Jordan

Hashemite Kingdom of JordanAl Mamlakah al Urduniyah al Hashimiyah

constitutional monarchy

Jordan as the 2000 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 108 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalAmman
Position31 00 N, 36 00 E
Area89,213 sq km
LocationMiddle East, northwest of Saudi Arabia
2000

Every edition of Jordan

Populationas each edition published it
5 million July 2000 est. · 3.06m in 1990
Population growth% a year
3.1% 2000 est. · 3.57% in 1993
Median ageyears
Not in this edition 21.8 yrs in 2003
Life expectancyyears at birth
77.36 years 2000 est. · 71.61 yrs in 1993
Fertility ratechildren per woman
3.44 children per woman 2000 est. · 6.2 in 1990
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
21.11 deaths per 1,000 live births 2000 est. · 55 in 1990
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
$3,500 1999 est. · $1,100 in 1993
GDP real growth% a year
2% 1999 est. · 3% in 1993

Introduction

1 field

Background

For most of its history since independence from British administration in 1946, Jordan was ruled by King HUSSEIN (1953-1999). A pragmatic ruler, he successfully navigated competing pressures from the major powers (US, USSR, and UK), various Arab states, Israel, and a large internal Palestinian population, through several wars and coup attempts. In 1989 he resumed parliamentary elections and gradually permitted political liberalization; in 1994 a formal peace treaty was signed with Israel.

Geography

Middle East, northwest of Saudi Arabia

17 fields

Land useshare of 89,213 sq km

arable land 4%permanent crops 1%permanent pastures 9%forests and woodland 1%other 85% (1993 est.)irrigated 630 sq km (1993 est.)
Area
89,213sq km
land: 88,884 sq kmwater: 329 sq kmslightly smaller than Indiana
Coastline
26km
territorial sea: 3 nm
Highest point
1,734m
Jabal Ramlowest point: Dead Sea -408 m
Land boundaries
1,619km
border countries: Iraq 181 km, Israel 238 km, Saudi Arabia 728 km, Syria 375 km, West Bank 97 km

Location

Middle East, northwest of Saudi Arabia

Geographic coordinates

31 00 N, 36 00 E

Map references

Middle East

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

Natural resources

phosphates, potash, shale oil

Environment - current issues

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

Environment - international agreements

party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified:
none of the selected agreements

People

15 fields
Population
4,998,564
(July 2000 est.)growth rate: 3.1% (2000 est.)

Per 1,000 population(2000 est.)

Birth
26.24Death
2.63Net migration
7.4

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (2000 est.)77.36
74.94 · 79.93
TotalMale · femaleLiteracy (1995 est.)86.6%
93.4% · 79.4%
MaleFemaleLiteracy definition: age 15 and over can read and write

Ethnic groups

Arab 98%Circassian 1%Armenian 1%

Age structure

0-14 years:
38% (male 968,579; female 925,987)
15-64 years:
59% (male 1,568,615; female 1,374,303)
65 years and over:
3% (male 79,748; female 81,332) (2000 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:
1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years:
1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years:
1.14 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.98 male(s)/female
total population:
1.1 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Infant mortality rate

21.11 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate

3.44 children born/woman (2000 est.)

Nationality

noun:
Jordanian(s)
adjective:
Jordanian

Religions

Sunni Muslim 96%, Christian 4% (1997 est.)

Languages

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

Government

Constitutional monarchy; King ABDALLAH bin al Hussein (since 7 February 1999); Prime Minister Abdur-Rauf RAWABDEH (since 4 March 1999)

19 fields

House of Representatives, 78 seats, elected 4 November 1997one dot, one seat

Arab Land Party 1independents 75other 2

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

Amman

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

8 January 1952

Suffrage

20 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state:
King ABDALLAH bin al Hussein (since 7 February 1999); Crown Prince HAMZAH bin al Hussein (half brother of the King, born 29 March 1980)
head of government:
Prime Minister Abdur-Rauf RAWABDEH (since 4 March 1999)
cabinet:
Cabinet appointed by the prime minister in consultation with the monarch
elections:
  • none;
  • the monarch is hereditary;
  • prime minister appointed by the monarch

