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Background:
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For most of its history
since independence from British administration in 1946, Jordan was
ruled by King HUSSEIN (1953-99). A pragmatic ruler, he successfully
navigated competing pressures from the major powers (US, USSR, and
UK), various Arab states, Israel, and a large internal Palestinian
population, through several wars and coup attempts. In 1989 he resumed
parliamentary elections and gradually permitted political liberalization;
in 1994 a formal peace treaty was signed with Israel. King ABDALLAH
II - the eldest son of King HUSSEIN and Princess MUNA - assumed
the throne following his father's death in February 1999. Since
then, he has consolidated his power and established his domestic
priorities, including an aggressive economic reform program. Jordan
acceded to the World Trade Organization in January 2000, and signed
free trade agreements with the United States in 2000, and with the
European Free Trade Association in 2001. |
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Location:
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Middle East, northwest
of Saudi Arabia |
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Geographic coordinates:
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31 00 N, 36 00 E |
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Map references:
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Middle East |
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Area:
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total: 92,300
sq km
water: 329 sq km
land: 91,971 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly smaller than
Indiana |
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Land boundaries:
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total: 1,635
km
border countries: Iraq 181 km, Israel 238 km, Saudi Arabia
744 km, Syria 375 km, West Bank 97 km |
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Coastline:
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26 km |
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Maritime claims:
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territorial sea:
3 NM |
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Climate:
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mostly arid desert;
rainy season in west (November to April) |
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Terrain:
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mostly desert plateau
in east, highland area in west; Great Rift Valley separates East
and West Banks of the Jordan River |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point:
Dead Sea -408 m
highest point: Jabal Ram 1,734 m |
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Natural resources:
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phosphates, potash,
shale oil |
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Land use:
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arable land:
2.87%
permanent crops: 1.52%
other: 95.61% (1998 est.) |
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Irrigated land:
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750 sq km (1998 est.)
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Natural hazards:
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droughts; periodic
earthquakes |
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Environment - current issues:
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limited natural fresh
water resources; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to: Biodiversity,
Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping,
Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
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Geography - note:
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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
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Population:
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5,307,470 (July 2002
est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years:
36.6% (male 991,370; female 949,247)
15-64 years: 60% (male 1,698,568; female 1,485,261)
65 years and over: 3.4% (male 90,186; female 92,838) (2002
est.) |
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Population growth rate:
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2.89% (2002 est.)
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Birth rate:
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24.58 births/1,000
population (2002 est.) |
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Death rate:
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2.62 deaths/1,000
population (2002 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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6.97 migrant(s)/1,000
population (2002 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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at birth: 1.06
male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.14 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.97 male(s)/female
total population: 1.1 male(s)/female (2002 est.) |
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Infant mortality rate:
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19.61 deaths/1,000
live births (2002 est.) |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population:
77.71 years
female: 80.3 years (2002 est.)
male: 75.26 years |
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Total fertility rate:
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3.15 children born/woman
(2002 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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0.02% (1999 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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NA |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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NA |
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Nationality:
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noun: Jordanian(s)
adjective: Jordanian |
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Ethnic groups:
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Arab 98%, Circassian
1%, Armenian 1% |
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Religions:
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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.) |
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Languages:
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Arabic (official),
English widely understood among upper and middle classes |
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Literacy:
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definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 86.6%
male: 93.4%
female: 79.4% (1995 est.)
