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Jordan
Jordan (Middle East)
Introduction :: Jordan
After 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. In 1921, Britain demarcated from Palestine a semi-autonomous region of Transjordan and recognized ABDALLAH I from the Hashemite family as the country's first leader. The Hashemites also controlled the Hijaz, or the western coastal area of modern-day Saudi Arabia, until 1925, when IBN SAUD and Wahhabi tribes pushed them out. The country gained its independence in 1946 and thereafter became the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.
The country has had four kings. Long-time ruler King HUSSEIN (r. 1953-99) successfully navigated competing pressures from the major powers (US, UK, and Soviet Union), various Arab states, Israel, and Palestinian militants, the latter of which led to a brief civil war in 1970 that is known as "Black September" and ended in King HUSSEIN ousting the militants.
Jordan's borders have changed since it gained independence. In 1948, Jordan took control of the West Bank and East Jerusalem in the first Arab-Israeli War, eventually annexing those territories in 1950 and granting its new Palestinian residents Jordanian citizenship. In 1967, Jordan lost the West Bank and East Jerusalem to Israel in the Six-Day War but retained administrative claims to the West Bank until 1988, when King HUSSEIN permanently relinquished Jordanian claims to the West Bank in favor of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). King HUSSEIN signed a peace treaty with Israel in 1994, after Israel and the PLO signed the Oslo Accords in 1993.
Jordanian kings continue to claim custodianship of the Muslim holy sites in Jerusalem by virtue of their Hashemite heritage as descendants of the Prophet Mohammad and agreements with Israel and Jerusalem-based religious and Palestinian leaders. After Israel captured East Jerusalem in the 1967 War, it authorized the Jordanian-controlled Islamic Trust, or Waqf, to continue administering the Al Haram ash Sharif/Temple Mount holy compound, and the Jordan-Israel peace treaty reaffirmed Jordan's "special role" in administering the Muslim holy shrines in Jerusalem. Jordanian kings claim custodianship of the Christian sites in Jerusalem on the basis of the 7th-century Pact of Omar, when the Muslim leader, after conquering Jerusalem, agreed to permit Christian worship.
King HUSSEIN died in 1999 and was succeeded by his eldest son and current King ABDALLAH II. In 2009, ABDALLAH II designated his son HUSSEIN as the Crown Prince. During his reign, ABDALLAH II has contended with a series of challenges, including the Arab Spring influx of refugees from neighboring states, the COVID-19 pandemic, the effects of the war in Ukraine, a perennially weak economy, and the Israel-HAMAS conflict that began in October 2023.
Geography :: Jordan
Geography
Location
Middle East, northwest of Saudi Arabia, between Israel (to the west) and Iraq
Geographic coordinates
31 00 N, 36 00 E
Map references
Middle East
Area
total : 89,342 sq km
land: 88,802 sq km
water: 540 sq km
comparison ranking: total 112
Area - comparative
about three-quarters the size of Pennsylvania; slightly smaller than Indiana
Area comparison map:
Land boundaries
total: 1,744 km
border countries (5): Iraq 179 km; Israel 307 km; Saudi Arabia 731 km; Syria 379 km; West Bank 148 km
Coastline
26 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 3 nm
Climate
mostly arid desert; rainy season in west (November to April)
Terrain
mostly arid desert plateau; a great north-south geological rift along the west of the country is the dominant topographical feature and includes the Jordan River Valley, the Dead Sea, and the Jordanian Highlands
Elevation
highest point: Jabal Umm ad Dami 1,854 m
lowest point: Dead Sea -431 m
mean elevation: 812 m
Natural resources
phosphates, potash, shale oil
Land use
agricultural land: 11.4% (2018 est.)
arable land: 2% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 1% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 8.4% (2018 est.)
forest: 1.1% (2018 est.)
other: 87.5% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land
833 sq km (2020)
Major lakes (area sq km)
salt water lake(s): Dead Sea (shared with Israel and West Bank) - 1,020 sq km
note - endorheic hypersaline lake; 9.6 times saltier than the ocean; lake shore is 431 meters below sea level
Major watersheds (area sq km)
Indian Ocean drainage: (Persian Gulf) Tigris and Euphrates (918,044 sq km)
Major aquifers
Arabian Aquifer System
Population distribution
population heavily concentrated in the west, and particularly the northwest, in and around the capital of Amman; a sizeable, but smaller population is located in the southwest along the shore of the Gulf of Aqaba
Natural hazards
droughts; periodic earthquakes; flash floods
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; the Dead Sea, the lowest point in Asia and the second saltiest body of water in the world (after Lac Assal in Djibouti), lies on Jordan's western border with Israel and the West Bank; Jordan is almost landlocked but does have a 26 km southwestern coastline with a single port, Al 'Aqabah (Aqaba)
People and Society
Population
total: 11,174,024
male: 5,844,979
female: 5,329,045 (2024 est.)
