Jordan

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 country code

.jo

Internet hosts

69,473 (2012) country comparison to the world: 89

Internet users

1.642 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 78

Telephone system

general assessment: service has improved recently with increased use of digital switching equipment; microwave radio relay transmission and coaxial and fiber-optic cable are employed on trunk lines; growing mobile-cellular usage in both urban and rural areas is reducing use of fixed-line services domestic: 1995 telecommunications law opened all non-fixed-line services to private competition; in 2005, monopoly over fixed-line services terminated and the entire telecommunications sector was opened to competition; currently multiple mobile-cellular providers with subscribership reaching 100 per 100 persons in 2010 international: country code - 962; landing point for the Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG) FEA and FLAG Falcon submarine cable networks; satellite earth stations - 33 (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; participant in Medarabtel

Telephones - main lines in use

465,400 (2011) country comparison to the world: 102

Telephones - mobile cellular

7.483 million (2011) country comparison to the world: 93

Agriculture - products

citrus, tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, strawberries, stone fruits; sheep, poultry, dairy

Budget

revenues: $6.372 billion expenditures: $9.953 billion (2012 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-11.4% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 206

Central bank discount rate

0.3% (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 76 4.75% (31 December 2009 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

8.5% (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 110 8.67% (31 December 2011 est.)

Current account balance

-$3.359 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 151 -$2.871 billion (2011 est.)

Debt - external

$8.345 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 100 $7.644 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

39.7 (2007) country comparison to the world: 61 36.4 (1997)

Economy - overview

Jordan's economy is among the smallest in the Middle East, with insufficient supplies of water, oil, and other natural resources, underlying the government's heavy reliance on foreign assistance. Other economic challenges for the government include chronic high rates of poverty, unemployment, inflation, and a large budget deficit. Since assuming the throne in 1999, King ABDALLAH has implemented significant economic reforms, such as opening the trade regime, privatizing state-owned companies, and eliminating some fuel subsidies, which in the last decade spurred economic growth by attracting foreign investment and creating some jobs. The global economic slowdown and regional turmoil, however, have depressed Jordan's GDP growth, impacting export-oriented sectors, construction, and tourism. In 2011 the government approved two economic relief packages and a budgetary supplement, largely to improve the living conditions for the middle and poor classes. Jordan's finances have also been strained by a series of natural gas pipeline attacks in Egypt, causing Jordan to substitute more expensive heavy fuel oils to generate electricity. An influx of foreign aid, especially from Gulf countries, has helped to somewhat offset these extrabudgetary expenditures, but the budget deficit is likely to remain high, at more than 11% of GDP in 2012 excluding grants. Amman likely will continue to depend heavily on foreign assistance to finance the deficit in 2012. Jordan's financial sector has been relatively isolated from the international financial crisis because of its limited exposure to overseas capital markets. Jordan is currently exploring nuclear power generation to forestall energy shortfalls.

Exchange rates

Jordanian dinars (JOD) per US dollar - 0.709 (2012 est.) 0.709 (2011 est.) 0.71 (2010 est.) 0.709 (2009) 0.709 (2008)

Exports

$8.218 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 100 $7.963 billion (2011 est.)

Exports - commodities

clothing, fertilizers, potash, phosphates, vegetables, pharmaceuticals

Exports - partners

US 15.4%, Iraq 15%, India 12.9%, Saudi Arabia 9.4%, Lebanon 4.4% (2011)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate)

$31.35 billion (2012 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$38.67 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 105 $37.54 billion (2011 est.) $36.59 billion (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 4.5% industry: 30.9% services: 64.6% (2012 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$6,000 (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 144 $6,000 (2011 est.) $6,000 (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

3% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 107 2.6% (2011 est.) 2.3% (2010 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 3.4% highest 10%: 28.7% (2010 est.)

Imports

$17.73 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 81 $16.27 billion (2011 est.)

Imports - commodities

crude oil, machinery, transport equipment, iron, cereals

Imports - partners

Saudi Arabia 22.1%, China 9.8%, US 6.4%, Italy 5.1%, Germany 4.5% (2011)

Industrial production growth rate

1% (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 139

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

4.3% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 121 4.4% (2011 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

28.9% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 22

Labor force

1.824 million (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 124

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 2.7% industry: 20% services: 77.4% (2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$27.18 billion (31 December 2011) country comparison to the world: 58 $30.86 billion (31 December 2010) $31.86 billion (31 December 2009)

Population below poverty line

14.2% (2002)

Public debt

59.1% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 49 57.5% of GDP (2011 est.) note: data cover central government debt, and include debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data exclude debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$10.7 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 70 $12.11 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of broad money

$38.61 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 73 $34.02 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$24.63 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 67 $22.91 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$33.27 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 70 $30.8 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$11.15 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 76 $10.26 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

20.3% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 159

Unemployment rate

12.3% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 129 12.3% (2011 est.) note: official rate; unofficial rate is approximately 30%

