Jordan

Jordan

Introduction

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 defeated 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, King HUSSEIN’s eldest son, assumed the throne following his father’s death in February 1999. Since then, he has consolidated his power and implemented some economic and political reforms. 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 last held in November 2010 and saw independent pro-government candidates win the vast majority of seats. Beginning in January 2011 in the wake of unrest in Tunisia and Egypt, several thousand Jordanians staged weekly demonstrations and marches in Amman and other cities throughout Jordan to protest government corruption, rising prices, rampant poverty, and high unemployment. In response, King ABDALLAH replaced his prime minister and formed two commissions – one to propose specific reforms to Jordan’s electoral and political parties laws, and the other to consider limited constitutional amendments. In a televised speech in June, the King announced plans to work toward transferring authority for appointing future prime ministers and cabinet ministers to parliament

in a subsequent announcement, he outlined a revised political parties law intended to encourage greater political participation. Protesters and opposition elements generally acknowledged those measures as steps in the right direction but many continue to push for greater limits on the King’s authority and to fight against government corruption. In September, a royal decree approved constitutional amendments passed by the Parliament aimed at strengthening a more independent judiciary and establishing a constitutional court and independent election commission to oversee the next municipal and parliamentary elections, slated for December 2011 and late 2012, respectively.

Geography

Location

Middle East, northwest of Saudi Arabia, between Israel (to the west) and Iraq

Geographic coordinates

31 00 N, 36 00 E

Map references

Middle East

Area

total: 89,342 sq km
country comparison to the world: 112 land:88,802 sq km
water:540 sq km

Area – comparative

slightly smaller than Indiana

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

Coastline

26 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 3 nm

Climate

mostly arid desert

rainy season in west (November to April)

Terrain

mostly desert plateau in east, highland area in west

Great Rift Valley separates East and West Banks of the Jordan River

Elevation extremes

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

Natural resources

phosphates, potash, shale oil

Land use

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

Irrigated land

820 sq km (2008)

Total renewable water resources

0.9 cu km (1997)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

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

Natural hazards

droughts

periodic earthquakes

Environment – current issues

limited natural freshwater 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

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

People and Society

Nationality

noun: Jordanian(s)
adjective:Jordanian

Ethnic groups

Arab 98%, Circassian 1%, Armenian 1%

Languages

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

Religions

Sunni Muslim 92% (official), 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.)

Population

6,508,271 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103

Age structure

0-14 years: 35.3% (male 1,180,595/female 1,114,533)
15-64 years:59.9% (male 1,977,075/female 1,921,504)
65 years and over:4.8% (male 153,918/female 160,646) (2011 est.)

Median age

total: 22.1 years
male:21.8 years
female:22.4 years (2011 est.)

Population growth rate

0.984% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116

Birth rate

26.79 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50

Death rate

2.69 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 219

Net migration rate

-14.26 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 215

Urbanization

urban population: 79% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization:1.6% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Major cities – population

AMMAN (capital) 1.088 million (2009)

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 (2011 est.)

Maternal mortality rate

59 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)
country comparison to the world: 92

Infant mortality rate

total: 16.42 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 107 male:16.98 deaths/1,000 live births
female:15.83 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 80.05 years
country comparison to the world: 29 male:78.73 years
female:81.45 years (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

3.39 children born/woman (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49

Health expenditures

4.5% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 150

Physicians density

2.45 physicians/1,000 population (2009)
country comparison to the world: 55

Hospital bed density

1.8 beds/1,000 population (2009)
country comparison to the world: 110

Drinking water source

improved:
urban: 98% of population
rural: 91% of population
total: 96% of population
unimproved:
urban: 2% of population
rural: 9% of population
total: 4% of population (2008)

Sanitation facility access

improved:
urban: 98% of population
rural: 97% of population
total: 98% of population
unimproved:
urban: 2% of population
rural: 3% of population
total: 2% of population (2008)

HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate

less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138

HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS

600 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149

HIV/AIDS – deaths

fewer than 500 (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88

Obesity – adult prevalence rate

19.5% (2004)
country comparison to the world: 23

Education expenditures

NA

Literacy

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

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

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

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 27%
country comparison to the world: 21 male:22.6%
female:45.9% (2009)

Government

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

Government type

constitutional monarchy

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 first Friday in April

ends last Friday in October

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

Independence

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

National holiday

Independence Day, 25 May (1946)

Constitution

1 January 1952

amended many times

Legal system

mixed legal system of civil law and Islamic religious law

judicial review of legislative acts in a specially provided High Tribunal

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration

accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Suffrage

18 years of age

universal

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 Awn Shawkat KHASAWNAH (since 24 October 2011)

