Jordan | Facts & Information

Updated September 9, 2022 | Infoplease Staff
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Facts & Figures

  • Ruler: King Abdullah II (1999)

    Prime Minister: Abdullah Ensour (2012)

    Land area: 34,286 sq mi (88,802 sq km); total area: 34,495 sq mi (89,342 sq km) excludes West Bank

    Population (2012 est.): 6,508,887 (growth rate: -0.965%); birth rate: 26.52/1000; infant mortality rate: 15.83/1000; life expectancy: 80.18

    Capital and largest city (2009 est.): Amman, 1.088 million

    Monetary unit: Jordanian dinar

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

    Current government officials

    Languages: Arabic (official), English

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

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

    National Holiday: Independence Day, May 25

    Literacy rate: 92.6% (2010 est.)

    Economic summary: GDP/PPP (2011 est.): $37.37 billion; per capita $6,000. Real growth rate: 2.5%. Inflation: 6.4%. Unemployment: 12.3% official rate; unofficial rate is approximately 30% (2011 est.). Arable land: 3.32%. Agriculture: citrus, tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, strawberries, stone fruits; sheep, poultry, dairy. Labor force: 1.771 million; services 77.4%, industry 20%, agriculture 2.7% (2007 est.). Industries: clothing, fertilizers, potash, phosphate mining, pharmaceuticals, petroleum refining, cement, inorganic chemicals, light manufacturing, tourism. Natural resources: phosphates, potash, shale oil. Exports: $8.066 billion (2011 est.): clothing, phosphates, fertilizers, potash, vegetables, pharmaceuticals. Imports: $14.01 billion (2011 est.): crude oil, machinery, transport equipment, iron, cereals. Major trading partners: U.S., Iraq, India, Saudi Arabia, China, Germany, Egypt, Lebanon, Italy (2011).

    Communications: Telephones: main lines in use: 485,000 (2009); mobile cellular: 6.62 million (2009). 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). Internet hosts: 49,083 (2010). Internet users: 1.642 (2009).

    Transportation: Railways: total: 507 km (2010). Highways: total: 7,891 km; paved: 7,891 km; unpaved: 0 km (2009). Ports and terminals: Al 'Aqabah. Airports: 18 (2012).

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

    Major sources and definitions

See also: