amended many times

Country name

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

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

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

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 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

constitutional monarchy

Independence

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

International organization participation

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

Court of Cassation (Supreme Court)

Legal system

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

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

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

Independence Day, 25 May (1946)

Political parties and leaders

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 pressure groups and leaders

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

18 years of age; universal

Background

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.

Manpower available for military service

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

Manpower fit for military service

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

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

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

Military branches

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

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

Military service age and obligation

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)

Age structure

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

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

Death rate

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

Education expenditures

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

Ethnic groups

Arab 98%, Circassian 1%, Armenian 1%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

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

HIV/AIDS - deaths

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

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

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

Infant mortality rate

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

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

Life expectancy at birth

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

Literacy

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

Median age

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

Nationality

noun: Jordanian(s) adjective: Jordanian

Net migration rate

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

Population

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

Population growth rate

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

Religions

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)

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

Sex ratio

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

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

Urbanization

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

Disputes - international

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

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

Airports

18 (2010) country comparison to the world: 138

Airports - with paved runways

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

total: 2 under 914 m: 2 (2010)

Heliports

1 (2010)

Merchant marine

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

gas 439 km; oil 49 km (2009)

Ports and terminals

Al 'Aqabah

Railways

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

Roadways

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