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National Map
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Jordan |
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National Flag
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Jordan |
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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
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National Emblem(Coat Of Arms)
Of |
Jordan |
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National Anthem
Of |
Jordan |
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Categories National Symbol Of |
Jordan |
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Background:
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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, despite several wars and coup
attempts. In 1989 he reinstituted parliamentary
elections and gradual political liberalization; in 1994
he signed a formal peace treaty 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 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. After a
two-year delay, parliamentary and municipal elections
took place in the summer of 2003. The Prime Minister and
government appointed in April 2005 declared they would
build upon the previous government's achievements to
respect political and human rights and improve living
standards. |
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Location:
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Middle
East, northwest of Saudi Arabia |
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Geographic coordinates:
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31 00 N,
36 00 E |
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Map references:
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Middle
East |
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Area:
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total:
92,300 sq km
land: 91,971 sq km
water: 329 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly
smaller than Indiana |
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Land boundaries:
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total:
1,635 km
border countries: Iraq 181 km, Israel 238 km,
Saudi Arabia 744 km, Syria 375 km, West Bank 97 km |
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Coastline:
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26 km
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Maritime claims:
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territorial sea: 3 nm |
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Climate:
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mostly
arid desert; rainy season in west (November to April)
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Terrain:
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mostly
desert plateau in east, highland area in west; Great
Rift Valley separates East and West Banks of the Jordan
River |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest
point: Dead Sea -408 m
highest point: Jabal Ram 1,734 m |
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Natural resources:
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phosphates, potash, shale oil |
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Land use:
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arable
land: 2.67%
permanent crops: 1.83%
other: 95.5% (2001) |
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Irrigated land:
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750 sq km
(1998 est.) |
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Natural hazards:
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droughts;
periodic earthquakes |
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Environment - current issues:
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limited
natural fresh water resources; deforestation;
overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification |
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Environment - international agreements:
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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 |
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Geography - note:
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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 |
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Population:
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5,759,732
(July 2005 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14
years: 34.5% (male 1,015,084/female 973,220)
15-64 years: 61.7% (male 1,897,643/female
1,656,570)
65 years and over: 3.8% (male 106,168/female
111,047) (2005 est.) |
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Median age:
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total:
22.62 years
male: 23.25 years
female: 21.94 years (2005 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
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2.56%
(2005 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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21.76
births/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Death rate:
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2.63
deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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6.42
migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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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: 0.96 male(s)/female
total population: 1.1 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
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Infant mortality rate:
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total:
17.35 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 20.75 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 13.75 deaths/1,000 live births (2005
est.) |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total
population: 78.24 years
male: 75.75 years
female: 80.88 years (2005 est.) |
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Total fertility rate:
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2.71
children born/woman (2005 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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less than
0.1% (2001 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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600 (2003
est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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less than
500 (2003 est.) |
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Nationality:
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noun:
Jordanian(s)
adjective: Jordanian |
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Ethnic groups:
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Arab 98%,
Circassian 1%, Armenian 1% |
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Religions:
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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.) |
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Languages:
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Arabic
(official), English widely understood among upper and
middle classes |
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 91.3%
male: 95.9%
female: 86.3% (2003 est.) |
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Country name:
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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 |
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Government type:
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constitutional monarchy |
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Capital:
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'Amman
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Administrative divisions:
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12
governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Ajlun,
Al 'Aqabah, Al Balqa', Al Karak, Al Mafraq, 'Amman, At
Tafilah, Az Zarqa', Irbid, Jarash, Ma'an, Madaba |
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Independence:
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25 May
1946 (from League of Nations mandate under British
administration) |
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National holiday:
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Independence Day, 25 May (1946) |
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Constitution:
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1 January
1952; amended 1974, 1976, 1984 |
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Legal system:
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based on
Islamic law and French codes; judicial review of
legislative acts in a specially provided High Tribunal;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction |
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Suffrage:
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18 years
of age; universal |
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Executive branch:
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chief
of state: King ABDALLAH II (since 7 February 1999);
Prince HUSSEIN (born 1994), son of King ABDALLAH, is
first in line to inherit the throne
head of government: Prime Minister Adnan BADRAN
(since 7 April 2005); Deputy Prime Ministers Marwan
al-MUASHER and Hisham al-TEL (since 3 July 2005)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister
in consultation with the monarch
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime
minister appointed by the monarch |
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Legislative branch:
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bicameral
National Assembly or Majlis al-'Umma consists of the
Senate, also called the House of Notables (Majlis
al-Ayan) (55 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)
election results: House of Representatives -
percent of vote by party - independents and others
89.6%, Islamic Action Front (IAF) 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
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 |
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Judicial branch:
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Court of
Cassation; Supreme Court (court of final appeal) |
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Political parties and leaders:
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Al-Ajyal
[Muhammad KHALAYLEH, secretary general]; Al-Umma
(Nation) Party [Ahmad al-HANANDEH, secretary general];
Arab Land Party [Dr. Ayishah Salih HIJAZAYN, secretary
general]; Ba'th Arab Progressive Party [Fu'ad DABBUR,
secretary general]; Communist Party [Munir HAMARINAH,
secretary general]; Constitutional National Party [Ahmad
al-SHUNNAQ, secretary general; Democratic Arab Islamic
Movement [Yusuf ABU BAKR, president]; Green Party
[Muhammad BATAYNEH, secretary general]; Islamic Action
Front [Hazma MANSOUR, secretary general]; Islamic
al-Walsat Party [Marwan al-FAURI], secretary general;
Jordanian Democratic Left Party [Musa MA'AYTEH,
secretary general]; Jordanian Democratic Popular Unity
Party [Sa'id Dhiyab Ali MUSTAFA, secretary general];
Jordanian People's Democratic (Hashd) Party [Ahmad
YUSUF, secretary general]; Jordanian Progressive Party
[Fawwaz al-ZUBI, secretary general]; Labor Party [Dr.
