Introduction
Background
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. In January 2014, Jordan assumed a nonpermanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2014-15 term.
Geography
Location
Middle East, northwest of Saudi Arabia, between Israel (to the west) and Iraq
Geographic coordinates
31 00 N, 36 00 E
Area (sq km)
total: 89,342 sq km
land: 88,802 sq km
water: 540 sq km
Area - comparative (sq km)
slightly smaller than Indiana
Land boundaries (km)
total: 1,635 km
border countries: Iraq 181 km, Israel 238 km, Saudi Arabia 744 km, Syria 375 km, West Bank 97 km
Coastline (km)
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 (m)
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: 1.97%
permanent crops: 0.95%
other: 97.08% (2011)
Irrigated land (sq km)
788.6 sq km (2004)
Total renewable water resources (cu km)
0.94 cu km (2011)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural) ()
total: 0.94 cu km/yr (31%/4%/65%)
per capita: 166 cu m/yr (2005)
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 (%)
Muslim 97.2% (official; predominantly Sunni), Christian 2.2% (majority Greek Orthodox, but some Greek and Roman Catholics, Syrian Orthodox, Coptic Orthodox, Armenian Orthodox, and Protestant denominations), Buddhist 0.4%, Hindu 0.1%, Jewish <.1, folk religion <.1, unaffiliated <.1, other <.1 (2010 est.)
Population
7,930,491 (July 2014 est.) evolution and prospects (1950-2100)
Age structure (%)
0-14 years: 35.8% (male 1,457,174/female 1,385,604)
15-24 years: 20.4% (male 826,482/female 788,950)
25-54 years: 35.7% (male 1,421,634/female 1,412,888)
55-64 years: 4.2% (male 160,224/female 169,965)
65 years and over: 5.1% (male 145,515/female 162,055) (2014 est.)
Median age (years)
total: 21.8 years
male: 21.5 years
female: 22.1 years (2014 est.)
Population growth rate (%)
3.86% (2014 est.)
Birth rate (births/1,000 population)
25.23 births/1,000 population (2014 est.)
Death rate (deaths/1,000 population)
3.8 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.)
Net migration rate (migrant(s)/1,000 population)
17.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.)
Urbanization (%)
urban population: 82.7% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization: 2.17% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Major urban areas - population
AMMAN (capital) 1.179 million (2011)
Sex ratio (male(s)/female)
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.95 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2014 est.)
Maternal mortality rate (deaths/100,000 live births)
63 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)
Infant mortality rate (deaths/1,000 live births)
total: 15.73 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 16.63 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 14.79 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)
Life expectancy at birth (years)
total population: 74.1 years
male: 72.79 years
female: 75.5 years (2014 est.)
Total fertility rate (children born/woman)
3.16 children born/woman (2014 est.)
Health expenditures (% of GDP)
8.4% of GDP (2011)
Physicians density (physicians/1,000 population)
2.56 physicians/1,000 population (2010)
Hospital bed density (beds/1,000 population)
1.8 beds/1,000 population (2010)
Drinking water source (% of population)
improved: urban: 97.3% of population
rural: 90.5% of population
total: 96.1% of population
unimproved: urban: 2.7% of population
rural: 9.5% of population
total: 3.9% of population (2012 est.)
Sanitation facility access (% of population)
improved: urban: 98.1% of population
rural: 98% of population
total: 98.1% of population
unimproved: urban: 1.9% of population
rural: 2% of population
total: 1.9% of population (2012 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate (%)
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
600 (2007 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths
fewer than 500 (2003 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate (%)
30% (2008)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight (%)
1.9% (2009)
Education expenditures (% of GDP)
NA
Literacy (%)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 95.9%
male: 97.7%
female: 93.9% (2011 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) (years)
total: 13 years
male: 13 years
female: 14 years (2011)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24 (%)
total: 29.3%
male: 25.2%
female: 48.8% (2012)
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 last Friday in March; 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
previous 1928 (preindependence); latest initially adopted 28 November 1947, revised and ratified 1 January 1952; amended several times, last in 2011 (2012)
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 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 21 August 2013 and includes 13 new ministers, enlarging the government as part of promised reforms
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 (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 2017); 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
Judicial branch
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
Political parties and leaders
Ahl al-Himma
Al-Bayyan
Al-Hayah Jordanian Party [Zahier AMR]
Arab Ba'ath Socialist Party [Akram al-HIMSI]
Ba'ath Arab Progressive Party [Fuad DABBOUR]
Citizenship
Construction
Cooperation
Dawn
Democratic People's Party [Ablah ABU ULBAH]