Legislative branch

bicameral National Assembly or Majlis al-'Umma consists of the Senate (a 40-member body appointed by the monarch from designated categories of public figures; members serve four-year terms) and the House of Representatives (80 seats; members elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms)

elections:
House of Representatives - last held 4 November 1997 (next to be held NA November 2001)
election results:
House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - National Constitutional Party 2, Arab Land Party 1, independents 75, other 2

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

Judicial branch

Court of Cassation; Supreme Court (court of final appeal)

Political parties and leaders

  • Al-Ahrar (Freedom) Party [Dr. Ahmad ZO'BI, secretary general];
  • Arab Ba'th Progressive Party [Mahmoud al-MA'AYTAH, secretary general];
  • Arab Islamic Democratic Party (Doa'a) [Yousif ABU BAKR, secretary general];
  • Arab Jordanian Ansar Party [Muhammad MAJALI, secretary general];
  • Arab Land Party [Dr. Muhammad al-'ORAN, secretary general];
  • Democratic Party of the Left [Musa MA'AITAH, secretary general];
  • Islamic Action Front [Abd-al-Latif ARABIYAT, secretary general];
  • Jordanian Arab Constitutional Front Party [Milhem TELL, secretary general];
  • Jordanian Arab New Dawn Party [leader NA];
  • Jordanian Ba'th Arab Socialist Party [Tayseer al-HOMSI, secretary general];
  • Jordanian Communist Party [Ya'acoub ZAYADIN, secretary general];
  • Jordanian Democratic Popular Unity Party [Sa'eed MUSTAPHA, secretary general];
  • Jordanian Labor Party [Muhammad KHATAYIBAH, secretary general];
  • Jordanian Peace Party [Dr. Shaher KHREIS, secretary general];
  • Jordanian People's Democratic Party or HASHD [Salem NAHHAS, secretary general];
  • Al-Mustaqbal (Future) Party [Suleiman 'ARAR, secretary general];
  • National Action Party or Haqq [Muhammad ZO'BI, secretary general];
  • National Constitutional Party [Abdul Hadi MAJALI, secretary general];
  • National Democratic Public Movement Party [Muhammad al-'AMER, secretary general];
  • Progressive Party [Na'el BARAKAT, secretary general];
  • Al-Umma (Nation) Party [Ahmad HNEIDI, secretary general];
  • The Generations [Hamad al-KHALAYLA, chairman]

Political pressure groups and leaders

  • Council of Professional Association Presidents [Ahmad al-QADIRI, chairman];
  • Jordanian Press Association [Sayf al-SHARIF, president];
  • Muslim Brotherhood [Abd-al-Majid DHUNAYBAT, secretary general]

International organization participation

ABEDA, ACC, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOP, UNMOT, UNOMIG, UNRWA, UNTAET, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission:
Ambassador Marwan Jamil MUASHER
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 William BURNS
embassy:
Abdoum, Amman
mailing address:
P. O. Box 354, Amman 11118 Jordan; APO AE 09892-0200
telephone:
[962] (6) 5920101
FAX:
[962] (6) 5927712

Flag description

  • three equal horizontal bands of black (top), white, and green with a red isosceles triangle based on the hoist side bearing a small white seven-pointed star;
  • the seven points on the star represent the seven fundamental laws of the Koran

Economy

Jordan is a small Arab country with inadequate supplies of water and other natural resources such as oil.

31 fields
Real growth rate
2%
(1999 est.)industrial production growth: -3.4% (1996)
Unemployment rate
15%official rate
actual rate is 25%-30% (1999 est.)

GDP - composition by sector(1998 est.)

agriculture 3%industry 25%services 72% (1998 est.)

Budget

Revenues
$2.8 billionExpenditures
$3.1 billion (2000 est.)
expenditures including capital expenditures of $NA

Electricity

fossil fuel 99.51%hydro 0.49%nuclear 0% · other 0%
Electricity production
6.08 billion (1998)Electricity consumption
6.102 billion (1998)Electricity exports
2 million (1998)Electricity imports
450 million (1998)

Economy - overview

Jordan is a small Arab country with inadequate supplies of water and other natural resources such as oil. The Persian Gulf crisis, which began in August 1990, aggravated Jordan's already serious economic problems, forcing the government to shelve the IMF program, stop most debt payments, and suspend rescheduling negotiations.

