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Middle East :: Jordan
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Jordan
  • Introduction :: JORDAN

  • 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 :: JORDAN

  • Middle East, northwest of Saudi Arabia, between Israel (to the west) and Iraq
    31 00 N, 36 00 E
    Middle East
    total: 89,342 sq km
    land: 88,802 sq km
    water: 540 sq km
    country comparison to the world: 112
    about three-quarters the size of Pennsylvania; slightly smaller than Indiana
    Area comparison map:
    total: 1,744 km
    border countries (5): Iraq 179 km, Israel 307 km, Saudi Arabia 731 km, Syria 379 km, West Bank 148 km
    26 km
    territorial sea: 3 nm
    mostly arid desert; rainy season in west (November to April)
    mostly desert plateau in east, highland area in west; Great Rift Valley separates eastern and western banks of the Jordan River
    lowest point: Dead Sea -408 m
    highest point: Jabal Umm ad Dami 1,854 m
    phosphates, potash, shale oil
    agricultural land: 11.4%
    arable land 2%; permanent crops 1%; permanent pasture 8.4%
    forest: 1.1%
    other: 87.5% (2011 est.)
    788.6 sq km (2004)
    0.94 cu km (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
  • People and Society :: JORDAN

  • noun: Jordanian(s)
    adjective: Jordanian
    Arab 98%, Circassian 1%, Armenian 1%
    Arabic (official), English (widely understood among upper and middle classes)
    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.)
    8,117,564
    note: increased estimate reflects revised assumptions about the net migration rate due to the increased flow of Syrian refugees (July 2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 98
    0-14 years: 35.42% (male 1,474,464/female 1,400,926)
    15-24 years: 20.25% (male 840,714/female 803,237)
    25-54 years: 36.12% (male 1,468,388/female 1,463,452)
    55-64 years: 4.3% (male 169,857/female 179,275)
    65 years and over: 3.91% (male 149,207/female 168,044) (2015 est.)
    population pyramid:
    total dependency ratio: 64.8%
    youth dependency ratio: 58.5%
    elderly dependency ratio: 6.2%
    potential support ratio: 16% (2015 est.)
    total: 22 years
    male: 21.7 years
    female: 22.4 years (2015 est.)
    0.83% (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 132
    25.37 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 50
    3.79 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 211
    -13.24 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 217
    urban population: 83.7% of total population (2015)
    rate of urbanization: 3.79% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
    AMMAN (capital) 1.155 million (2015)
    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 male(s)/female
    55-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
    65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female
    total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2015 est.)
    total: 15.18 deaths/1,000 live births
    male: 16.05 deaths/1,000 live births
    female: 14.25 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 104
    total population: 74.35 years
    male: 73 years
    female: 75.78 years (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 122
    3.17 children born/woman (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 50
    61.2% (2012)
    7.2% of GDP (2013)
    country comparison to the world: 25
    2.56 physicians/1,000 population (2010)
    1.8 beds/1,000 population (2012)
    improved:
    urban: 97.8% of population
    rural: 92.3% of population
    total: 96.9% of population
    unimproved:
    urban: 2.2% of population
    rural: 7.7% of population
    total: 3.1% of population (2015 est.)
    improved:
    urban: 98.6% of population
    rural: 98.9% of population
    total: 98.6% of population
    unimproved:
    urban: 1.4% of population
    rural: 1.1% of population
    total: 1.4% of population (2015 est.)
    NA
    NA
    NA
    28.1% (2014)
    country comparison to the world: 28
    3% (2012)
    country comparison to the world: 114
    NA
    definition: age 15 and over can read and write
    total population: 95.4%
    male: 97.7%
    female: 92.9% (2015 est.)
    total: 14 years
    male: 13 years
    female: 14 years (2012)
    total: 29.3%
    male: 25.2%
    female: 48.8% (2012 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 27
  • Government :: JORDAN

  • 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
    constitutional monarchy
    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
    12 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); 'Ajlun, Al 'Aqabah, Al Balqa', Al Karak, Al Mafraq, Al'Asimah, 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 2014 (2014)
    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
    elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch
    description: bicameral National Assembly or Majlis al-'Umma consists of the Senate, or the House of Notables or Majlis al-Ayan (60 seats; members appointed by the monarch to serve 4-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputies or House of Representatives or Majlis al-Nuwaab (150 seats; 108 members directly elected in single- and multi-seat constituencies by simple majority vote, 27 directly elected in a single national constituency by proportional representation vote, and 15 seats reserved for women; members serve 4-year terms); note - the electoral law enacted in July 2012 allocated an additional 10 seats - 6 for women, 2 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
    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
    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
    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
    ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, CAEU, CD, CICA, EBRD, FAO, G-11, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, 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, 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 Alice G. WELLS (since 31 August 2014)
    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
    eagle; national colors: black, white, green, red
    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 :: JORDAN