Democratic Popular Unity Party [Sa'id DIAB]
Dignity
Du'a Party [Muhammed ABU BAKR]
Free Voice
Islamic Action Front or IAF [Hamzah MANSOUR]
Islamic Centrist Party [Muhammad al-HAJ]
Jordanian Communist Party [Munir HAMARNAH]
Jordanian National Party [Muna ABU BAKR]
Jordanian United Front [Amjad al-MAJALI]
Labor and Trade
Nation
National Accord Youth Block
National Action
National Constitution Party [Ahmad al-SHUNAQ]
National Current Party [Abd al-Hadi al-MAJALI]
National Movement for Direct Democracy [Muhammad al-QAQ]
National Union
National Unity
Nobel Jerusalem
Risalah Party [Hazem QASHOU]
Salvation
Stronger Jordan
The Direct Democratic Nationalists Movement Party [Nash'at KHALIFAH]
The People
Unified Front
United Front
Voice of the Nation
Political pressure groups and leaders
15 April Movement [Mohammad SUNEID, chairman]
24 March Movement [Mu'az al-KHAWALIDAH, Abdel Rahman HASANEIN, spokespersons]
1952 Constitution Movement
Anti-Normalization Committee [Hamzah MANSOUR, chairman]
Economic and Social Association of Retired Servicemen and Veterans or ESARSV [Abdulsalam al-HASSANAT, chairman]
Group of 36
Higher Coordination Committee of Opposition Parties [Said DIAB]
Higher National Committee for Military Retirees or HNCMR [Ali al-HABASHNEH, chairman]
Hirak
Jordan Bar Association [Saleh al-ARMUTI, chairman]
Jordanian Campaign for Change or Jayin
Jordanian Muslim Brotherhood [Dr. Hamam SAID, controller general]
Jordanian Press Association [Sayf al-SHARIF, president]
National Front for Reform or NFR [Ahmad OBEIDAT, chairman]
Popular Gathering for Reform
Professional Associations Council [Abd al-Hadi al-FALAHAT, chairman]
Sons of Jordan
International organization participation
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, MINUSMA, MONUSCO, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US
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
Diplomatic representation from the US
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
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 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. In 2013, Jordan depended heavily on foreign assistance to finance the budget deficit, as the influx of about 600,000 Syrian refugees put additional pressure on expenditures.
GDP (purchasing power parity)
$40.02 billion (2013 est.)
$38.76 billion (2012 est.)
$37.71 billion (2011 est.)
note: data are in 2013 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate)
$34.08 billion (2013 est.)
GDP - real growth rate (%)
3.3% (2013 est.)
2.8% (2012 est.)
2.6% (2011 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP)
$6,100 (2013 est.)
$6,100 (2012 est.)
$6,000 (2011 est.)
note: data are in 2013 US dollars
GDP - composition, by sector of origin (%)
agriculture: 3.2%
industry: 29.9%
services: 67% (2013 est.)
Labor force
1.898 million (2013 est.)
Labor force - by occupation (%)
agriculture: 2.7%
industry: 20%
services: 77.4% (2007 est.)
Unemployment rate (%)
14% (2013 est.)
12.5% (2012 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%: 3.4%
highest 10%: 28.7% (2010 est.)
Distribution of family income - Gini index
39.7 (2007)
36.4 (1997)
Budget
revenues: $6.868 billion
expenditures: $10.71 billion (2013 est.)
Taxes and other revenues (% of GDP)
20.2% of GDP (2013 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) (% of GDP)
-11.3% of GDP (2013 est.)
Public debt (% of GDP)
79.1% of GDP (2013 est.)
75.5% of GDP (2012 est.)
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
Inflation rate (consumer prices) (%)
5.9% (2013 est.)
4.8% (2012 est.)
Central bank discount rate (%)
0.3% (31 December 2010 est.)
$NA (31 December 2009 est.)
Commercial bank prime lending rate (%)
8.9% (31 December 2013 est.)
8.95% (31 December 2012 est.)
Stock of narrow money
$10.68 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
$10.17 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Stock of broad money
$37.19 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
$35.18 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Stock of domestic credit
$38.3 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
$35.39 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares
$27 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
$27.18 billion (31 December 2011)
$30.86 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
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 (%)
2.8% (2013 est.)
Current account balance
-$4.766 billion (2013 est.)
-$5.37 billion (2012 est.)
Exports
$7.914 billion (2013 est.)
$7.898 billion (2012 est.)
Exports - commodities (%)
clothing, fertilizers, potash, phosphates, vegetables, pharmaceuticals
Exports - partners (%)
US 16.6%, Iraq 15.1%, Saudi Arabia 11%, India 10.5%, Indonesia 4.2% (2012)
Imports
$18.61 billion (2013 est.)
$18.46 billion (2012 est.)
Imports - commodities (%)
crude oil, machinery, transport equipment, iron, cereals
Imports - partners (%)
Saudi Arabia 23.6%, China 9.4%, US 6.7%, Italy 4.7%, Turkey 4.6% (2012)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$11.83 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
$8.829 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
External debt ($)
$22.04 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
$19.67 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home
$26.69 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
$24.78 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad
$549 million (31 December 2013 est.)
