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Middle East :: Jordan

- ## Introduction :: JORDAN

- 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 :: JORDAN

- 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
  country comparison to the world: 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 desert plateau in east, highland area in west; Great Rift Valley separates eastern and western banks of the Jordan River
  Elevation extremes:
  lowest point: Dead Sea -408 m
  highest point: Jabal Umm ad Dami 1,854 m
  Natural resources:
  phosphates, potash, shale oil
  Land use:
  agricultural land: 11.4%
  arable land 2%; permanent crops 1%; permanent pasture 8.4%
  forest: 1.1%
  other: 87.5% (2011 est.)
  Irrigated land:
  788.6 sq km (2004)
  Total renewable water resources:
  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 :: JORDAN

- 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:
  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
  Age structure:
  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:
  Dependency ratios:
  total dependency ratio: 64.8%
  youth dependency ratio: 58.5%
  elderly dependency ratio: 6.2%
  potential support ratio: 16% (2015 est.)
  Median age:
  total: 22 years
  male: 21.7 years
  female: 22.4 years (2015 est.)
  Population growth rate:
  0.83% (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 132
  Birth rate:
  25.37 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 50
  Death rate:
  3.79 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 211
  Net migration rate:
  -13.24 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 217
  Urbanization:
  urban population: 83.7% of total population (2015)
  rate of urbanization: 3.79% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
  Major urban areas - population:
  AMMAN (capital) 1.155 million (2015)
  Sex ratio:
  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.)
  Infant mortality rate:
  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
  Life expectancy at birth:
  total population: 74.35 years
  male: 73 years
  female: 75.78 years (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 122
  Total fertility rate:
  3.17 children born/woman (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 50
  Contraceptive prevalence rate:
  61.2% (2012)
  Health expenditures:
  7.2% of GDP (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 25
  Physicians density:
  2.56 physicians/1,000 population (2010)
  Hospital bed density:
  1.8 beds/1,000 population (2012)
  Drinking water source:
  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.)
  Sanitation facility access:
  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.)
  HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
  NA
  HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
  NA
  HIV/AIDS - deaths:
  NA
  Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
  28.1% (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 28
  Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
  3% (2012)
  country comparison to the world: 114
  Education expenditures:
  NA
  Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 95.4%
  male: 97.7%
  female: 92.9% (2015 est.)
  School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
  total: 14 years
  male: 13 years
  female: 14 years (2012)
  Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
  total: 29.3%
  male: 25.2%
  female: 48.8% (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 27

- ## Government :: JORDAN

- 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, Al'Asimah, 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 2014 (2014)
  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
  elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch
  Legislative branch:
  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
  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), 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
  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 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
  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

- ## Economy :: JORDAN

- 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 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.
  GDP (purchasing power parity):
  $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
  GDP (official exchange rate):
  $35.77 billion (2014 est.)
  GDP - real growth rate:
  3.1% (2014 est.)
  2.8% (2013 est.)
  2.7% (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 112
  GDP - per capita (PPP):
  $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
  Gross national saving:
  14.3% of GDP (2014 est.)
  10.5% of GDP (2013 est.)
  6.5% of GDP (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 138
  GDP - composition, by end use:
  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.)
  GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
  agriculture: 3.2%
  industry: 29.3%
  services: 67.4% (2014 est.)
  Agriculture - products:
  citrus, tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, strawberries, stone fruits; sheep, poultry, dairy
  Industries:
  tourism, information technology, clothing, fertilizers, potash, phosphate mining, pharmaceuticals, petroleum refining, cement, inorganic chemicals, light manufacturing
  Industrial production growth rate:
  2.4% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 117
  Labor force:
  1.959 million (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 123
  Labor force - by occupation:
  agriculture: 2%
  industry: 20%
  services: 78% (2013 est.)
  Unemployment rate:
  11.9% (2014 est.)
  12.6% (2013 est.)
  note: official rate; unofficial rate is approximately 30%
  country comparison to the world: 129
  Population below poverty line:
  14.2% (2002 est.)
  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)
  country comparison to the world: 60
  Budget:
  revenues: $9.845 billion
  expenditures: $11.42 billion (2014 est.)
  Taxes and other revenues:
  26.9% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 107
  Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
  -4.3% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 148
  Public debt:
  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
  Fiscal year:
  calendar year
  Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  2.9% (2014 est.)
  5.6% (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 125
  Central bank discount rate:
  0.3% (31 December 2010)
  4.75% (31 December 2009)
  country comparison to the world: 146
  Commercial bank prime lending rate:
  8.74% (31 December 2014 est.)
  8.85% (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 104
  Stock of narrow money:
  $13.52 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $11.86 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 72
  Stock of broad money:
  $42.26 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $38.58 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 73
  Stock of domestic credit:
  $40.72 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $38.08 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 66
  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.)
  country comparison to the world: 59
  Current account balance:
  -$2.512 billion (2014 est.)
  -$3.452 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 158
  Exports:
  $8.556 billion (2014 est.)
  $7.921 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 100
  Exports - commodities:
  clothing, fertilizers, potash, phosphates, vegetables, pharmaceuticals
  Exports - partners:
  US 15.8%, Iraq 15.3%, Saudi Arabia 12.4%, India 7.8% (2014)
  Imports:
  $22.8 billion (2014 est.)
  $22.1 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 75
  Imports - commodities:
  crude oil, refined petroleum products, machinery, transport equipment, iron, cereals
  Imports - partners:
  Saudi Arabia 19.6%, China 10.5%, US 5.8%, India 5.5%, UAE 4.8% (2014)
  Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
  $16.51 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $13.82 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 68
  Debt - external:
  $26.06 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $22.61 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 78
  Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
  $28.65 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $26.67 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 67
  Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
  $532.9 million (31 December 2014 est.)
  $524.9 million (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 84
  Exchange rates:
  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