note: increased estimate reflects revised assumptions about the net migration rate due to the increased flow of Syrian refugees
comparison rankings: female 89; male 84; total 84
Nationality
noun: Jordanian(s)
adjective: Jordanian
Ethnic groups
Jordanian 69.3%, Syrian 13.3%, Palestinian 6.7%, Egyptian 6.7%, Iraqi 1.4%, other 2.6% (2015 est.)
note: data represent population by self-identified nationality in national census
Languages
Arabic (official), English (widely understood among upper and middle classes)
major-language sample(s):
كتاب حقائق العالم، المصدر الذي لا يمكن الاستغناء عنه للمعلومات الأساسية (Arabic)
The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Arabic audio sample:
Religions
Muslim 97.1% (official; predominantly Sunni), Christian 2.1% (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 <0.1%, folk <0.1%, other <0.1%, unaffiliated <0.1% (2020 est.)
MENA religious affiliation
Age structure
0-14 years: 30.9% (male 1,771,840/female 1,678,178)
15-64 years: 64.9% (male 3,844,575/female 3,409,164)
65 years and over: 4.2% (2024 est.) (male 228,564/female 241,703)
2023 population pyramid:
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio: 57.1
youth dependency ratio: 51.2
elderly dependency ratio: 5.8
potential support ratio: 17.1 (2021 est.)
Median age
total: 25 years (2024 est.)
male: 25.5 years
female: 24.4 years
comparison ranking: total 172
Population growth rate
0.78% (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 114
Birth rate
22.2 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 52
Death rate
3.5 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 222
Net migration rate
-10.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 223
Population distribution
population heavily concentrated in the west, and particularly the northwest, in and around the capital of Amman; a sizeable, but smaller population is located in the southwest along the shore of the Gulf of Aqaba
Urbanization
urban population: 92% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 0.98% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
total population growth rate v. urban population growth rate, 2000-2030
Major urban areas - population
2.232 million AMMAN (capital) (2023)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.13 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.95 male(s)/female
total population: 1.1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth
24.6 years (2017/18 est.)
note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49
Maternal mortality ratio
41 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)
comparison ranking: 103
Infant mortality rate
total: 13.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
male: 14.3 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 12.1 deaths/1,000 live births
comparison ranking: total 106
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 76.5 years (2024 est.)
male: 75 years
female: 78.1 years
comparison ranking: total population 109
Total fertility rate
2.87 children born/woman (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 52
Gross reproduction rate
1.39 (2024 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate
51.8% (2017/18)
Drinking water source
improved: urban: 99.2% of population
rural: 97.9% of population
total: 99.1% of population
unimproved: urban: 0.8% of population
rural: 2.1% of population
total: 0.9% of population (2020 est.)
Current health expenditure
7.5% of GDP (2020)
Physician density
2.66 physicians/1,000 population (2019)
Hospital bed density
1.5 beds/1,000 population (2017)
Sanitation facility access
improved: urban: 98.8% of population
rural: 97.8% of population
total: 98.7% of population
unimproved: urban: 1.2% of population
rural: 2.2% of population
total: 1.3% of population (2020 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
35.5% (2016)
comparison ranking: 13
Alcohol consumption per capita
total: 0.25 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer: 0.06 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 0.19 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
comparison ranking: total 171
Tobacco use
total: 34.8% (2020 est.)
male: 56.8% (2020 est.)
female: 12.8% (2020 est.)
comparison ranking: total 16
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
2.7% (2019)
comparison ranking: 94
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
55.6% (2023 est.)
Child marriage
women married by age 15: 1.5%
women married by age 18: 9.7%
men married by age 18: 0.1% (2018 est.)
Education expenditures
3.2% of GDP (2021 est.)
comparison ranking: 151
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.4%
male: 98.7%
female: 98.4% (2021)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
total: 11 years
male: 10 years
female: 11 years (2020)
Environment
Environment - current issues
limited natural freshwater resources; declining water table; salinity; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; biodiversity and ecosystem damage/loss
Environment - international agreements
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate
mostly arid desert; rainy season in west (November to April)
Land use
agricultural land: 11.4% (2018 est.)
arable land: 2% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 1% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 8.4% (2018 est.)
forest: 1.1% (2018 est.)
other: 87.5% (2018 est.)