Mazin Sulayman Jiryis HANNA, secretary general]; Muslim
Centrist Party [leader NA]; National Action (Haqq) Party
[Tariq al-KAYYALI, secretary general]; National
Constitutional Party [Abdul Hadi MAJALI, secretary
general]; National Movement for Direct Democracy [Mahmud
al-NUWAYHI, secretary general]; Pan-Arab (Democratic)
Movement [Mahmud al-NUWAYHI, secretary general]; (Arab)
Socialist Ba'th Party [Taysir al-HIMSI, secretary
general] |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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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] |
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International organization participation:
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ABEDA,
AFESD, AMF, CAEU, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, MINUSTAH,
MONUC, NAM, OIC, ONUB, OPCW, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN,
UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIK, UNMIL,
UNMISET, UNOCI, UNOMIG, UNRWA, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief
of mission: Ambassador Karim Tawfiq KAWAR
chancery: 3504 International Drive NW,
Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 966-2664
FAX: [1] (202) 966-3110 |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief
of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires
David M. HALE
embassy: Abdoun, Amman
mailing address: P. O. Box 354, Amman 11118
Jordan; Unit 70200, Box 5, APO AE 09892-0200
telephone: [962] (6) 592-0101
FAX: [962] (6) 592-4102 |
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Flag description:
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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 |
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Economy - overview:
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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 substantial headway
with privatization. The government also has liberalized
the trade regime sufficiently to secure Jordan's
membership in the WTO (2000), a free trade accord with
the US (2001), and an association agreement with the EU
(2001). These measures have helped improve productivity
and have put Jordan on the foreign investment map.
Jordan imported most of its oil from Iraq, but the
US-led war in Iraq in 2003 made Jordan more dependent on
oil from other Gulf nations forcing the Jordanian
government to raise retail petroleum product prices and
the sales tax base. Jordan's export market, which is
heavily dependent on exports to Iraq, was also affected
by the war but recovered quickly while contributing to
the Iraq recovery effort. The main challenges facing
Jordan are reducing dependence on foreign grants,
reducing the budget deficit, and creating investment
incentives to promote job creation. |
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GDP (purchasing power parity):
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$25.5
billion (2004 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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5.1%
(2004 est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $4,500 (2004 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 2.4%
industry: 26%
services: 71.5% (2004 est.) |
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Labor force:
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1.41
million (2004 est.) |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture 5%, industry 12.5%, services 82.5% (2001
est.) |
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Unemployment rate:
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15%
official rate; unofficial rate is approximately 30%
(2004 est.) |
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Population below poverty line:
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30% (2001
est.) |
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest
10%: 3.3%
highest 10%: 29.8% (1997) |
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Distribution of family income - Gini index:
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36.4
(1997) |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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3.2%
(2004 est.) |
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Investment (gross fixed):
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11.6% of
GDP (2004 est.) |
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Budget:
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revenues: $3.483 billion
expenditures: $3.616 billion, including capital
expenditures of $782 million (2004 est.) |
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Public debt:
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85.8% of
GDP (2004 est.) |
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Agriculture - products:
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wheat,
barley, citrus, tomatoes, melons, olives; sheep, goats,
poultry |
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Industries:
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phosphate
mining, pharmaceuticals, petroleum refining, cement,
potash, inorganic chemicals, light manufacturing,
tourism |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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5% (2004
est.) |
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Electricity - production:
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7.307
billion kWh (2002) |
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil
fuel: 99.4%
hydro: 0.6%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001) |
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Electricity - consumption:
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7.094
billion kWh (2002) |
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Electricity - exports:
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2 million
kWh (2002) |
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Electricity - imports:
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300
million kWh (2002) |
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Oil - production:
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40
bbl/day (2004 est.) |
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Oil - consumption:
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103,000
bbl/day (2004 est.) |
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Oil - exports:
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0 bbl/day
(2004 est.) |
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Oil - imports:
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100,000
bbl/day (2004 est.) |
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Oil - proved reserves:
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445,000
bbl (1 January 2002) |
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Natural gas - production:
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290
million cu m (2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - consumption:
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290
million cu m (2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - exports:
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0 cu m
(2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - imports:
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0 cu m
(2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - proved reserves:
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3.256
billion cu m (1 January 2002) |
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Current account balance:
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$203.2
