Statistical information Jordan 1989

Jordan in the World
top of pageBackground: For most of its history since independence from British administration in 1946 Jordan was ruled by King HUSSEIN (1953-1989). 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.
top of pageLocationGeographic coordinatesMap referenceAreaLand boundaries:
1,586 km total
Iraq 134 km, Israel 238 km, Saudi Arabia 742 km, Syria 375 km, West Bank 97 km
Coastline: 26 km
Maritime claims: Territorial sea:3 nm
Climate: mostly arid desert; rainy season in west (November to April)
Terrain: mostly high desert plateau in east; Great Rift Valley separates East and West Banks of the Jordan River
ElevationNatural resources: phosphates, potash, shale oil
Land use: 4% arable land; 0.5% permanent crops; 1% meadows and pastures; 0.5% forest and woodland; 94% other; includes 0.5% irrigated
Irrigated landMajor riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazardsGeographyNote: 1.3-1.6 million Palestinians live on the East Bank (55-60% of the population), most are Jordanian citizens
top of pagePopulation: 2,955,660 (July 1989), growth rate 3.6% (1989)
Nationality: noun - Jordanian(s; adjective - Jordanian
Ethnic groups: 98% Arab, 1% Circassian, 1% Armenian
Languages: Arabic (official; English widely understood among upper and middle classes
Religions: 92% Sunni Muslim, 8% Christian
Demographic profileAge structureDependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rateBirth rate: 42 births/1000 population (1989)
Death rate: 6 deaths/1000 population (1989)
Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1000 population (1989)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: lack of natural water resources; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification geoad0.gif" border="0" geoad1
Air pollutantsSex ratioMothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 55 deaths/1000 live births (July 1989)
Life expectancy at birth: 67 years male, 71 years female (July 1989)
Total fertility rate: 6.5 children born/woman (1989)
Contraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHiv/AidsMajor infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracy: 71% (est.)
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry name: conventional long form: Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
Government type: constitutional monarchy
Capital: Amman
Administrative divisions: 8 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah; Al Balqa, Al Karak, Al Mafraq, Amman, At Tafilah, Az Zarqa, Irbid, Maan
Dependent areasIndependence: 25 May 1946 (from League of Nations mandate under British administration; formerly Trans-Jordan)
National holiday: Independence Day, 25 May (1946)
Constitution: 8 January 1952
Legal system: based on Islamic law and French codes; judicial review of legislative acts in a specially provided High Tribunal; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
International law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrage: universal at age 20
Executive branch: Chief of State - King HUSSEIN Ibn Talal I (since 11 August 1952; Head of Government - Prime Minister Zayd bin SHAKIR (since 27 April 1989)
Legislative branch: Jordan Arab Army, Royal Jordanian Air Force, Royal Jordanian Coast Guard
Judicial branchPolitical parties and leadersInternational organization participation: Arab League, CCC, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB - Islamic Development Bank, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IPU, ITU, NAM, OIC, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representationIn the us: Ambassador Hussein A. HAMMAMI; Chancery at 3,504 International Drive NW, Washington DC 20,008; telephone (202) 966-2,664; US - Ambassador Roscoe S. SUDDARTH; Embassy on Jebel Amman, Amman (mailing address is P. O. Box 354, Amman, or APO New York 9,892; telephone Õ962å (6) 644,371 through 644,376
Flag description
: three equal horizontal bands of black (top), white, and green with a red isosceles triangle based on the hoist side bearing a small white seven-pointed star; the seven points on the star represent the seven fundamental laws of the Koran
National symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy overview: Jordan was a secondary beneficiary of the oil boom of the late 1970s and early 1980s, when its GNP growth averaged 10-12%. Recent years, however, have witnessed a sharp reduction in cash aid from Arab oil-producing countries and in worker remittances, with growth averaging 1-2%. Imports - mainly oil, capital goods, consumer durables, and foodstuffs - have been outstripping exports by roughly $2 billion annually, the difference being made up by aid, remittances, and borrowing. In 1989 the government is pursuing policies to encourage private investment, curb imports of luxury goods, promote exports, reduce the budget deficit, and, in general, reinvigorate economic growth. Success will depend largely on exogenous forces, such as the absence of drought and a pick-up in outside support. Down the road, the completion of the proposed Unity Dam on the Yarmuk is vital to meet rapidly growing requirements for water.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rateReal gdp per capitaGross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture products: vegetables, fruits, olive oil, wheat; self-sufficient in few foodstuffs
Industries: phosphate mining, petroleum refining, cement, potash, light manufacturing
Industrial production growth rate: 1.4% (1986)
Labor force: 550,000; 20% agriculture, 20% manufacturing and mining (1987 est.)
Unemployment rate: 9-10% (January 1989 est.)
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty lineGini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudget: revenues $1.2 billion; expenditures $2.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1989)
Taxes and other revenuesPublic debtRevenueFiscal year: calendar year
Inflation rate consumer pricesCentral bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExports: $723 million (f.o.b., 1987)
Commodities: fruits and vegetables, phosphates, fertilizers
Partners: Iraq, Saudi Arabia, India, Kuwait, Japan, China, Yugoslavia, Indonesia
Imports: $2.5 billion (c.i.f., 1987)
Commodities: crude oil, textiles, capital goods, motor vehicles, foodstuffs
Partners: EC, US, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Turkey, Romania, China, Taiwan
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external: $5.6 billion (December 1988)
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: Jordanian dinars (JD) per US$1 - 0.4857 (January 1989), 0.3715 (1988), 0.3387 (1987), 0.3499 (1986), 0.3940 (1985)
top of pageElectricityCapacity: 979,000 kW capacity; 3,310 million kWh produced, 1,160 kWh per capita (1988)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephonesTelephone systemBroadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresDollar figure: $593 million, 19.4% of central government budget (1988)
Military and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 20 total, 17 usable; 15 with permanent-surface runways; 1 with runways over 3,659 m; 14 with runways 2,440-3,659 m
HeliportsPipelines: crude oil, 209 km
RailwaysRoadwaysWaterwaysMerchant marine: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 32,635 GRT/44,618 DWT; includes 1 short-sea passenger, 2 bulk cargo
Ports and terminalsJordan - Transnational issues 1989
top of pageDisputes international: separated from Israel by the 1949 Armistice Line; West Bank is Israeli occupied with status to be determined
Refugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs