Jordan, a kingdom in the northwestern
corner of the Arabian Peninsula, is bounded by Syria in the north, Saudi
Arabia on the south, Iraq and Saudi Arabia on the east, and the Occupied
West Bank and Israel in the west.
The Nabateans, an Arab people, were among the first to settle in Jordan,
with their base in Petra. The southern city was situated on one of the main
trade routes between eastern and western Asia. Caravans carrying gums, spices,
and silks brought by sea to the Gulf of Aqaba went through Petra on their
way to the lands of the eastern Mediterranean.
The Nabatean Kingdom lasted until 106 A.D., when it was conquered by the
Romans. After the division of the Roman Empire in the late 4th century A.D.,
all of what is now Jordan came under the rule of the Byzantine, or eastern
Roman, empire. In the 7th century A.D., the Byzantines were expelled by
invading Muslim armies. In later centuries, the region was overrun by tribes
from central Asia, including Seljuk Turks, Mongols, and Tatars. In 1516
it was made part of the Ottoman Empire and incorporated into the Turkish
province of Syria.
During the Ottoman rule, Jordan was the subject of discrimination. An inevitable
uprising took place as the consequence of Turkification, oppression, economic
malaise, administrative corruption and the inability of the Ottoman Empire
to provide a modicum of security or stability for the Arab countries as
a whole.
The late King Hussein's great-grandfather, Al-Hussein bin Ali, Sharif of
Mecca and King of the Arabs (later he also became known as King of the Hijaz),
led the liberation of Arab lands from their domination by the Ottoman Turks
in the Great Arab Revolt of 1916.
Countries of the Arab East were united into one Arab state embracing Iraq,
the Hijaz, Greater Syria, Jordan and Palestine. On this basis, Prince Faisal
I announced the establishment of the first government in Damascus on October
5, 1918. But on October 22, Britain issued a statement dividing Greater
Syria into three regions. This was not only pursuant to the 1916 Sykes-Picot
agreement, but also to enable Britain to fulfill its promise to the Zionist
Movement to establish a national homeland for the Jews in Palestine. The
November 2, 1917 Balfour Declaration called for the establishment of a national
homeland for the Jews in Palestine.
In March 1920, the division of the Arab territory was rejected and the Arab's
people's representatives meeting in Damascus declared the unity and independence
of Syria proclaiming Sharif Hussein's son Faisal I as King. King Faisal
I later also assumed the throne in Iraq.
But Britain and France agreed at the San Remo conference on April 25, 1920
to impose a French mandate on Syria and Lebanon, and a British mandate on
Iraq, Palestine and Jordan.
Several battles took place following the mandates' imposition, the last
of which was at Maysalun on July 27, 1920.
After freeing the lands of Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Iraq, Syria and the
Hijaz, Sharif Hussein's son Abdullah assumed the throne of Transjordan.
The Emirate of Transjordan was founded on April 11, 1921, and became the
Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan upon formal independence from Britain on May
25, 1946.
The name Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is derived from Hashem, which was the
name of the great grandfather of the Prophet Mohammad. The Royal Family
of Jordan is called Hashemite, which means descended from Hashem.
King Abdullah successfully defended Arab East Jerusalem and the "West Bank"
during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War when the Israeli state was created on three
quarters of Palestine. The Jordanian Arab Legion, fighting alongside other
Arab armies succeeded in holding on to those Palestinian territories, which
later became known as the West Bank of the Kingdom.
On July 20, 1951, King Abdullah I was assassinated by a lone gunman while
attending Friday prayers at al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem with his grandson
Hussein, who was saved from a bullet by a medal his grandfather had recently
awarded him.
After King Abdullah's martyrdom, King Talal, his eldest son, ruled for a
brief period. Due to King Talal's illness, his eldest son, Hussein, was
proclaimed King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan on August 11, 1952. He
assumed his constitutional powers on May 2, 1953, after reaching the age
of eighteen according to the Muslim calendar.
His Majesty King Hussein's reign continued until February 7, 1999 when he
lost his long battle with cancer at the age of 63, marking the end of an
era in Jordan's history. The late king Hussein will be remembered for many
achievements, most of all as a "king of peace" due to his vigorous efforts
in bringing about peace in the Middle East.