Urbanization
urban population: 92% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 0.98% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
total population growth rate v. urban population growth rate, 2000-2030
Revenue from forest resources
0.02% of GDP (2018 est.)
comparison ranking: 142
Revenue from coal
0% of GDP (2018 est.)
comparison ranking: 149
Air pollutants
particulate matter emissions: 25.87 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
carbon dioxide emissions: 25.11 megatons (2016 est.)
methane emissions: 6.04 megatons (2020 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually: 2,529,997 tons (2013 est.)
municipal solid waste recycled annually: 177,100 tons (2014 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 7% (2014 est.)
Major lakes (area sq km)
salt water lake(s): Dead Sea (shared with Israel and West Bank) - 1,020 sq km
note - endorheic hypersaline lake; 9.6 times saltier than the ocean; lake shore is 431 meters below sea level
Major watersheds (area sq km)
Indian Ocean drainage: (Persian Gulf) Tigris and Euphrates (918,044 sq km)
Major aquifers
Arabian Aquifer System
Total water withdrawal
municipal: 500 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
industrial: 40 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
agricultural: 570 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Total renewable water resources
940 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
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
etymology: named for the Jordan River, which makes up part of Jordan's northwest border
Government type
parliamentary constitutional monarchy
Capital
name: Amman
geographic coordinates: 31 57 N, 35 56 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology: in the 13th century B.C., the Ammonites named their main city "Rabbath Ammon"; "rabbath" designated "capital," so the name meant "The Capital of [the] Ammon[ites]"; over time, the "Rabbath" came to be dropped and the city became known simply as "Ammon" and then "Amman"
Administrative divisions
12 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); 'Ajlun, Al 'Aqabah, Al Balqa', Al Karak, Al Mafraq, Al ‘Asimah (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)
Legal system
mixed system developed from codes instituted by the Ottoman Empire (based on French law), British common law, and Islamic law
Constitution
history: previous 1928 (preindependence); latest initially adopted 28 November 1947, revised and ratified 1 January 1952
amendments: constitutional amendments require at least a two-thirds majority vote of both the Senate and the House and ratification by the king; amended several times, last in 2022
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship
citizenship by birth: no
citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Jordan
dual citizenship recognized: yes
residency requirement for naturalization: 15 years
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
chief of state: King ABDALLAH II (since 7 February 1999)
head of government: Prime Minister Jafar HASSAN (since 15 September 2024)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarch in consultation with the prime minister
elections/appointments: prime minister appointed by the monarch
Legislative branch
legislature name: National Assembly (Majlis Al-Umma)
legislative structure: bicameral
Legislative branch - lower chamber
chamber name: House of Representatives (Majlis Al-Nuwaab)
number of seats: 138 (all directly elected)
electoral system: mixed system
scope of elections: full renewal
term in office: 4 years
most recent election date: 9/10/2024
percentage of women in chamber: 19.6%
expected date of next election: September 2028
note: the total number of Chamber of Deputies' seats increased to 138 from 130 for the September 2024 election
Legislative branch - upper chamber
chamber name: Senate (Majlis Al-Aayan)
number of seats: 69 (all appointed)
scope of elections: full renewal
term in office: 4 years
most recent election date: 10/24/2024
percentage of women in chamber: 14.5%
expected date of next election: October 2028
Judicial branch
highest court(s): Court of Cassation or Supreme Court (consists of 15 members, including the chief justice); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 members)
judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court chief justice appointed by the king; other judges nominated by the Judicial Council, an 11-member judicial policymaking body consisting of high-level judicial officials and judges, and approved by the king; judge tenure not limited; Constitutional Court members appointed by the king for 6-year non-renewable terms with one-third of the membership renewed every 2 years
subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; Great Felonies Court; religious courts; military courts; juvenile courts; Land Settlement Courts; Income Tax Court; Higher Administrative Court; Customs Court; special courts including the State Security Court
Political parties
'Azem
Blessed Land Party
Building and Labor Coalition
Eradah Party
Growth Party
Islamic Action Front or IAF
Jordanian al-Ansar Party
Jordanian al-Ghad Party
Jordanian Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party or JASBP