- Electricity - production:
  17.26 billion kWh (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 77
  Electricity - consumption:
  14.56 billion kWh (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 79
  Electricity - exports:
  59 million kWh (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 87
  Electricity - imports:
  381 million kWh (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 82
  Electricity - installed generating capacity:
  3.193 million kW (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 89
  Electricity - from fossil fuels:
  99.6% of total installed capacity (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 48
  Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
  0% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 116
  Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
  0.3% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 147
  Electricity - from other renewable sources:
  0.1% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 105
  Crude oil - production:
  19 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 121
  Crude oil - exports:
  0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 135
  Crude oil - imports:
  59,440 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 55
  Crude oil - proved reserves:
  1 million bbl (1 January 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 98
  Refined petroleum products - production:
  57,790 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 81
  Refined petroleum products - consumption:
  122,700 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 72
  Refined petroleum products - exports:
  0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 188
  Refined petroleum products - imports:
  68,040 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 61
  Natural gas - production:
  225 million cu m (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 76
  Natural gas - consumption:
  709 million cu m (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 96
  Natural gas - exports:
  0 cu m (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 122
  Natural gas - imports:
  484 million cu m (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 67
  Natural gas - proved reserves:
  6.031 billion cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 87
  Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
  16.86 million Mt (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 86

- ## Communications :: JORDAN

- Telephones - fixed lines:
  total subscriptions: 380,000
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 5 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 107
  Telephones - mobile cellular:
  total: 11.1 million
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 140 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 81
  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)
  Radio broadcast stations:
  AM 1, FM 28 (2010)
  Television broadcast stations:
  4 (2009)
  Internet country code:
  .jo
  Internet users:
  total: 3.6 million
  percent of population: 45.0% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 82

- ## Transportation :: JORDAN

- Airports:
  18 (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 140
  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:
  gas 473 km; oil 49 km (2013)
  Railways:
  total: 507 km
  narrow gauge: 507 km 1.050-m gauge (2008)
  country comparison to the world: 112
  Roadways:
  total: 7,203 km
  paved: 7,203 km (2011)
  country comparison to the world: 144
  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)
  country comparison to the world: 106
  Ports and terminals:
  major seaport(s): Al 'Aqabah

- ## Military :: JORDAN

- 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:
  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:
  4.65% of GDP (2012)
  4.64% of GDP (2011)
  4.65% of GDP (2010)
  country comparison to the world: 7

- ## Transnational Issues :: JORDAN

- Disputes - international:
  2004 Agreement settles border dispute with Syria pending demarcation
  Refugees and internally displaced persons:
  refugees (country of origin): 2,097,338 (Palestinian refugees (UNRWA)) (2014); 628,887 (Syria); 50,638 (Iraq) (2015)

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