Page last updated on February 3, 2014
Following World War I and the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire, the League of Nations awarded Britain the mandate to govern much of the Middle East. Britain demarcated a semi-autonomous region of Transjordan from Palestine in the early 1920s. The area gained its independence in 1946 and thereafter became The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. The country's long-time ruler, King HUSSEIN (1953-99), 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 Six-Day War. King HUSSEIN in 1988 permanently relinquished Jordanian claims to the West Bank; 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 1999. He implemented modest political and economic reforms, but in the wake of the "Arab Revolution" across the Middle East, Jordanians continue to press for further political liberalization, government reforms, and economic improvements.
Middle East, northwest of Saudi Arabia, between Israel (to the west) and Iraq
total: 89,342 sq km
country comparison to the world: 112
land: 88,802 sq km
water: 540 sq km
slightly smaller than Indiana
total: 1,635 km
border countries: Iraq 181 km, Israel 238 km, Saudi Arabia 744 km, Syria 375 km, West Bank 97 km
mostly arid desert; rainy season in west (November to April)
mostly desert plateau in east, highland area in west; Great Rift Valley separates East and West Banks of the Jordan River
lowest point: Dead Sea -408 m
highest point: Jabal Umm ad Dami 1,854 m
phosphates, potash, shale oil
arable land: 1.97%
permanent crops: 0.95%
other: 97.08% (2011)
total: 0.94 cu km/yr (31%/4%/65%)
per capita: 166 cu m/yr (2005)
droughts; periodic earthquakes
limited natural freshwater resources; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification
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
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
noun: Jordanian(s)
adjective: Jordanian
Arab 98%, Circassian 1%, Armenian 1%
Arabic (official), English (widely understood among upper and middle classes)
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.)
6,482,081 (July 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105
0-14 years: 34.6% (male 1,154,791/female 1,089,901)
15-24 years: 19.9% (male 661,516/female 625,311)
25-54 years: 36.2% (male 1,181,882/female 1,164,957)
55-64 years: 4.3% (male 133,371/female 142,636)
65 years and over: 5.1% (male 158,514/female 169,202) (2013 est.)
total dependency ratio: 60.2 %
youth dependency ratio: 54.5 %
elderly dependency ratio: 5.7 %
potential support ratio: 17.6 (2013)
total: 22.6 years
male: 22.2 years
female: 22.9 years (2013 est.)
0.14% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182
26.23 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
2.8 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 222
-22.02 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 221
urban population: 82.7% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization: 2.17% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
AMMAN (capital) 1.088 million (2009)
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.95 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2013 est.)
24.7
note: median age at first birth among women 25-29 (2012 est.)
63 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)
country comparison to the world: 98
total: 15.26 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 108
male: 15.89 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 14.59 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)
total population: 80.3 years
country comparison to the world: 29
male: 78.91 years
female: 81.77 years (2013 est.)
3.32 children born/woman (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
8.4% of GDP (2011)
country comparison to the world: 55
2.56 physicians/1,000 population (2010)
1.8 beds/1,000 population (2010)
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
600 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
fewer than 500 (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83
30% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 28
1.9% (2009)
country comparison to the world: 119
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 95.9%
male: 97.7%
female: 93.9% (2011 est.)
total: 13 years
male: 12 years
female: 13 years (2010)
total: 29.3%
country comparison to the world: 28
male: 25.2%
female: 48.8% (2012)
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
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
note: Jordan remains on DST following a decision by the government to cancel a change back to Standard Time in October 2012; DST currently scheduled to end the fourth Friday in October
12 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); 'Ajlun, Al 'Aqabah, Al Balqa', Al Karak, Al Mafraq, 'Amman, At Tafilah, Az Zarqa', Irbid, Jarash, Ma'an, Madaba
25 May 1946 (from League of Nations mandate under British administration)
Independence Day, 25 May (1946)
previous 1928 (preindependence); latest initially adopted 28 November 1947, revised and ratified 1 January 1952; amended several times, last in 2011 (2012)
mixed legal system of civil law and Islamic religious law; judicial review of legislative acts in a specially provided High Tribunal
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
18 years of age; universal
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 Abdullah NSOUR (since 11 October 2012)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister in consultation with the monarch; note - a new cabinet was sworn in 30 March 2013
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch
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 (150 seats; 123 members elected using the single, non-transferable vote system in multi-member districts, and 27 seats elected using a closed national list system based on proportional representation; all legislators serve four-year terms); note - the new electoral law enacted in July 2012 allocated an additional 10 seats (6 seats added to the number reserved for women, bringing the total to 15; 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 23 January 2013 (next election NA); note - the King dissolved the previous Chamber of Deputies in November 2012, midway through the parliamentary term
election results: Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - 27 elected on closed national list to include: Islamic Centrist Party 3, Nation 2, National Union 2, Stronger Jordan 2, Ahl al-Himma 1, Al-Bayyan 1, Citizenship 1, Construction 1, Cooperation 1, Dawn 1, Dignity 1, Free Voice 1, Labor and Trade 1, National Accord Youth Block 1, National Action 1, National Current 1 (member resigned in February 2013), National Unity 1, Nobel Jerusalem 1, Salvation 1, The People 1, Unified Front 1, Voice of Nation 1; other 123; note - the IAF boycotted the election
highest court(s): Court of Cassation or Supreme Court (consists of 7 judges including the chief justice; 7-judge panels for important cases and 5 judge panels for most appeals cases)
judge selection and term of office: chief justice appointed by the king; other judges nominated by the Higher Judicial Council and approved by the king; judge tenure NA
subordinate courts: courts of appeal; magistrate courts; courts of first instance; religious courts; State Security Court
15 April Movement [Mohammad SUNEID, chairman]
ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, CAEU, CD, CICA, EBRD, FAO, G-11, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAS, MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
chief of mission: Ambassador Alia Hatough BOURAN (since 14 September 2010)