Shortly before his demise, King Hussein appointed his eldest son, Prince
Abdullah as crown prince who was sworn in as regent and proclaimed king
of Jordan.
Jordanians look with optimism and pride to a future under the reign of King
Abdullah, current bearer of the Hashemite torch.
Located in the heart of the Middle East, strategically situated at the junction
of Europe, Asia and Africa, Jordan has an amazingly historic, cultural and
archaeological patrimony, and many natural wonders that are known worldwide.
Due to its diverse geological nature, visitors can climb the proud mountains
of Ajloun, hike at the Rose City of Petra, ride Arabian horses in Wadi Rum,
sunbathe in the lowest point on earth - the Dead Sea and dive in the crystalline
Red Sea waters of Aqaba
The major source of attraction lies in the hospitality of Jordan’s people.
Visitors to Jordan are constantly greeted with a warm smile and a genuine
welcome.
Location
Jordan is located in the heart of the
Middle East, Northwest of Saudi Arabia, South of Syria, Southwest of Iraq,
and East of Israel and the Palestenian National Authority. Jordan has access
to the Red Sea via the port city of Aqaba, located at the northern end of
the Gulf of Aqaba.
Geographic co-ordinates: 29 - 34 00 N, 35 - 39 E
Area
total: 89,213 sq. km (34, 445 sq. miles)
land: 88,884 sq. km (34, 318 sq. miles)
water: 329 sq. km (127 sq. miles)
Population
5,460,265 (July 2003 est.)
Capital
Amman (1.9 million /
38% of total population)
Language
Arabic is the official language. English is widely spoken.
Currency and Exchange Rates
Jordan's
currency is the Jordanian Dinar, or JD. It is subdivided into 1000 fils,
or 100 qirsh or piastres. It appears in paper notes of 50, 20, 10, 5, 1,
and 0.5 JD denominations. Coins come in denominations of 1 JD, 0.5 JD, 0.25
JD, and 100, 50, 25, 10 and 5 fils. The daily exchange rate is published
in local newspapers.
United States Dollar
708/00
710/00
(As from June 28, 2001)
You can change foreign cash or travellers’ checks at any bank in Jordan.
Only traveller's checks will be charged a commission. Also, there are authorized
money-changers in Amman, Aqaba and Irbid, and you will usually get a slightly
better rate of exchange at money-changers than at banks. Hotels of three
stars or above will also change money but at a less favourable rate. Foreigners
are permitted to open accounts at Jordanian banks in either Jordanian Dinar
or in foreign currencies. Currency exchange operates under the guidelines
and regulations of the Central Bank of Jordan. The Central Bank also sets
the minimum and maximum interest rates for financial institutions to follow.
Climate and Geography
Jordan can be divided into three physiographic
regions, each with a distinct climate.
1. The highlands comprise mountainous and hilly regions that run through
Jordan from north to south. The highlands are by no means uniform. Their
altitude varies from 600 to 1600 meters (1969-5249 feet) above sea level.
Generally wet and cool, also varies from one area to another. The average
temperature in Amman ranges from 8.1 degrees Celsius (46.6 Fahrenheit) in
January to 25.1 degrees (77.2 Fahrenheit) in July.
2. The Jordan Rift Valley which also runs along the entire length of Jordan.
The Rift Valley plunges to over 400 meters below sea level at the Dead Sea,
becoming the lowest spot on earth, and reaches a maximum width of 15 kilometers
(9.3 miles). The Rift Valley ends in the south at Aqaba, a tropical resort
surrounded by mountains. Aqaba also enjoys a warm, sunny climate throughout
the year and is a tourist destination sporting some of the world's most
spectacular underwater life.
3. The desert region in the east Jordan is an extension of the Arabian Desert,
and forms nearly two-thirds of the country. There is an extreme variation
in the climate of the desert between day and night, and between summer and
winter. Summer temperatures can exceed 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit),
while winter nights can be bitterly cold, dry and windy.
Business Hours
Government offices:8.00
am to 15.00 pm (Sunday to Thursday)
Ramadan
:9.30 am to 14.00 pm (Sunday to Thursday)
Commercial Offices:8.00
am to 13.00 pm & 15.30 pm to 19.30 pm all year round.