  • 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 and resulting government debt. King ABDALLAH, during the first decade of the 2000s, implemented significant economic reforms, such as opening up foreign trade and privatizing state-owned companies, that attracted foreign investment and contributed to average annual economic growth of 8% for 2004 through 2008. The global economic slowdown and regional turmoil since, however, reduced the average annual growth rate to 2.6% for the 2010-2013 period and hurt export-oriented sectors, construction, and tourism. Jordan's finances have 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. To diversify its energy mix, Jordan is currently exploring nuclear power generation, exploitation of abundant oil shale reserves and renewable technologies, as well as the import of Israeli offshore gas. In August 2012, to correct budgetary and balance of payments imbalances, Jordan entered into a $2.1 billion, three year International Monetary Fund Stand-By Arrangement. In 2014, fiscal reform measures enacted in the previous few years continued to boost government revenues and reduced the budget deficit even as an influx of over 620,000 Syrian refugees since 2011 put additional pressure on expenditures.
    $79.62 billion (2014 est.)
    $77.22 billion (2013 est.)
    $75.1 billion (2012 est.)
    note: data are in 2014 US dollars
    country comparison to the world: 89
    $35.77 billion (2014 est.)
    3.1% (2014 est.)
    2.8% (2013 est.)
    2.7% (2012 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 112
    $11,900 (2014 est.)
    $11,600 (2013 est.)
    $11,300 (2012 est.)
    note: data are in 2014 US dollars
    country comparison to the world: 120
    14.3% of GDP (2014 est.)
    10.5% of GDP (2013 est.)
    6.5% of GDP (2012 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 138
    household consumption: 81.5%
    government consumption: 23.6%
    investment in fixed capital: 28.5%
    investment in inventories: 1.8%
    exports of goods and services: 41.6%
    imports of goods and services: -77%
    (2014 est.)
    agriculture: 3.2%
    industry: 29.3%
    services: 67.4% (2014 est.)
    citrus, tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, strawberries, stone fruits; sheep, poultry, dairy
    tourism, information technology, clothing, fertilizers, potash, phosphate mining, pharmaceuticals, petroleum refining, cement, inorganic chemicals, light manufacturing
    2.4% (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 117
    1.959 million (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 123
    agriculture: 2%
    industry: 20%
    services: 78% (2013 est.)
    11.9% (2014 est.)
    12.6% (2013 est.)
    note: official rate; unofficial rate is approximately 30%
    country comparison to the world: 129
    14.2% (2002 est.)
    lowest 10%: 3.4%
    highest 10%: 28.7% (2010 est.)
    39.7 (2007)
    36.4 (1997)
    country comparison to the world: 60
    revenues: $9.845 billion
    expenditures: $11.42 billion (2014 est.)
    26.9% of GDP (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 107
    -4.3% of GDP (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 148
    90% of GDP (2014 est.)
    86.8% of GDP (2013 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
    country comparison to the world: 22
    calendar year
    2.9% (2014 est.)
    5.6% (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 125
    0.3% (31 December 2010)
    4.75% (31 December 2009)
    country comparison to the world: 146
    8.74% (31 December 2014 est.)
    8.85% (31 December 2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 104
    $13.52 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
    $11.86 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 72
    $42.26 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
    $38.58 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 73
    $40.72 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
    $38.08 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 66
    $27 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
    $27.18 billion (31 December 2011)
    $30.86 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 59
    -$2.512 billion (2014 est.)
    -$3.452 billion (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 158
    $8.556 billion (2014 est.)
    $7.921 billion (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 100
    clothing, fertilizers, potash, phosphates, vegetables, pharmaceuticals
    US 15.8%, Iraq 15.3%, Saudi Arabia 12.4%, India 7.8% (2014)
    $22.8 billion (2014 est.)
    $22.1 billion (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 75
    crude oil, refined petroleum products, machinery, transport equipment, iron, cereals
    Saudi Arabia 19.6%, China 10.5%, US 5.8%, India 5.5%, UAE 4.8% (2014)
    $16.51 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
    $13.82 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 68
    $26.06 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
    $22.61 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 78
    $28.65 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
    $26.67 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 67
    $532.9 million (31 December 2014 est.)
    $524.9 million (31 December 2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 84
    Jordanian dinars (JOD) per US dollar -
    0.709 (2014 est.)
    0.709 (2013 est.)
    0.709 (2012 est.)
    0.709 (2011 est.)
    0.71 (2010 est.)
  • Energy :: JORDAN

  • 17.26 billion kWh (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 77
    14.56 billion kWh (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 79
    59 million kWh (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 87
    381 million kWh (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 82
    3.193 million kW (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 89
    99.6% of total installed capacity (2013)
    country comparison to the world: 48
    0% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 116
    0.3% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 147
    0.1% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 105
    19 bbl/day (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 121
    0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 135
    59,440 bbl/day (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 55
    1 million bbl (1 January 2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 98
    57,790 bbl/day (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 81
    122,700 bbl/day (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 72
    0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 188
    68,040 bbl/day (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 61
    225 million cu m (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 76
    709 million cu m (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 96
    0 cu m (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 122
    484 million cu m (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 67
    6.031 billion cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 87
    16.86 million Mt (2012 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 86
  • Communications :: JORDAN

  • total subscriptions: 380,000
    subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 5 (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 107
    total: 11.1 million
    subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 140 (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 81
    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)
    AM 1, FM 28 (2010)
    4 (2009)
    .jo
    total: 3.6 million
    percent of population: 45.0% (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 82
  • Transportation :: JORDAN

  • 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)
    total: 2
    under 914 m:
    2 (2013)
    1 (2012)
    gas 473 km; oil 49 km (2013)
    total: 507 km
    narrow gauge: 507 km 1.050-m gauge (2008)
    country comparison to the world: 112
    total: 7,203 km
    paved: 7,203 km (2011)
    country comparison to the world: 144
    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)
    country comparison to the world: 106
    major seaport(s): Al 'Aqabah
  • Military :: JORDAN

  • 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)
    4.64% of GDP (2011)
    4.65% of GDP (2010)
    country comparison to the world: 7
  • Transnational Issues :: JORDAN

  • 2004 Agreement settles border dispute with Syria pending demarcation
    refugees (country of origin): 2,097,338 (Palestinian refugees (UNRWA)) (2014); 628,887 (Syria); 50,638 (Iraq) (2015)
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