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Country name:
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conventional long
form: Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
conventional short form: Jordan
local short form: Al Urdun
local long form: Al Mamlakah al Urduniyah al Hashimiyah
former: Transjordan |
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Government type:
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constitutional monarchy
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Capital:
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Amman |
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Administrative divisions:
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12 governorates (muhafazat,
singular - muhafazah); Ajlun, Al 'Aqabah, Al Balqa', Al Karak, Al
Mafraq, 'Amman, At Tafilah, Az Zarqa', Irbid, Jarash, Ma'an, Madaba
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Independence:
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25 May 1946 (from
League of Nations mandate under British administration) |
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National holiday:
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Independence Day,
25 May (1946) |
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Constitution:
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8 January 1952 |
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Legal system:
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based on Islamic law
and French codes; judicial review of legislative acts in a specially
provided High Tribunal; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
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Suffrage:
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20 years of age; universal
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Executive branch:
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chief of state:
King ABDALLAH II (since 7 February 1999); Crown Prince HAMZAH (half
brother of the monarch, born 29 March 1980)
head of government: Prime Minister Ali Abul RAGHEB (since
19 June 2000)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister in consultation
with the monarch
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister
appointed by the monarch |
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Legislative branch:
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bicameral National
Assembly or Majlis al-'Umma consists of the Senate, also called
the House of Notables (Majlis al-Aayan), a 40-member body 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), an 80-member body elected
by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve
four-year terms
elections: House of Representatives - last held 4 November
1997 (November 2001 election postponed, next scheduled to be held
in June 2003)
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
election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote
by party - NA%; seats by party - National Constitutional Party 2,
Arab Land Party 1, independents 75, other 2 |
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Judicial branch:
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Court of Cassation;
Supreme Court (court of final appeal) |
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Political parties and leaders:
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Al-Umma (Nation) Party
[Ahmad al-HANANDEH, secretary general]; Arab Land Party [Dr. Muhammad
al-'ORAN, secretary general]; Jordanian Democratic Popular Unity
Party [Sa'id DHIYAB, secretary general]; National Constitutional
Party [Abdul Hadi MAJALI, secretary general]; Islamic Action Front
[Abd al latif al-ARABIYAT, secretary general]; National Action (Haqq)
Party [Muhammad al-ZUBI, secretary general]; (Arab) Socialist Ba'th
Party [Taysif al-HIMSI, secretary general]; Jordanian People's Democratic
(Hashd) Party [Salim al-NAHHAS, secretary general]; Pan-Arab (Democratic)
Movement [Mahmud al-NUWAYHI, secretary general]; Constitutional
Front [Mahdi al-TALL, secretary general]; Jordanian Progressive
Party [Fawwaz al-ZUBI, secretary general]; Communist Party [Munir
HAMARINAH, secretary general] |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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Jordanian Press Association
[Sayf al-SHARIF, president]; Muslim Brotherhood [Abd-al-Majid DHUNAYBAT,
secretary general]; Anti-Normalization Committee [Ali Abu SUKKAR,
president vice chairman]; Jordanian Bar Association [Saleh ARMOUTI,
president] |
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International organization participation:
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ABEDA, ACC, AFESD,
AL, AMF, CAEU, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU,
ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC,
IOM, ISO, ITU, MONUC, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNAMSIL,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOP, UNMOT, UNOMIG,
UNRWA, UNTAET, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief of mission:
Ambassador Karim Tawfiq KAWAR
chancery: 3504 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
FAX: [1] (202) 966-3110
telephone: [1] (202) 966-2664 |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief of mission:
Ambassador Edward William GNEHM, Jr.
embassy: Abdoun, Amman
mailing address: P. O. Box 354, Amman 11118 Jordan; Unit
70200, Box 5, APO AE 09892-0200
telephone: [962] (6) 5920101
FAX: [962] (6) 5920121 |
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Flag description:
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three equal horizontal
bands of black (top, the Abbassid Caliphate of Islam), white (the
Ummayyad Caliphate of Islam), and green (the Fatimid Caliphate of
Islam) with a red isosceles triangle (representing the Great Arab
Revolt of 1916) based on the hoist side 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
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Economy - overview:
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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
significant headway with privatization. The government also has
liberalized the trade regime sufficiently to secure Jordan's membership
in the WTrO (2000), an association agreement with the EU (2000),
and a free trade accord with US (2000). These measures have helped
improve productivity and have put Jordan on the foreign investment
map. The substantial trade deficit is covered by tourism receipts,
worker remittances, and foreign assistance. Ongoing challenges include
fiscal adjustment to reduce the budget deficit and broader investment
incentives to promote job-creating ventures. |
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GDP:
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purchasing power parity
- $22.8 billion (2002 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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3.5% (2002 est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity
- $4,300 (2002 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture:
4%
industry: 26%
services: 70% (2001 est.) |
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Population below poverty line:
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30% (2001 est.) |
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Household income or consumption by percentage
share:
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lowest 10%:
3%
highest 10%: 30% (1997) (1997) |
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Distribution of family income - Gini index:
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36 (1997) |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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3.3% (2002 est.) |
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Labor force:
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1.26 million
note: in addition, at least 300,000 workers are employed
abroad (2001) |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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services 83%, industry
13%, agriculture 5% (2001 est.) |
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Unemployment rate:
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16% official rate;
actual rate is 25%-30% (2001 est.) |
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Budget:
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revenues: $2.9
billion
expenditures: $3.1 billion, including capital expenditures
of $NA (2001 est.) |
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Industries:
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phosphate mining,
pharmaceuticals, petroleum refining, cement, potash, light manufacturing,
pharmaceuticals, tourism |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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-1.1% (2002 est.)