Ramadan
:9.00 am to 15.00 pm (Usually)
Banks
:8.30 am to 15.00 pm (Sunday to Thursday)
Public Holidays
January 1 - New Year
January 30 - King Abdullah's Birthday
Shawal 1st for 3 Days Eid Al Fitr
The AL Hijeh 1st for 4 Days Eid Al Adha
Muharram 1st Hijra New Year
May 1 - Labor Day
May 25 - Independence Day
12 Rabi' 1 Prophet's Birthday
November 14 - King Hussein Remembrance Day
November 16 - El Issra' Wall-Mi'raj
December 25 - Christmas
Time
Time is GMT + 2 (in winter, +3 in summer),
or 7 hours ahead of US Eastern Standard Time. Summer time is observed from
April through September.
Entry and Visa Requirements
Any non-Arab visitor to Jordan, whether
for business or tourism, needs an entry visa. The required fee for a visa
in addition to the granted stay duration depends on the visitor’s nationality.
Although entrance visas are obtainable at the airport for visitors arriving
by airplane, those arriving by land must get a visa prior to arrival. These
are obtainable from any Jordanian diplomatic mission abroad, where they
generally take a day to be received. Visas cannot be obtained at Jordan's
land border crossings.
Visas obtained in Jordanian consulates are valid for 3-4 months from the
date of issue, and can be issued for multiple entries. Tourist visas allow
a stay of up to one month initially. However, this period can easily be
extended for up to another two months. After that date you must exit and
re-enter the country, or undergo immigration procedures. If your visa has
not been renewed properly by the time you leave Jordan you will have to
pay a fine at the border. If you plan to stay for more than two weeks in
Jordan, you will need to register at the nearest police station.
Health Requirements and Recommendations
Inoculations are not required unless
you are travelling from an infected location. If you come from a country
where diseases such as cholera and yellow fever are prevalent, you will
have to show a certificate of inoculation at your point of entry into Jordan.
Although not required, it is preferable to have preventative shots against
polio, tetanus and typhoid.
Jordan is one of the cleanest and safest countries, but it is nonetheless
advisable to take some precautions until your digestive system adjusts.
Hotels rated four-star and up have their own filtering systems, and their
tap water is safe to drink. In other places, bottled water is recommended.
All fruit and vegetables should be washed thoroughly, and salads and cold
meats which have been sitting out for a long time should be avoided, especially
during summer months. All Jordanian dairy products are pasteurised and safe.
Medical services are well developed throughout Jordan, with a medical centre
or clinic in every town and village. There are hospitals in Amman, Aqaba,
Ma'an, Karak, Madaba, Zarqa, Irbid and Ramtha. In the larger towns and cities
many of the doctors have been trained overseas and speak English. Antibiotics
and other drugs normally sold on prescription in the West are often available
over-the-counter in Jordan. You should carry prescriptions of any medicaments
you may need, making sure you have the generic name as your specific brand
may not be available. If you wear glasses, bring a spare pair and a copy
of the prescription as well.
Transport
Taxis are cheap and often
the most convenient from of transport in Jordan even over such substantial
distances as the run between Amman and Aqaba, though on this particular
route there is an excellent Pullman coach service.
Car Hire
A license valid in the holder's country of origin is usually
acceptable if it has been held for at least one year
Industry
Expanding very rapidly .The main ones include phosphates,
iron, cigarettes and cement
Agriculture
It involves half of the population. Three quarters of the
agricultural produce comes from the fertile Jordan Valley. Main items on
the agricultural list include wheat, vegetables, citrus fruits, grapes and
olives
Electricity
220 V 50 Hz AC
The Government
The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is a
constitutional monarchy with representative government. The reigning monarch,
His Majesty King Abdullah II, is the Head of State, the Chief Executive
and the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed forces. The king exercises his executive
authority through the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers, or Cabinet.
The cabinet is responsible before the elected House of Deputies which, along
with the House of Notables (Senate), constitutes the legislative branch
of the government. The judicial branch is an independent branch of the government.