chancery: 3504 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 966-2664
FAX: [1] (202) 966-3110
chief of mission: Ambassador Stuart E. JONES (since 21 July 2011)
embassy: Abdoun, Al-Umawyeen St., 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) 592-0163
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
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
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 some fuel subsidies, which in the last decade spurred economic growth by attracting foreign investment and creating some jobs. The global economic slowdown and regional turmoil, however, have depressed Jordan''s GDP growth, impacting export-oriented sectors, construction, and tourism. In 2011 and 2012, the government approved two economic relief packages and a budgetary supplement, meant to improve the living conditions for the middle and poor classes. Jordan''s finances have also been strained by a series of natural gas pipeline attacks in Egypt, causing Jordan to substitute more expensive diesel imports, primarily from Saudi Arabia, to generate electricity. Jordan is currently exploring nuclear power generation in addition to the exploitation of abundant oil shale reserves and renewable technologies to forestall energy shortfalls. In 2012, to correct budgetary and balance of payments imbalances, Jordan entered into a $2.1 billion, multiple year International Monetary Fund Stand-By Arrangement. Jordan''s financial sector has been relatively isolated from the international financial crisis because of its limited exposure to overseas capital markets. Jordan will continue to depend heavily on foreign assistance to finance the deficit in 2013.
$38.24 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
$30.79 billion (2012 est.)
2.8% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
$6,000 (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
24.7% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
household consumption: 73.8%
government consumption: 21.9%
investment in fixed capital: 26%
investment in inventories: 16.1%
exports of goods and services: 43.8%
imports of goods and services: -81.5%
agriculture: 3.1%
industry: 30.1%
services: 66.8% (2012 est.)
citrus, tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, strawberries, stone fruits; sheep, poultry, dairy
clothing, fertilizers, potash, phosphate mining, pharmaceuticals, petroleum refining, cement, inorganic chemicals, light manufacturing, tourism
0.8% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
1.835 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125
agriculture: 2.7%
industry: 20%
services: 77.4% (2007 est.)
12.5% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
note: official rate; unofficial rate is approximately 30%
lowest 10%: 3.4%
highest 10%: 28.7% (2010 est.)
39.7 (2007)
country comparison to the world: 62
revenues: $6.668 billion
expenditures: $9.678 billion (2012 est.)
21.7% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
-9.8% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 199
75.5% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32
note: data cover central government debt, and include debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data exclude debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions
4.8% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141
0.3% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78
8.95% (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108
$10.17 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
$38.61 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
$35.39 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
$27 billion (31 December 2012)
country comparison to the world: 58
$-5.37 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166
$7.898 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101
clothing, fertilizers, potash, phosphates, vegetables, pharmaceuticals
US 16.6%, Iraq 15.1%, Saudi Arabia 11%, India 10.5%, Indonesia 4.2% (2012)
$18.46 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
crude oil, machinery, transport equipment, iron, cereals
Saudi Arabia 23.6%, China 9.4%, US 6.7%, Italy 4.7%, Turkey 4.6% (2012)
$8.829 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
$19.67 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
$24.78 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
$509 million (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
Jordanian dinars (JOD) per US dollar -
14.64 billion kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
13.54 billion kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
86 million kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
1.738 billion kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56
3.138 million kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88
99.4% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
0.4% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144
0.2% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96
164.8 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135
68,320 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
1 million bbl (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 97
72,190 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
107,000 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186
35,600 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
230 million cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
1.4 billion cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125
830 million cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
6.031 billion cu m (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 90
18.55 million Mt (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88
435,000 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 100
8.984 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 87
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
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 reaching 115 per 100 persons in 2011
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 (2011)
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 with JRTV operating the main government-owned station; transmissions of multiple international radio broadcasters are available (2007)
69,473 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 89
1.642 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 78
18 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 140
total: 16
over 3,047 m: 8
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2013)
gas 473 km; oil 49 km (2013)
total: 507 km
country comparison to the world: 111
narrow gauge: 507 km 1.050-m gauge (2008)
total: 7,203 km
country comparison to the world: 144
paved: 7,203 km (2011)
total: 12
country comparison to the world: 107
by type: cargo 4, passenger/cargo 6, petroleum tanker 1, roll on/roll off 1
foreign-owned: 2 (UAE 2)
registered in other countries: 16 (Bahamas 2, Egypt 2, Indonesia 1, Panama 11) (2010)
major seaport(s): Al 'Aqabah
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) (2013)
17 years of age for voluntary male military service; initial service term 2 years, with option to reenlist for 18 years; conscription at age 18 suspended in 1999; women not subject to conscription, but can volunteer to serve in noncombat military positions in the Royal Jordanian Arab Army Women's Corps and RJAF (2013)
males age 16-49: 1,674,260
females age 16-49: 1,611,315 (2010 est.)
males age 16-49: 1,439,192
females age 16-49: 1,384,500 (2010 est.)
male: 73,574
female: 69,420 (2010 est.)
4.65% of GDP (2012)
country comparison to the world: 17
2004 Agreement settles border dispute with Syria pending demarcation