$509 million (31 December 2012 est.)
Exchange rates
Currency converter
Jordanian dinars (JOD) per US dollar -
0.709 (2013 est.)
0.709 (2012 est.)
0.71 (2010 est.)
0.709 (2009)
0.709 (2008)
Fiscal year
calendar year
Energy
Electricity - production (kWh)
14.64 billion kWh (2011 est.)
Electricity - consumption (kWh)
13.54 billion kWh (2011 est.)
Electricity - exports (kWh)
86 million kWh (2011 est.)
Electricity - imports (kWh)
1.738 billion kWh (2011 est.)
Electricity - installed generating capacity (kW)
3.138 million kW (2010 est.)
Electricity - from fossil fuels (% of total installed capacity)
99.4% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Electricity - from nuclear fuels (% of total installed capacity)
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants (% of total installed capacity)
0.4% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Electricity - from other renewable sources (% of total installed capacity)
0.2% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Crude oil - production (bbl/day)
164.8 bbl/day (2012 est.)
Crude oil - exports (bbl/day)
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Crude oil - imports (bbl/day)
68,320 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Crude oil - proved reserves (bbl)
1 million bbl (1 January 2013 est.)
Refined petroleum products - production (bbl/day)
72,190 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Refined petroleum products - consumption (bbl/day)
107,000 bbl/day (2011 est.)
Refined petroleum products - exports (bbl/day)
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Refined petroleum products - imports (bbl/day)
35,600 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Natural gas - production (cu m)
230 million cu m (2011 est.)
Natural gas - consumption (cu m)
1.4 billion cu m (2011 est.)
Natural gas - exports (cu m)
0 cu m (2011 est.)
Natural gas - imports (cu m)
830 million cu m (2011 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves (cu m)
6.031 billion cu m (1 January 2013 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy (Mt)
18.55 million Mt (2011 est.)
Communications
Telephones - main lines in use
435,000 (2012)
Telephones - mobile cellular
8.984 million (2012)
Telephone system
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)
Broadcast media
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)
Internet country code
.jo
Internet hosts
69,473 (2012)
Internet users
1.642 million (2009)
Transportation
Airports
18 (2013)
Airports - with paved runways
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)
Airports - with unpaved runways
total: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2013)
Heliports
1 (2012)
Pipelines (km)
gas 473 km; oil 49 km (2013)
Railways (km)
total: 507 km
narrow gauge: 507 km 1.050-m gauge (2008)
Roadways (km)
total: 7,203 km
paved: 7,203 km (2011)
Merchant marine
total: 12
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)
Ports and terminals
major seaport(s): 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) (2013)
Military service age and obligation (years of age)
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)
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 (% of GDP)
4.65% of GDP (2012)
4.64% of GDP (2011)
4.65% of GDP (2010)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international
2004 Agreement settles border dispute with Syria pending demarcation
Refugees and internally displaced persons
refugees (country of origin): 55,509 (Iraq) (2013); 2,070,973 (Palestinian refugees (UNRWA)); 597,328 (Syria) (2014)
Largest cities of Jordan
These are the 50 largest cities of Jordan ordered based on their number of inhabitants.
| # | City | Population |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Irbid | 296,050 |
| 2 | Madaba | 82,471 |
| 3 | Aydun | 20,041 |
| 4 | Kuraymah | 19,453 |
| 5 | Wadi Musa | 15,618 |
| 6 | Suf | 14,017 |
| 7 | Hawwarah | 13,337 |
| 8 | Judayta | 13,163 |
| 9 | Jawa | 11,859 |
| 10 | Kafr Yuba | 11,730 |
| 11 | Umm Nuwarah | 11,677 |
| 12 | Sakib | 11,339 |
| 13 | Samma | 9,736 |
| 14 | Kafr Asad | 8,947 |
| 15 | Bayt Yafa | 8,494 |
| 16 | Busayra | 8,238 |
| 17 | Kafr Sawm | 7,800 |
| 18 | Sal | 7,521 |
| 19 | Malka | 7,477 |
| 20 | Kafr Abil | 6,907 |
| 21 | Diban | 6,854 |
| 22 | Dayr Yusuf | 6,787 |
| 23 | Safut | 6,645 |
| 24 | Raymun | 6,587 |
| 25 | Waqqas | 6,192 |
| 26 | Sabha | 5,854 |
| 27 | Kitim | 5,771 |
| 28 | Tibnah | 5,703 |
| 29 | Balila | 5,639 |
| 30 | Qumaym | 5,574 |
| 31 | Bayir | 5,314 |
| 32 | Bayt Idis | 5,151 |
| 33 | Yarqa | 5,146 |
| 34 | Burma | 5,128 |