Since 1989, all elements of the Jordanian political spectrum have embarked
together on a road to greater democracy, liberalization and consensus building.
These reforms, which were guided by the late King Hussein, have placed Jordan
on an irreversible road to democratization. The result has been greater
empowerment and involvement of everyday citizens in Jordan's civic life,
contributing to increased stability and institutionalization which will
benefit the country far into the future.
The Economy
Since His Majesty King Abdullah II assumed
the throne in 1999, Jordan has embarked on some broad economic reforms in
a long-term effort to improve living standards. The Jordanian government
has worked closely with the IMF, practiced careful monetary policy, and
made significant progress with privatization. The government also has liberalized
the trade regime sufficiently in order to guarantee Jordan's membership
in the Word Trade Organization (2000), an association agreement with the
European Union (2000), and a Free Trade Agreement with the United States
(2000). Jordan has also signed a Bilateral Investment Treaty with the United
States.
International Transport
Travelers can reach Jordan by air, sea
or land. Jordan has three airports, a good network of international and
national roads, and a port in Aqaba. Amman’s Queen Alia International Airport
and Marka Airport, and Aqaba Airport are used for scheduled commercial travel.
Queen Alia International Airport is located 40 kilometers (25 miles) south
of Amman. Completed in 1983, it can handle up to three million passengers
per year. The national carrier, Royal Jordanian, links Amman with major
cities in Europe, the Middle East, the Far East, North Africa and North
America. International airlines also link Jordan with their respective countries.
Driving to Jordan is facilitated by a good network of roads linking Jordan
and neighboring countries. Daily buses, taxis and "service" cabs link Jordan
with Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Egypt, Lebanon, Israel and the West Bank
and Gaza. Service cabs – pronounced "servees" – are taxis that follow a
set of route and stop on demand to pick up and drop off passengers. Bus
services also link Amman with Damascus, Cairo, Baghdad, Istanbul, and the
crossing points into Israel and the territories under the Palestine National
Authority (PNA). A passenger train service operates weekly between Jordan
and Syria. A twice daily passenger and car ferry service links Jordan’s
port of Aqaba with the Red Sea port of Nuweibe’ in Egypt.
Domestic Transport
Jordan is a small country that can be
crossed by car in approximately four hours. A visitor with an international
driver‘s license may rent a car in Jordan. Residents, are required to obtain
a Jordanian license. Major international car rental companies and a number
of local companies operate in Jordan. Car rental prices are controlled by
the government. Taxis are available in the major cities, and can be called
by telephone or simply waved down in the street. All taxis operate by meter,
and can be hired for the day.
An economical method of travel is the service taxi. Fares are set by the
government, and tend to be higher than bus fares but lower than taxi fares.
Service cabs operate within cities and also connect major cities and towns.
Government and private buses operate within and between major cities. Private
bus companies run luxury air-conditioned buses that offer day trips to the
major tourist sites. Limousine service is also available for short distance
as well as day trips.
The national air carrier, Royal Jordanian, operates reasonably priced flights
between Amman and Aqaba six times a week.
Labor force
1.26 million
GDP
purchasing power parity - $22.8 billion
(2002 est.)
limited natural fresh water 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
total: 23 years male: 23.7 years female: 22.4 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.49% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
21.25 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
2.65 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
6.26 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.15 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.95 male(s)/female total population: 1.1 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 16.76 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 20.04 deaths/1,000 live births female: 13.28 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.4 years male: 75.9 years female: 81.05 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.63 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
600 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 500 (2003 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Jordanian(s) adjective: Jordanian
Ethnic groups:
Arab 98%, Circassian 1%, Armenian 1%
Religions:
Sunni Muslim 92%, Christian 6% (majority Greek
Orthodox, but some Greek and Roman Catholics, Syrian Orthodox, Coptic Orthodox,
Armenian Orthodox, and Protestant denominations), other 2% (several small
Shi'a Muslim and Druze populations) (2001 est.)
Languages:
Arabic (official), English widely understood
among upper and middle classes
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read
and write total population: 91.3% male: 95.9% female: 86.3% (2003 est.)