Jordanian Civil Democratic Party
Jordanian Communist Party or JCP
Jordanian Equality Party
Jordanian Democratic People's Party or HASD
Jordanian Democratic Popular Unity Party or JDPUP/Wihda
Jordanian Democratic Unionist Party
Jordanian Flame Party
Jordanian Future and Life Party
Jordanian Model Party
Jordanian National Integration Party
Jordanian National Loyalty Party
Jordanian Reform and Renewal Party or Hassad
Jordanian Shura Party
Jordanian Social Democratic Party or JSDP
Justice and Reform Party or JRP
Labor Party
National Charter Party
National Coalition Party
National Constitutional Party
National Current Party or NCP
National Islamic Party
National Union
Nationalist Movement Party or Hsq
New Path Party
Progress Party
International organization participation
ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, CAEU, CD, CICA, EBRD, FAO, G-11, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAS, MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NAM, NATO (partner), OIC, OPCW, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNOOSA, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Dina Khalil Tawfiq KAWAR (since 27 June 2016)
chancery: 3504 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 966-2664
FAX: [1] (202) 966-3110
email address and website:
hkjconsular@jordanembassyus.org
http://www.jordanembassyus.org/
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Rohit (Ro) NEPAL (since 22 January 2025)
embassy: Abdoun, Al-Umawyeen St., Amman
mailing address: 6050 Amman Place, Washington DC 20521-6050
telephone: [962] (6) 590-6000
FAX: [962] (6) 592-0163
email address and website:
Amman-ACS@state.gov
https://jo.usembassy.gov/
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 colors: black, white, green, red
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
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites: 7 (6 cultural, 1 mixed)
selected World Heritage Site locales:
Petra (c); Quseir Amra (c); Um er-Rasas (Kastrom Mefa'a) (c); Wadi Rum Protected Area (m); Baptism Site “Bethany Beyond the Jordan” (Al-Maghtas) (c); As-Salt - The Place of Tolerance and Urban Hospitality (c); Umm Al-Jimāl (c)
Economy
Economic overview
upper-middle-income Middle Eastern economy; high debt and unemployment, especially for youth and women; global events triggering trade slump and decreased revenue from tourism; growing manufacturing and agricultural sectors; key US foreign assistance recipient; natural-resource-poor and import-reliant
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$107.101 billion (2023 est.)
$104.307 billion (2022 est.)
$101.617 billion (2021 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
comparison ranking: 96
Real GDP growth rate
2.68% (2023 est.)
2.65% (2022 est.)
3.66% (2021 est.)
note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 119
Real GDP per capita
$9,400 (2023 est.)
$9,300 (2022 est.)
$9,200 (2021 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
comparison ranking: 150
GDP (official exchange rate)
$50.967 billion (2023 est.)
note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
2.08% (2023 est.)
4.23% (2022 est.)
1.35% (2021 est.)
note: annual % change based on consumer prices
comparison ranking: 38
Credit ratings
Fitch rating: BB- (2019)
Moody's rating: B1 (2013)
Standard & Poors rating: B+ (2017)
note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
agriculture: 4.8% (2023 est.)
industry: 24.8% (2023 est.)
services: 60.7% (2023 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
comparison rankings: services 86; industry 96; agriculture 117
GDP - composition, by end use
household consumption: 78.9% (2021 est.)
government consumption: 15.8% (2021 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 22.2% (2021 est.)
investment in inventories: 3% (2021 est.)
exports of goods and services: 43.5% (2023 est.)
imports of goods and services: -56.7% (2023 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection
Agricultural products
tomatoes, milk, chicken, potatoes, cucumbers/gherkins, olives, watermelons, peaches/nectarines, sheep milk, chilies/peppers (2022)
note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
Industries
tourism, information technology, clothing, fertilizer, potash, phosphate mining, pharmaceuticals, petroleum refining, cement, inorganic chemicals, light manufacturing
Industrial production growth rate
3.54% (2023 est.)
note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 91
Labor force
3.103 million (2023 est.)
note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
comparison ranking: 108
Unemployment rate
17.94% (2023 est.)
18.2% (2022 est.)
19.84% (2021 est.)
note: % of labor force seeking employment
comparison ranking: 195
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
total: 40.8% (2023 est.)
male: 39.3% (2023 est.)
female: 47.1% (2023 est.)
note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
comparison ranking: total 10
Population below poverty line
15.7% (2018 est.)
note: % of population with income below national poverty line
Average household expenditures
on food: 25% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
on alcohol and tobacco: 4.5% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Remittances
8.79% of GDP (2023 est.)
