Jordan

Hashemite Kingdom of JordanAl Mamlakah al Urduniyah al Hashimiyah

constitutional monarchy

Jordan as the 2002 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 116 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
Area92,300 sq km
LocationMiddle East, northwest of Saudi Arabia
2002

Every edition of Jordan

Populationas each edition published it
5.31 million July 2002 est. · 3.06m in 1990
Population growth% a year
2.89% 2002 est. · 3.57% in 1993
Median ageyears
Not in this edition 21.8 yrs in 2003
Life expectancyyears at birth
77.71 years 2002 est. · 71.61 yrs in 1993
Fertility ratechildren per woman
3.15 children per woman 2002 est. · 6.2 in 1990
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
19.61 deaths per 1,000 live births 2002 est. · 55 in 1990
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
$4,300 2002 est. · $1,100 in 1993
GDP real growth% a year
3.5% 2002 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 (1953-99). 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, 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.

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 established his domestic priorities, including an aggressive economic reform program. Jordan acceded to the World Trade Organization in January 2000, and signed free trade agreements with the United States in 2000, and with the European Free Trade Association in 2001.

Geography

Middle East, northwest of Saudi Arabia

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Land useshare of 92,300 sq km

arable land 2.87%permanent crops 1.52%other 95.61% (1998 est.)irrigated 750 sq km (1998 est.)
Area
92,300sq km
water: 329 sq kmland: 91,971 sq kmslightly smaller than Indiana
Coastline
26km
territorial sea: 3 NM
Highest point
1,734m
Jabal Ramlowest point: Dead Sea -408 m
Land boundaries
1,635km
border countries: Iraq 181 km, Israel 238 km, Saudi Arabia 744 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

Natural hazards

droughts; periodic earthquakes

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, Nuclear Test Ban, 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

18 fields
Population
5,307,470
(July 2002 est.)growth rate: 2.89% (2002 est.)

Per 1,000 population(2002 est.)

Birth
24.58Death
2.62Net migration
6.97

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (2002 est.)77.71
75.26 · 80.3
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%

Religions(2001 est.)

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.)

Age structure

0-14 years:
36.6% (male 991,370; female 949,247)
15-64 years:
60% (male 1,698,568; female 1,485,261)
65 years and over:
3.4% (male 90,186; female 92,838) (2002 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:
1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years:
1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years:
1.14 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.97 male(s)/female
total population:
1.1 male(s)/female (2002 est.)

Infant mortality rate

19.61 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)

Total fertility rate

3.15 children born/woman (2002 est.)

Nationality

noun:
Jordanian(s)
adjective:
Jordanian

Languages

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

Government

Constitutional monarchy; King ABDALLAH II (since 7 February 1999); Prime Minister Ali Abul RAGHEB (since 19 June 2000)

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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 short form:
Al Urdun
local long form:
Al Mamlakah al Urduniyah al Hashimiyah
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 II (since 7 February 1999); Crown Prince HAMZAH (half brother of the monarch, born 29 March 1980)
head of government:
Prime Minister Ali Abul RAGHEB (since 19 June 2000)
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, also called the House of Notables (Majlis al-Aayan), a 40-member body 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), an 80-member body elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms
elections:
House of Representatives - last held 4 November 1997 (November 2001 election postponed, next scheduled to be held in June 2003)

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

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

Judicial branch

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

Political parties and leaders

  • Al-Umma (Nation) Party [Ahmad al-HANANDEH, secretary general];
  • Arab Land Party [Dr. Muhammad al-'ORAN, secretary general];
  • Jordanian Democratic Popular Unity Party [Sa'id DHIYAB, secretary general];
  • National Constitutional Party [Abdul Hadi MAJALI, secretary general];
  • Islamic Action Front [Abd al latif al-ARABIYAT, secretary general];
  • National Action (Haqq) Party [Muhammad al-ZUBI, secretary general];
  • (Arab) Socialist Ba'th Party [Taysif al-HIMSI, secretary general];
  • Jordanian People's Democratic (Hashd) Party [Salim al-NAHHAS, secretary general];
  • Pan-Arab (Democratic) Movement [Mahmud al-NUWAYHI, secretary general];
  • Constitutional Front [Mahdi al-TALL, secretary general];
  • Jordanian Progressive Party [Fawwaz al-ZUBI, secretary general];
  • Communist Party [Munir HAMARINAH, secretary general]

Political pressure groups and leaders

  • Jordanian Press Association [Sayf al-SHARIF, president];
  • Muslim Brotherhood [Abd-al-Majid DHUNAYBAT, secretary general];
  • Anti-Normalization Committee [Ali Abu SUKKAR, president vice chairman];
  • Jordanian Bar Association [Saleh ARMOUTI, president]

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, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MONUC, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOP, UNMOT, UNOMIG, UNRWA, UNTAET, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission:
Ambassador Karim Tawfiq KAWAR
chancery:
3504 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
FAX:
[1] (202) 966-3110
telephone:
[1] (202) 966-2664

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission:
Ambassador Edward William GNEHM, Jr.
embassy:
Abdoun, Amman
mailing address:
P. O. Box 354, Amman 11118 Jordan; Unit 70200, Box 5, APO AE 09892-0200
telephone:
[962] (6) 5920101
FAX:
[962] (6) 5920121

Flag description

  • three equal horizontal bands of black (top, the Abbassid Caliphate of Islam), white (the Ummayyad Caliphate of Islam), and green (the Fatimid Caliphate of Islam) with a red isosceles triangle (representing the Great Arab Revolt of 1916) based on the hoist side 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

Economy

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

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Real growth rate
3.5%
(2002 est.)industrial production growth: -1.1% (2002 est.)
Unemployment rate
16%official rate
actual rate is 25%-30% (2001 est.)

GDP - composition by sector(2001 est.)

agriculture 4%industry 26%services 70% (2001 est.)

Trading partnersexports left, imports right

11.4%
India
9.6%
US
7.8%
Germany
8.8%
5.6%
Saudi Arabia
Italy
5.6%
France
5.5%
3.7%
Israel
Exports $2.5 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)Imports $4.4 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)(2001)

Budget

Revenues
$2.9 billionExpenditures
$3.1 billion (2001 est.)
expenditures including capital expenditures of $NA

Electricity

fossil fuel 99%hydro 1%other 0% · nuclear 0%
Electricity production
6.932 billion (2000)Electricity consumption
7.092 billion (2000)Electricity exports
5 million (2000)Electricity imports
650 million (2000)

Economy - overview

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 significant headway with privatization. The government also has liberalized the trade regime sufficiently to secure Jordan's membership in the WTrO (2000), an association agreement with the EU (2000), and a free trade accord with US (2000). These measures have helped improve productivity and have put Jordan on the foreign investment map.

The substantial trade deficit is covered by tourism receipts, worker remittances, and foreign assistance. Ongoing challenges include fiscal adjustment to reduce the budget deficit and broader investment incentives to promote job-creating ventures.

GDP

purchasing power parity - $22.8 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $4,300 (2002 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%:
3%
highest 10%:
30% (1997) (1997)

Labor force

1.26 million note: in addition, at least 300,000 workers are employed abroad (2001)

Labor force - by occupation

services 83%, industry 13%, agriculture 5% (2001 est.)

Industries

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

Agriculture - products

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

Exports

$2.5 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities

phosphates, fertilizers, potash, agricultural products, manufactures, pharmaceuticals

Imports

$4.4 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Debt - external

$8.2 billion (2002 est.)

Economic aid - recipient

ODA, $600 million (2000 est.)

Currency

Jordanian dinar (JOD)

Exchange rates

Jordanian dinars per US dollar - 0.7090 (1996-present ) note: since May 1989, the Jordanian dinar has been pegged to a group of currencies

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

10 fields
Mobile cellular
11,500
(1995)
Fixed lines
403,000
(1997) · country code .jo

Telephone system

general assessment:
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 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

20 (plus 96 repeaters) (1995)

Televisions

500,000 (1997)

Internet users

212,000 (2002)

Transportation

10 fields

Merchant marine, 7 ships by typeone square, one ship · ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 41,206 GRT/53,401 DWT

bulk 1cargo 3container 1roll on/roll off 2note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Greece 6 (2002 est.)

Airports by runway lengthpaved only

over 3,047 m
72,438 to 3,047 m
6under 914 m
1914 to 1,523 m
1

Airports by runway lengthunpaved only

under 914 m
2

Networkskm

Highways
8,000Railways
677
Highways: paved: 8,000 km · unpaved: 0 km (2000 est.) · Railways: narrow gauge: 677 km 1.050-m gauge (2001)

Railways

total:
677 km
narrow gauge:
677 km 1.050-m gauge (2001)

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

Airports

18 (2001)

Heliports

2 (2002)

Military

7 fields

Military branches

  • Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF) Royal Jordanian Land Force, Royal Naval Force, Royal Jordanian Air Force, and Special Operations Command or Socom);
  • note - Public Security Directorate normally falls under Ministry of Interior but comes under JAF in wartime or crisis situations

Military manpower - military age

18 years of age (2002 est.)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 1,517,751 (2002 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 1,073,991 (2002 est.)

Transnational Issues

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Central Intelligence Agency. “Jordan.” The World Factbook 2002. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/jordan/2002.

How to cite ← 2001 edition 2003 edition →