Deputy Prime Minister Tawfiq KREISHAN (since 2 July 2011)
cabinet:Cabinet appointed by the prime minister in consultation with the monarch

note – on 1 February 2011 the King dismissed the cabinet and designated Marouf al-BAKHIT the new prime minister
(For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections:the monarchy is hereditary

prime minister appointed by the monarch

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 2012)

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

Judicial branch

Court of Cassation (Supreme Court)

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]

International organization participation

ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, CAEU, CICA, FAO, G-11, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, 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, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Stuart E. JONES
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

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

National symbol(s)

eagle

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

Economy

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.

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$34.53 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103 $33.49 billion (2009 est.)
$32.73 billion (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate)

$27.53 billion (2010 est.)

GDP – real growth rate

3.1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123 2.3% (2009 est.)
7.6% (2008 est.)

GDP – per capita (PPP)

$5,400 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143 $5,300 (2009 est.)
$5,300 (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP – composition by sector

agriculture: 4.4%
industry:30.3%
services:65.3% (2010 est.)

Labor force

1.719 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125

Labor force – by occupation

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

Unemployment rate

12.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132 12.9% (2009 est.)
note:official rate

unofficial rate is approximately 30%

Population below poverty line

14.2% (2002)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Distribution of family income – Gini index

39.7 (2007)
country comparison to the world: 65 36.4 (1997)

Investment (gross fixed)

26.2% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48

Budget

revenues: $6.008 billion
expenditures:$8.051 billion (2010 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

21.8% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-7.4% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178

Public debt

61.2% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31 59.7% of GDP (2009 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150 -0.7% (2009 est.)

Central bank discount rate

0.3% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80 4.75% (31 December 2009 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

8.9% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116 9.25% (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$9.238 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74 $8.518 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 domestic credit

$26.72 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71 $25.14 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$30.86 billion (31 December 2010)
country comparison to the world: 56 $31.86 billion (31 December 2009)
$35.85 billion (31 December 2008)

Agriculture – products

citrus, tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, strawberries, stone fruits

sheep, poultry, dairy

Industries

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

Industrial production growth rate

-3.1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157

Electricity – production

13.01 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83

Electricity – consumption

11.3 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84

Electricity – exports

323 million kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity – imports

224 million kWh (2008 est.)

Oil – production

88 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121

Oil – consumption

98,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77

Oil – exports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180

Oil – imports

111,700 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62

Oil – proved reserves

1 million bbl (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97

Natural gas – production

250 million cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75

Natural gas – consumption

3.1 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72

Natural gas – exports

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121

Natural gas – imports

2.85 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40

Natural gas – proved reserves

6.031 billion cu m (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88

Current account balance

-$974.5 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132 -$1.27 billion (2009 est.)

Exports

$7.333 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101 $6.366 billion (2009 est.)

Exports – commodities

clothing, fertilizers, potash, phosphates, vegetables, pharmaceuticals

Exports – partners

US 15.6%, Iraq 15.4%, India 13.2%, Saudi Arabia 10.6%, UAE 4.3%, Syria 4% (2010)

Imports

$12.97 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81 $12.5 billion (2009 est.)

Imports – commodities

crude oil, machinery, transport equipment, iron, cereals

Imports – partners

Saudi Arabia 19.8%, China 10.8%, Germany 6.1%, US 5.6%, Egypt 4.5%, South Korea 4.2% (2010)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$13.65 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65 $12.14 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Debt – external

$17.46 billion (30 June 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79 $7.301 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment – at home

$20.67 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68 $18.89 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment – abroad

$NA

Exchange rates

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

Transportation

Airports

18 (2010)
country comparison to the world:139

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)

Pipelines

gas 439 km

oil 49 km (2010)

Railways

total: 507 km
country comparison to the world: 111 narrow gauge:507 km 1.050-m gauge (2010)

Roadways

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

Merchant marine

total: 13
country comparison to the world: 107 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)

Ports and terminals

Al ‘Aqabah

Military

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) (2011)

Military service age and obligation

17 years of age for voluntary military service

conscription for males at age 18 was suspended in 1999, but reinstated in July 2007 in order to provide youth training necessary for job market needs

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 (2010)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 1,674,260
females age 16-49:1,611,315 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 1,439,192
females age 16-49:1,384,500 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 73,574
female:69,420 (2010 est.)

Military expenditures

8.6% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 4

Transnational Issues

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)