10.07% of GDP (2022 est.)
10.96% of GDP (2021 est.)
note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Budget
revenues: $16.073 billion (2018 est.)
expenditures: $14.464 billion (2018 est.)
note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
Public debt
100.91% of GDP (2022 est.)
note: central government debt as a % of GDP
comparison ranking: 21
Taxes and other revenues
17.47% (of GDP) (2022 est.)
note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP
comparison ranking: 108
Current account balance
-$1.91 billion (2023 est.)
-$3.815 billion (2022 est.)
-$3.718 billion (2021 est.)
note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
comparison ranking: 159
Exports
$22.186 billion (2023 est.)
$20.743 billion (2022 est.)
$13.87 billion (2021 est.)
note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
comparison ranking: 89
Exports - partners
US 20%, India 14%, Saudi Arabia 7%, China 6%, Iraq 6% (2022)
note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Exports - commodities
fertilizers, garments, phosphates, jewelry, phosphoric acid (2022)
note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
Imports
$28.922 billion (2023 est.)
$30.019 billion (2022 est.)
$23.321 billion (2021 est.)
note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
comparison ranking: 83
Imports - partners
China 17%, UAE 12%, Saudi Arabia 12%, India 6%, US 4% (2022)
note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, cars, gold, crude petroleum, jewelry (2022)
note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$15.56 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$15.543 billion (2016 est.)
$16.572 billion (2015 est.)
note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
comparison ranking: 69
Debt - external
$21.766 billion (2023 est.)
note: present value of external debt in current US dollars
comparison ranking: 35
Exchange rates
Jordanian dinars (JOD) per US dollar -
Exchange rates:
0.71 (2023 est.)
0.71 (2022 est.)
0.71 (2021 est.)
0.71 (2020 est.)
0.71 (2019 est.)
Energy
Electricity access
electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
electrification - urban areas: 100%
electrification - rural areas: 98.9%
Electricity
installed generating capacity: 6.805 million kW (2022 est.)
consumption: 19.679 billion kWh (2022 est.)
exports: 177.332 million kWh (2022 est.)
imports: 389.867 million kWh (2022 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 2.4 billion kWh (2022 est.)
comparison rankings: transmission/distribution losses 129; imports 97; exports 86; consumption 72; installed generating capacity 79
Electricity generation sources
fossil fuels: 77.1% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
solar: 15.4% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
wind: 7.4% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
hydroelectricity: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Coal
consumption: 479,000 metric tons (2022 est.)
exports: (2022 est.) less than 1 metric ton
imports: 297,000 metric tons (2022 est.)
Petroleum
total petroleum production: 20 bbl/day (2023 est.)
refined petroleum consumption: 97,000 bbl/day (2022 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves: 1 million barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas
production: 187.262 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
consumption: 4.382 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
exports: 375.998 million cubic meters (2018 est.)
imports: 4.255 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
proven reserves: 6.031 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
21.261 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 1.124 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 13.256 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
from consumed natural gas: 6.881 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
comparison ranking: total emissions 85
Energy consumption per capita
30.906 million Btu/person (2022 est.)
