The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan

National name: Al-Mamlaka al-Urduniya al-Hashimiyah

Ruler: King Abdullah II (1999)

Prime Minister: Adnan Badran (2004)

Land area: 35,510 sq mi (91,971 sq km); total area: 35,637 sq mi (92,300 sq km) excludes West Bank

Population (2006 est.): 5,906,760 (growth rate: 2.5%); birth rate: 21.2/1000; infant mortality rate: 16.8/1000; life expectancy: 78.4; density per sq mi: 167

Capital and largest city (2003 est.): Amman, 2,677,500 (metro. area), 1,293,200

Other large cities: Zarka, 512,200; Irbid, 267,200; As-Salt, 200,400

Monetary unit: Jordanian dinar

Languages: Arabic (official), English

Ethnicity/race: Arab 98%, Circassian 1%, Armenian 1%

Religions: Islam (Sunni) 92%, Christian 6% (mostly Greek Orthodox), other 2%

Literacy rate: 91% (2003 est.)

Economic summary: GDP/PPP (2005 est.): $27.86 billion; per capita $4,800. Real growth rate: 5.9%. Inflation: 5%. Unemployment: 12.5% official rate; unofficial rate is approximately 30% (2004 est.). Arable land: 3%. Agriculture: wheat, barley, citrus, tomatoes, melons, olives; sheep, goats, poultry. Labor force: 1.46 million; services 82.5%, industry 12.5%, agriculture 5% (2001 est.). Industries: textiles, phosphate mining, fertilizers, pharmaceuticals, petroleum refining, cement, potash, inorganic chemicals, light manufacturing, tourism. Natural resources: phosphates, potash, shale oil. Exports: $4.226 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.): clothing, phosphates, fertilizers, potash, vegetables, manufactures, pharmaceuticals. Imports: $8.681 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.): crude oil, textile fabrics, machinery, transport equipment, manufactured goods. Major trading partners: U.S., Iraq, India, Saudi Arabia, China, Germany (2004).

Communications: Telephones: main lines in use: 622,600 (2003); mobile cellular: 1,325,300 (2003). Radio broadcast stations: AM 6, FM 5, shortwave 1 (1999). Television broadcast stations: 20 (plus 96 repeaters) (1995). . Internet hosts: 3,160 (2004). Internet users: 457,000 (2003).

Transportation: Railways: total: 505 km (2004). Highways: total: 7,301 km; paved: 7,301 km; unpaved: 0 km (2002). Ports and harbors: Al 'Aqabah. Airports: 17 (2004 est.).

International disputes: 2004 Agreement settles border dispute with Syria pending demarcation.

 

Go to Country details page