million (2004 est.) |
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Exports:
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$3.2
billion f.o.b. (2004 est.) |
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Exports - commodities:
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clothing,
phosphates, fertilizers, potash, vegetables,
manufactures, pharmaceuticals |
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Exports - partners:
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US 28.9%,
Iraq 17.6%, India 7.1%, Saudi Arabia 5.6% (2004) |
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Imports:
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$7.6
billion f.o.b. (2004 est.) |
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Imports - commodities:
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crude
oil, textile fabrics, machinery, transport equipment,
manufactured goods |
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Imports - partners:
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Saudi
Arabia 19.8%, China 8.4%, Germany 6.8%, US 6.8% (2004)
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Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
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$5.457
billion (2004 est.) |
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Debt - external:
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$7.32
billion (2004 est.) |
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Economic aid - recipient:
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ODA, $500
million (2004 est.) |
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Currency (code):
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Jordanian
dinar (JOD) |
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Currency code:
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JOD |
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Exchange rates:
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Jordanian
dinars per US dollar - 0.709 (2004), 0.709 (2003), 0.709
(2002), 0.709 (2001), 0.709 (2000) |
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Fiscal year:
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calendar
year |
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Telephones - main lines in use:
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622,600
(2003) |
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
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1,325,300
(2003) |
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Telephone system:
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general assessment: service has improved recently
with 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: country code - 962; 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 |
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Radio broadcast stations:
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AM 6, FM
5, shortwave 1 (1999) |
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Radios:
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1.66
million (1997) |
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Television broadcast stations:
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20 (plus
96 repeaters) (1995) |
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Televisions:
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500,000
(1997) |
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Internet country code:
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.jo |
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Internet hosts:
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3,160
(2004) |
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Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
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5 (2000)
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Internet users:
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457,000
(2003) |
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Railways:
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total:
505 km
narrow gauge: 505 km 1.050-m gauge (2004) |
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Highways:
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total:
7,301 km
paved: 7,301 km
unpaved: 0 km (2002) |
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Pipelines:
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gas 10
km; oil 743 km (2004) |
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Ports and harbors:
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Al
'Aqabah |
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Merchant marine:
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total:
20 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 78,814 GRT/92,695 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 2, cargo 7, container 2,
passenger/cargo 5, roll on/roll off 4
foreign-owned: 12 (Greece 3, UAE 9)
registered in other countries: 14 (2005) |
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Airports:
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17 (2004
est.) |
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total:
15
over 3,047 m: 7
2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.) |
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total:
2
under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.) |
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Heliports:
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1 (2004
est.) |
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Military branches:
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Jordanian
Armed Forces (JAF): Royal Jordanian Land Force, Royal
Jordanian Navy, Royal Jordanian Air Force, and Special
Operations Command (SOCOM); note - Public Security
Directorate normally falls under Ministry of Interior
but comes under JAF in wartime or crisis situations |
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Military service age and obligation:
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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 (2004) |
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Manpower available for military service:
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males
age 17-49: 1,573,995 (2005 est.) |
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Manpower fit for military service:
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males
age 17-49: 1,348,076 (2005 est.) |
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Manpower reaching military service age annually:
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males:
60,625 (2005 est.) |
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Military expenditures - dollar figure:
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$1.46
billion (2004) |
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Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
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14.6%
(2004) |
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Disputes - international:
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2004
Agreement settles border dispute with Syria pending
demarcation |
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Refugees and internally displaced persons:
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refugees (country of origin): 1,740,170 (Palestinian
Refugees (UNRWA))
IDPs: 800,000 (1967 Arab-Israeli War) (2004) |
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This page was last updated on
20 October, 2005 |
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