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 Thursday in March; ends last
Friday in September
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)
based on Islamic law and French codes; judicial
review of legislative acts in a specially provided High Tribunal; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: King ABDALLAH II (since
7 February 1999); Prince HUSSEIN (born 1994), eldest son of King ABDALLAH,
is first in line to inherit the throne head of government: Prime Minister Marouf al-BAKHIT (since 24 November
2005); Deputy Prime Minister Ziad FARIZ (since 24 November 2005) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister in consultation
with the monarch elections: none; the monarch 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 (Majlis al-Ayan)
(55 seats; members appointed by the monarch from designated categories of
public figures; members serve four-year terms) and the House of Representatives,
also called the House of Deputies (Majlis al-Nuwaab) (110 seats; members
elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve
four-year terms); note - six seats are reserved for women and are allocated
by a special electoral panel if no women are elected elections: House of Representatives - last held 17 June 2003 (next
to be held in 2007) election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote by party
- independents and other 89.6%, IAF 10.4%; seats by party - independents
and other 92, IAF 18; note - one of the six quota seats was given to a female
IAF candidate note: the House of Representatives has been convened and dissolved
by the monarch several times since 1974; in November 1989, the first parliamentary
elections in 22 years were held; political parties were not legalized until
1992; King ABDALLAH delayed the 2001 elections until 2003
Judicial branch:
Court of Cassation; Supreme Court (court of
final appeal)
Political parties and leaders:
al-Ahd Party; Arab Islamic Democratic Movement
[Yusuf ABU BAKR, president]; Arab Land Party [Dr. Ayishah Salih HIJAZAYN,
secretary general]; Arab Socialist Ba'th Party [Taysir al-HIMSI, secretary
general]; Ba'th Arab Progressive Party [Fu'ad DABBUR, secretary general];
Freedom Party; Future Party; Islamic Action Front or IAF [Zaki Sa'ed BANI
IRSHEID, secretary general]; Islamic Center Party [Marwan al-FAURI, secretary
general]; Jordanian Arab Ansar Party; Jordanian Arab New Dawn Party; Jordanian
Arab Party; Jordanian Citizens' Rights Movement; Jordanian Communist Party
[Munir HAMARINAH, secretary general]; Jordanian Communist Workers Party;
Jordanian Democratic Left Party [Musa MA'AYTEH, secretary general]; Jordanian
Democratic Popular Unity Party [Sa'id Dhiyab Ali MUSTAFA, secretary general];
Jordanian Generations Party [Muhammad KHALAYLEH, secretary general]; Jordanian
Green Party [Muhammad BATAYNEH, secretary general]; Jordanian Labor Party
[Dr. Mazin Sulayman Jiryis HANNA, secretary general]; Jordanian Peace Party;
Jordanian People's Committees Movement; Jordanian People's Democratic Party
(Hashd) [Ahmad YUSUF, secretary general]; Jordanian Rafah Party; Jordanian
Renaissance Party; Mission Party; Nation Party [Ahmad al-HANANDEH, secretary
general]; National Action Party (Haqq) [Tariq al-KAYYALI, secretary general];
National Constitutional Party [Abdul Hadi MAJALI, secretary general]; National
Popular Democratic Movement [Mahmud al-NUWAYHI, secretary general]; Progressive
Party [Fawwaz al-ZUBI, secretary general]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Anti-Normalization Committee [Ali Abu SUKKAR,
president vice chairman]; Jordanian Bar Association [Saleh ARMOUTI, president];
Jordanian Press Association [Sayf al-SHARIF, president]; Muslim Brotherhood
[Salem AL-FALAHAT, secretary general]
chief of mission: Ambassador Karim Tawfiq
KAWAR 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 David M.