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Electricity - production:
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6.932 billion kWh
(2000) |
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil fuel:
99%
hydro: 1%
other: 0% (2000)
nuclear: 0% |
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Electricity - consumption:
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7.092 billion kWh
(2000) |
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Electricity - exports:
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5 million kWh (2000)
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Electricity - imports:
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650 million kWh (2000)
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Agriculture - products:
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wheat, barley, citrus,
tomatoes, melons, olives; sheep, goats, poultry |
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Exports:
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$2.5 billion f.o.b.
(2002 est.) |
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Exports - commodities:
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phosphates, fertilizers,
potash, agricultural products, manufactures, pharmaceuticals |
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Exports - partners:
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India 11.4%, US 9.6%,
Saudi Arabia 5.6%, Israel 3.7% (2001) |
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Imports:
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$4.4 billion f.o.b.
(2002 est.) |
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Imports - commodities:
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crude oil, machinery,
transport equipment, food, live animals, manufactured goods |
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Imports - partners:
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Germany 8.8%, US 7.8%,
Italy 5.6%, France 5.5% (2001) |
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Debt - external:
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$8.2 billion (2002
est.) |
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Economic aid - recipient:
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ODA, $600 million
(2000 est.) |
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Currency:
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Jordanian dinar (JOD)
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Currency code:
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JOD |
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Exchange rates:
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Jordanian dinars per
US dollar - 0.7090 (1996-present )
note: since May 1989, the Jordanian dinar has been pegged
to a group of currencies |
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Fiscal year:
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calendar year
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Telephones - main lines in use:
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403,000 (1997) |
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
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11,500 (1995) |
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Telephone system:
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general assessment:
service has improved recently with the 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: 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 |
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Radio broadcast stations:
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AM 6, FM 5, shortwave
1 (1999) |
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Radios:
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1.66 million (1997)
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Television broadcast stations:
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20 (plus 96 repeaters)
(1995) |
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Televisions:
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500,000 (1997) |
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Internet country code:
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.jo |
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Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
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5 (2000) |
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Internet users:
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212,000 (2002)
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Railways:
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total: 677
km
narrow gauge: 677 km 1.050-m gauge (2001) |
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Highways:
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total: 8,000
km
paved: 8,000 km
unpaved: 0 km (2000 est.) |
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Waterways:
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none |
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Pipelines:
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crude oil 209 km;
note - may not be in use |
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Ports and harbors:
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Al 'Aqabah |
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Merchant marine:
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total: 7 ships
(1,000 GRT or over) totaling 41,206 GRT/53,401 DWT
ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 3, container 1, roll on/roll
off 2
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as
a flag of convenience: Greece 6 (2002 est.) |
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Airports:
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18 (2001) |
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total: 15
over 3,047 m: 7
2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
under 914 m: 1 (2002)
914 to 1,523 m: 1 |
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2002) |
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Heliports:
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2 (2002)
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Military branches:
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Jordanian Armed Forces
(JAF) Royal Jordanian Land Force, Royal Naval Force, Royal Jordanian
Air Force, and Special Operations Command or Socom); note - Public
Security Directorate normally falls under Ministry of Interior but
comes under JAF in wartime or crisis situations |
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Military manpower - military age:
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18 years of age (2002
est.) |
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Military manpower - availability:
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males age 15-49:
1,517,751 (2002 est.) |
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Military manpower - fit for military service:
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males age 15-49:
1,073,991 (2002 est.) |
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Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
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males: 57,131
(2002 est.) |
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Military expenditures - dollar figure:
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$757.5 million (FY01)
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Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
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8.6% (FY01)
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