comparison ranking: 113
Communications
Telephones - fixed lines
total subscriptions: 451,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 4 (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 96
Telephones - mobile cellular
total subscriptions: 7.73 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 68 (2022 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 104
Telecommunication systems
general assessment: Jordan’s government has focused on the use of ICT in a range of sectors, aimed at transforming the relatively small economy through the use of digital services; this policy has helped the country rise in the league tables for digital connectivity and internet readiness, and it has also attracted investment from foreign companies; during the ongoing global pandemic, the start-up sector has been further encouraged to develop solutions to combat the crisis, while other efforts have facilitated e-government services and encouraged businesses to adapt to new methods of working through their own digital transformation; these developments have been supported by the highly developed mobile sector, led by three major regional players which have near-comprehensive LTE network coverage (2022)
domestic: fixed-line stands at nearly 4 per 100 persons and mobile cellular subscriptions at 65 per 100 persons (2021)
international: country code - 962; landing point for the FEA and Taba-Aqaba submarine cable networks providing connectivity to Europe, the Middle East, Southeast Asia and Asia; satellite earth stations - 33 (3 Intelsat, 1 Arabsat, and 29 land and maritime Inmarsat terminals (2019)
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
Internet country code
.jo
Internet users
percent of population: 90% (2022 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
total: 805,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 7 (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: total 85
Transportation
National air transport system
number of registered air carriers: 4 (2020)
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 54
annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 3,383,805 (2018)
annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 175.84 million (2018) mt-km
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
JY
Airports
17 (2024)
comparison ranking: 144
Heliports
6 (2024)
Pipelines
473 km gas, 49 km oil (2013)
Railways
total: 509 km (2020)
narrow gauge: 509 km (2014) 1.050-m gauge
comparison ranking: total 112
Roadways
total: 7,203 km
paved: 7,203 km (2011)
comparison ranking: total 144
Merchant marine
total: 34 (2023)
by type: general cargo 5, other 29
comparison ranking: total 131
Ports
total ports: 1 (2024)
large: 0
medium: 0
small: 0
very small: 1
ports with oil terminals: 1
key ports: Al Aqabah
Military and Security
Military and security forces
Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF): Royal Jordanian Army (includes Special Operations Forces, Border Guards, Royal Guard), Royal Jordanian Air Force, Royal Jordanian Navy
Ministry of Interior: Public Security Directorate (includes national police, the Gendarmerie, and the Civil Defense Directorate) (2024)
note: the JAF report administratively to the minister of defense and have a support role for internal security; the prime minister serves as defense minister, but there is no separate ministry of defense
Military expenditures
4.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
4.8% of GDP (2022 est.)
5% of GDP (2021 est.)
5% of GDP (2020 est.)
5.6% of GDP (2019 est.)
comparison ranking: 11
Military and security service personnel strengths
approximately 100,000 active-duty armed forces personnel (85,000 Army; 14,000 Air Force; 1,000 Navy); approximately 15,000 Gendarmerie Forces (2023)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the JAF inventory is comprised of a wide mix of imported equipment, much of it older or secondhand, from China, Europe, some Gulf States, Russia, and the US (2024)
Military service age and obligation
17 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women); initial service term is 24 months, with option to reenlist for up to 18 years; conscription was abolished in 1991, but in 2020 Jordan announced the reinstatement of compulsory military service for jobless men aged between 25 and 29 with 12 months of service, made up of 3 months of military training and 9 months of professional and technical training; in 2019, Jordan announced a voluntary 4-month National Military Service program for men and women aged between 18-25 years who have been unemployed for at least 6 months; service would include 1 month for military training with the remaining 3 months dedicated to vocational training in the sectors of construction and tourism (2023)
note: women comprised about 3% of the military as of 2023
Military deployments
Jordan has about 200 police deployed to the MONUSCO mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (2024)
Military - note
the JAF traces its origins back to the Arab Legion, which was formed under the British protectorate of Transjordan in the 1920s; it is responsible for territorial defense and border security and has a supporting role for internal security; the JAF participates in both bilateral and multinational exercises, UN peacekeeping missions, and has taken part in regional military operations alongside international forces in Afghanistan, Syria, and Yemen
the JAF’s primary concerns include terrorist and criminal threats emanating from its borders with Syria and Iraq, as well as the ongoing Israel-Hamas war in Gaza and conflicts in southern Lebanon/northern Israel and the Red Sea; the terrorist group Hizballah and Iranian-backed militia forces operate in southwestern Syria near Jordan’s border while fighters from the Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) terrorist group continue to operate in both Iraq and Syria; ISIS fighters have included Jordanian nationals, some of whom have returned to Jordan; individuals and groups sympathetic to Palestinian causes have planned and conducted terrorist attacks in Jordan
the US is a key security partner, and Jordan is one of the largest recipients of US military aid in the region; it cooperates with the US on a number of issues, including border and maritime security, arms transfers, cybersecurity, and counterterrorism; Jordan has Major Non-NATO Ally status with the US, a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation (2024)
Terrorism
Terrorist group(s)
Terrorist group(s): Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)
note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide
Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons
refugees (country of origin): 2.4 million (Palestinian refugees) (2020); 12,866 (Yemen), 6,013 Sudan (2021); 33,951 (Iraq) (mid-year 2022) (2022); 638,760 (Syria) (2024)
stateless persons: 64 (2022)
Illicit drugs
primarily a transshipment country for amphetamine tablets originating in Lebanon and Syria and destined for Saudi Arabia, Israel, and Gulf countries; the government is increasingly concerned about domestic consumption of illicit drugs