HALE embassy: Abdoun, Amman mailing address: P. O. Box 354, Amman 11118 Jordan; Unit 70200, Box
5, APO AE 09892-0200 telephone: [962] (6) 590-6000 FAX: [962] (6) 592-0121
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
Economy
Jordan
Economy - overview:
Jordan is a small Arab country with inadequate
supplies of water and other natural resources such as oil. Debt, poverty,
and unemployment are fundamental problems, but King ABDALLAH, since assuming
the throne in 1999, has undertaken some broad economic reforms in a long-term
effort to improve living standards. 'Amman in the past three years has worked
closely with the IMF, practiced careful monetary policy, and made substantial
headway with privatization. The government also has liberalized the trade
regime sufficiently to secure Jordan's membership in the WTO (2000), a free
trade accord with the US (2001), and an association agreement with the EU
(2001). These measures have helped improve productivity and have put Jordan
on the foreign investment map. Jordan imported most of its oil from Iraq,
but the US-led war in Iraq in 2003 made Jordan more dependent on oil from
other Gulf nations, forcing the Jordanian Government to raise retail petroleum
product prices and the sales tax base. Jordan's export market, which is
heavily dependent on exports to Iraq, was also affected by the war but recovered
quickly while contributing to the Iraq recovery effort. The main challenges
facing Jordan are reducing dependence on foreign grants, reducing the budget
deficit, and creating investment incentives to promote job creation.
US 29.4%, Iraq 15.6%, India 8.8%, Saudi Arabia
5.9% (2005)
Imports:
$8.681 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:
crude oil, textile fabrics, machinery, transport
equipment, manufactured goods
Imports - partners:
Saudi Arabia 20.9%, China 8%, Germany 7.1%,
US 6.2%, South Korea 4.1% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$5.463 billion (2005 est.)
Debt - external:
$8.528 billion (2005 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
ODA, $500 million (2004 est.)
Currency (code):
Jordanian dinar (JOD)
Currency code:
JOD
Exchange rates:
Jordanian dinars per US dollar - 0.709 (2005),
0.709 (2004), 0.709 (2003), 0.709 (2002), 0.709 (2001)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications
Jordan
Telephones - main lines in use:
617,300 (2004)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
1,594,500 (2004)
Telephone system:
general assessment: service has improved
recently with increased use of digital switching equipment, but better access
to the telephone system is needed in the rural areas and easier access to
pay telephones is needed by the urban public domestic: microwave radio relay transmission and coaxial and fiber-optic
cable are employed on trunk lines; considerable use of mobile cellular systems;
Internet service is available international: country code - 962; satellite earth stations - 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; connection
to international submarine cable FLAG (Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe);
participant in MEDARABTEL; international links total about 4,000
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 6, FM 5, shortwave 1 (1999)
Radios:
1.66 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
20 (plus 96 repeaters) (1995)
Televisions:
500,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.jo
Internet hosts:
3,441 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
5 (2000)
Internet users:
629,500 (2005)
Transportation
Jordan
Airports:
17 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 15 over 3,047 m: 7 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 2 under 914 m: 2 (2006)
Heliports:
1 (2006)
Pipelines:
gas 426 km; oil 49 km (2006)
Railways:
total: 505 km narrow gauge: 505 km 1.050-m gauge (2005)
Roadways:
total: 7,364 km paved: 7,364 km (2003)
Merchant marine:
total: 25 ships (1000 GRT or over) 346,698
GRT/501,060 DWT by type: bulk carrier 2, cargo 9, container 2, passenger/cargo 6,
petroleum tanker 2, roll on/roll off 4 foreign-owned: 11 (UAE 11) registered in other countries: 15 (Bahamas 2, Panama 13) (2006)
Ports and terminals:
Al 'Aqabah
Military
Jordan
Military branches:
Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF): Royal Jordanian
Land Force, Royal Jordanian Navy, Royal Jordanian Air Force (Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya
al-Malakiya al-Urduniya), Special Operations Command (Socom); Public Security
Directorate (normally falls under Ministry of Interior, but comes under
JAF in wartime or crisis situations) (2006)
Military service age and obligation:
17 years of age for voluntary military service;
conscription at age 18 was suspended in 1999, although all males under age
37 are required to register; women not subject to conscription, but can
volunteer to serve in non-combat military positions (2004)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 17-49: 1,573,995 females age 17-49: 1,346,642 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 17-49: 1,348,076 females age 17-49: 1,158,011 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 60,625 females age 17-49: 58,218 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$1.4 billion (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
11.4% (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues
Jordan
Disputes - international:
2004 Agreement settles border dispute with
Syria pending demarcation