Aid from Gulf Arab states, worker remittances, and trade contracted; and refugees flooded the country, producing serious balance-of-payments problems, stunting GDP growth, and straining government resources. The economy rebounded in 1992, largely due to the influx of capital repatriated by workers returning from the Gulf.

After averaging 9% in 1992-95, GDP growth averaged only 2% during 1996-99. In an attempt to spur growth, King ABDALLAH has undertaken limited economic reform, including partial privatization of some state owned enterprises and Jordan's entry in January 2000 into the World Trade Organization (WTrO). Debt, poverty, and unemployment are fundamental ongoing economic problems.

GDP

purchasing power parity - $16 billion (1999 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $3,500 (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%:
2.4%
highest 10%:
34.7% (1991)

Labor force

1.15 million note: in addition, at least 300,000 workers are employed abroad (1997 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

industry 11.4%, commerce, restaurants, and hotels 10.5%, construction 10%, transport and communications 8.7%, agriculture 7.4%, other services 52% (1992)

Industries

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

Agriculture - products

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

Exports

$1.8 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)

Exports - commodities

phosphates, fertilizers, potash, agricultural products, manufactures

Exports - partners

Iraq, India, Saudi Arabia, EU, Indonesia, UAE, Lebanon, Kuwait, Syria, Ethiopia

Imports

$3.3 billion (c.i.f., 1999 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

Germany, Iraq, US, Japan, UK, Italy, Turkey, Malaysia, Syria, China

Debt - external

$8.4 billion (1998 est.)

Economic aid - recipient

ODA, $850 million (1996 est.)

Currency

1 Jordanian dinar (JD) = 1,000 fils

Exchange rates

Jordanian dinars (JD) per US$1 - 0.7090 (January 2000-1996), 0.7005 (1995) note: since May 1989, the dinar has been pegged to a group of currencies

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

8 fields
Mobile cellular
75,000
(1999)
Fixed lines
402,600
(1997)

Telephone system

service has improved recently with the increased use of digital switching equipment, but better access to the telephone system is needed in the rural areas and easier access to pay telephones is needed by the urban public

domestic:
  • microwave radio relay transmission and coaxial and fiber-optic cable are employed on trunk lines;
  • considerable use is made of mobile cellular systems;
  • Internet service is available
international:
  • satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat, 1 Arabsat, and 29 land and maritime Inmarsat terminals;
  • fiber-optic cable to Saudi Arabia and microwave radio relay link with Egypt and Syria;
  • connection to international submarine cable FLAG (Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe);
  • participant in MEDARABTEL;
  • international links total about 4,000

Radio broadcast stations

AM 6, FM 5, shortwave 1 (1999)

Radios

1.66 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations

8 (plus approximately 42 repeaters and 1 TV receive-only satellite link) (1999)

Televisions

500,000 (1997)

Transportation

9 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right

9
over 3,047 m
4
2,438 to 3,047 m
3
under 914 m
2
1,524 to 2,437 m
1
914 to 1,523 m
1
Paved 16Unpaved 4

Networkskm

Highways
8,000Railways
677
Highways: paved: 8,000 km · unpaved: 0 km (2000 est.) · Railways: narrow gauge: 677 km 1.050-m gauge (2000)

Railways

total:
677 km
narrow gauge:
677 km 1.050-m gauge (2000)

Highways

total:
8,000 km
paved:
8,000 km
unpaved:
0 km (2000 est.)

Pipelines

crude oil 209 km; note - may not be in use

Merchant marine

total:
7 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 42,746 GRT/59,100 DWT
ships by type:
bulk 2, cargo 2, container 1, livestock carrier 1, roll-on/roll-off 1 (1999 est.)

Airports

20 (1999 est.)

Heliports

1 (1999 est.)

Military

7 fields

Military branches

  • Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF; includes
    • Royal Jordanian Land Force,
    • Royal Naval Force,
    • and Royal Jordanian Air Force)
    ;
  • Badiya (irregular) Border Guards;
  • Ministry of the Interior's Public Security Force (falls under JAF only in wartime or crisis situations)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 1,399,138 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 993,730 (2000 est.)

Transnational Issues

1 field

Disputes - international

none [Country Listing] [ The World Factbook Home]

Central Intelligence Agency. “Jordan.” The World Factbook 2000. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/jordan/2000.

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