Jordan is a small, yet strategically located country with limited natural resource but ample human potential, ambitious development plans, and aspiration for peace, stability and better livelihood.

Ruled by His Majesty King Abdullah II, Jordan is on a quest towards fulfilling economic liberalization and political reform. Different from many of its regional neighbours, Jordan has no oil of its own. Its economy relies on resources such as Phosphates and Potash, industrial sectors like that of Textiles, as well as its Tourism sector as Jordan is rich in archaeological treasures from Neolithic ruins to the Desert Castles of the Umayyad princes. Topmost among these national riches is the rose-red city of Petra, the legacy of the Nabataeans and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Classified by the World Bank as a "lower middle income country", education and literacy rates as well as measures of social well-being are relatively high compared to other countries with similar incomes; Jordan takes pride in its health services, which are one of the most competent in the region.

Struggling with debt, poverty, and unemployment, Jordan has worked closely for the past 3 years with the IMF adopting a tight monetary policy, a privatization program to minimize government control, plus a package of trade and investment liberalization measures that has secured Jordan's membership in the WTO (2000), a free trade accord with the US (2000), and an association agreement with the EU (2001).

Country Overview:

Official Name: Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

Head of State: King Abdullah bin Hussein (Abdullah II).

Government: Constitutional monarchy with a parliament consisted of 110 elected lower house and 55 appointed upper house (senate).

The king appoints the Prime Minister by a Royal decree. The government has on average around 25-30 ministers.

Population (2004E): 5.323 million.

Population growth rate 2.5%.

Location: In the heart of Middle East, northwest of Saudi Arabia, and bounded by Syria, Iraq, West Bank and Israel as well. It has an outlet to the Red Sea at Aqaba.

Area: 92,300 sq km.

Major Cities: Amman (capital), Irbid, Zarqa, Aqaba.

Languages: Arabic; English is widely spoken.

Ethnic Groups: Majority are Arabs with minority groups of Circassians and Chechens.

Religions: Majority are Sunni Moslems, and approximately 5% are Christians.

Administrative division:

12 governorates: Amman, Madaba, Al Balqa', Irbid, Jarash, Ajlun, Karak, Zarqa, Al Mafraq, Ma'an, Al Tafilah, Aqaba.

Economic Overview:

Gross Domestic Product (GDP): estimated to reach 10 billion in 2005.

GDP – real growth rate: 7.2% (2004E).

GDP – composition by sector: Agriculture: 3.6% Industry: 29% and Services: 67.4% (2004E).

Industries: phosphate mining, pharmaceuticals, petroleum refining, cement, potash, light manufacturing, tourism.

Major Trading Partners: USA, EU, Japan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Syria, China.

Major Export Products: phosphates, potash, fertilizers, vegetables, pharmaceuticals, garment.

Major Import Products: crude oil, food, machinery, chemicals, transport equipment, textile fabrics, manufactured goods, electronics.

Total Debt (2004E): $7.54 billion (external) + $2.45 billion (internal).

Labour force (2004E): 1.36 million.

Labour force - by occupation: Agriculture 5%, Industry 12.5%, Services 82.5% (2001E).

Unemployment: 12.5% (2004E), other estimates: 25%.

Environmental Overview:

Major Environmental Issues: Limited natural fresh water resources; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification.

Major International Environmental Agreements: A party to Conventions on Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection and Wetlands.

Legal Overview:

In accordance with the provisions of the Constitution, laws are proposed by the Council of Ministers for the approval by the Parliament who also has the right to propose the promulgation of laws. All laws have to be approved ultimately by the King.

Currency: 

Currency: Jordanian Dinar (JD).

1 Dinar =100 Fils.
US$1=0.70 Dinar.

Internet Country Code:

.jo

Climate and Geography:

Jordan has a mixture of Mediterranean and dry desert climates, with Mediterranean existing in the North and West of the country, while the majority of the country is desert. Generally, the country has warm, arid summers and mild, wet winters, rain falls between November and March, while colder weather conditions occur in December/January.

Jordan enjoys a range of geographical features, starting from the Jordan Rift Valley in the West ending at the desert plateau of the East, with a range of small hills running the length of the country in between.

Communications:

Excellent Direct Telephone, Cellular phones, Fax, Telex communication and internet are available all over the kingdom.
Arabic and English Jordanian newspapers, as well as many foreign publications, are available at many news-stands.

Electricity

220 volts AC, 50 Hz.

Weights and measures

Metric System.

Time

Plus two hours Greenwich Mean Time (winter).

Plus three hours Greenwich Mean Time (summer).