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

19.07 million Mt (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 85

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 134

Crude oil - imports

70,700 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 51

Crude oil - production

20 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 102

Crude oil - proved reserves

1 million bbl (1 January 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 100

Electricity - consumption

11.64 billion kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 83

Electricity - exports

139 million kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 71

Electricity - from fossil fuels

99.3% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 57

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

0.5% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 145

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 116

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0.2% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 86

Electricity - imports

383 million kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 78

Electricity - installed generating capacity

2.616 million kW (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 92

Electricity - production

13.42 billion kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 87

Natural gas - consumption

2.74 billion cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 76

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 94

Natural gas - imports

2.52 billion cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 45

Natural gas - production

220 million cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 77

Natural gas - proved reserves

6.031 billion cu m (1 January 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 88

Refined petroleum products - consumption

107,000 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 76

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 188

Refined petroleum products - imports

18,620 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 107

Refined petroleum products - production

79,190 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 79

Area

total: 89,342 sq km country comparison to the world: 112 land: 88,802 sq km water: 540 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Indiana

Climate

mostly arid desert; rainy season in west (November to April)

Coastline

26 km

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Dead Sea -408 m highest point: Jabal Umm ad Dami 1,854 m

Environment - current issues

limited natural freshwater resources; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification

Environment - international agreements

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 1.01 cu km/yr (21%/4%/75%) per capita: 177 cu m/yr (2000)

Geographic coordinates

31 00 N, 36 00 E

Geography - note

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

Irrigated land

820 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

total: 1,635 km border countries: Iraq 181 km, Israel 238 km, Saudi Arabia 744 km, Syria 375 km, West Bank 97 km

Land use

arable land: 3.32% permanent crops: 1.18% other: 95.5% (2005)

Location

Middle East, northwest of Saudi Arabia, between Israel (to the west) and Iraq

Map references

Middle East

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 3 nm

Natural hazards

droughts; periodic earthquakes

Natural resources

phosphates, potash, shale oil

Terrain

mostly desert plateau in east, highland area in west; Great Rift Valley separates East and West Banks of the Jordan River

Total renewable water resources

0.9 cu km (1997)

Administrative divisions

12 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Ajlun, Al 'Aqabah, Al Balqa', Al Karak, Al Mafraq, 'Amman, At Tafilah, Az Zarqa', Irbid, Jarash, Ma'an, Madaba

Capital

name: Amman geographic coordinates: 31 57 N, 35 56 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins first Friday in April; ends last Friday in October

Constitution

1 January 1952; amended many times

Country name

conventional long form: Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan conventional short form: Jordan local long form: Al Mamlakah al Urduniyah al Hashimiyah local short form: Al Urdun former: Transjordan

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Stuart E. JONES embassy: Abdoun, Amman mailing address: P. O. Box 354, Amman 11118 Jordan; Unit 70200, Box 5, DPO AE 09892-0200 telephone: [962] (6) 590-6000 FAX: [962] (6) 592-0121

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Alia Hatough-BOURAN chancery: 3504 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 966-2664 FAX: [1] (202) 966-3110

Executive branch

chief of state: King ABDALLAH II (since 7 February 1999); Crown Prince HUSSEIN (born 28 June 1994), eldest son of King ABDALLAH II head of government: Prime Minister Abdullah NSOUR (since 11 October 2012); Deputy Prime Minister Awad KHULAYFAT (since 11 October 2012) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister in consultation with the monarch (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website) elections: the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch

Flag description

three equal horizontal bands of black (top), representing the Abbassid Caliphate, white, representing the Ummayyad Caliphate, and green, representing the Fatimid Caliphate; a red isosceles triangle on the hoist side, representing the Great Arab Revolt of 1916, and 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; design is based on the Arab Revolt flag of World War I

Government type

constitutional monarchy

Independence

25 May 1946 (from League of Nations mandate under British administration)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, CAEU, CD, CICA, EBRD, FAO, G-11, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAS, MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

Court of Cassation (Supreme Court)

Legal system

mixed legal system of civil law and Islamic religious law; judicial review of legislative acts in a specially provided High Tribunal

Legislative branch

bicameral National Assembly or Majlis al-'Umma consists of the Senate, also called the House of Notables or Majlis al-Ayan (60 seats; members appointed by the monarch to serve four-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputies, also called the House of Representatives or Majlis al-Nuwaab (120 seats; members elected using a single, non-transferable vote system in multi-member districts to serve four-year terms); note - the new electoral law enacted in May 2010 allocated an additional 10 seats (6 seats added to the number reserved for women, bringing the total to 12; 2 additional seats for Amman; and 1 seat each for the cities of Zarqa and Irbid; unchanged are 9 seats reserved for Christian candidates, 9 for Bedouin candidates, and 3 for Jordanians of Chechen or Circassian descent elections: Chamber of Deputies - last held on 9 November 2010 (next to be held on 23 Janary 2013); note - the King dissolved the previous Chamber of Deputies in November 2009, midway through the parliamentary term election results: Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - independents and other 120 (includes 12 seats filled by women's quota and 1 woman was directly elected); note - the IAF boycotted the election

National anthem

name: "As-salam al-malaki al-urdoni" (Long Live the King of Jordan) lyrics/music: Abdul-Mone'm al-RIFAI'/Abdul-Qader al-TANEER note: adopted 1946; the shortened version of the anthem is used most commonly, while the full version is reserved for special occasions

National holiday

Independence Day, 25 May (1946)

National symbol(s)

eagle

Political parties and leaders

Arab Ba'ath Socialist Party [Akram al-HIMSI]; Ba'ath Arab Progressive Party [Fuad DABBOUR]; Call Party [Muhammed ABU BAKR]; Democratic People's Party [Ablah ABU ULBAH]; Democratic Popular Unity Party [Sa'id DIAB]; Islamic Action Front or IAF [Hamzah MANSOUR]; Islamic Center Party [Marwan al-FA'URI]; Jordanian Communist Party [Munir HAMARNAH]; Jordanian National Party [Muna ABU BAKR]; Jordanian United Front [Amjad al-MAJALI]; Life Party [Zahier AMR]; Message Party [Hazem QASHOU]; National Constitution Party [Ahmad al-SHUNAQ]; National Current Party [Abd al-Hadi al-MAJALI]; National Movement for Direct Democracy [Muhammad al-QAQ]

Political pressure groups and leaders

15 April Movement [Mohammad SUNEID, chairman]; 1952 Constitution Movement; 24 March Movement [Mu'az al-KHAWALIDAH, Mu'adh al-KHAWALIDAH, Abdel Rahman HASANEIN, spokespersons]; Anti-Normalization Committee [Hamzah MANSOUR, chairman]; Economic and Social Association of Retired Servicemen and Veterans or ESARSV [Abdulsalam al-HASSANAT, chairman]; Group of 36; Higher Coordination Committee of Opposition Parties [Said DIAB]; Higher National Committee for Military Retirees or HNCMR [Ali al-HABASHNEH, chairman]; Jordan Bar Association [Saleh al-ARMUTI, chairman]; Jordanian Campaign for Change or Jayin; Jordanian Muslim Brotherhood [Dr. Hamam SAID, controller general]; Jordanian Press Association [Sayf al-SHARIF, president]; National Front for Reform or NFR [Ahmad OBEIDAT, chairman]; Popular Gathering for Reform; Professional Associations Council [Abd al-Hadi al-FALAHAT, chairman]; Sons of Jordan

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Background

Following World War I and the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire, the UK received a mandate to govern much of the Middle East. Britain separated out a semi-autonomous region of Transjordan from Palestine in the early 1920s, and the area gained its independence in 1946; it adopted the name of Jordan in 1950. The country's long-time ruler was King HUSSEIN (1953-99). A pragmatic leader, he successfully navigated competing pressures from the major powers (US, USSR, and UK), various Arab states, Israel, and a large internal Palestinian population. Jordan lost the West Bank to Israel in the 1967 war and defeated Palestinian rebels who attempted to overthrow the monarchy in 1970. King HUSSEIN in 1988 permanently relinquished Jordanian claims to the West Bank. In 1989, he reinstituted parliamentary elections and initiated a gradual political liberalization; political parties were legalized in 1992. In 1994, he signed a peace treaty with Israel. King ABDALLAH II, King HUSSEIN's eldest son, assumed the throne following his father's death in February 1999. Since then, he has consolidated his power and implemented some economic and political reforms. Jordan acceded to the World Trade Organization in 2000, and began to participate in the European Free Trade Association in 2001. In 2003, Jordan staunchly supported the Coalition ouster of SADDAM in Iraq and, following the outbreak of insurgent violence in Iraq, absorbed thousands of displaced Iraqis. Municipal elections were held in July 2007 under a system in which 20% of seats in all municipal councils were reserved by quota for women. Parliamentary elections were last held in November 2010 and saw independent pro-government candidates win the vast majority of seats. Beginning in January 2011 in the wake of unrest in Tunisia and Egypt, as many as several thousand Jordanians staged weekly demonstrations and marches in Amman and other cities throughout Jordan to push for political reforms and protest government corruption, rising prices, rampant poverty, and high unemployment. In response, King ABDALLAH replaced his prime minister and formed two commissions - one to propose specific reforms to Jordan's electoral and political parties laws, and the other to consider limited constitutional amendments. In a televised speech in June 2011, the King announced plans to work toward transferring authority for appointing future prime ministers and cabinet ministers to parliament; in a subsequent announcement, he outlined a revised political parties law intended to encourage greater political participation. Protesters and opposition elements generally acknowledged those measures as steps in the right direction but many continue to push for greater limits on the King's authority and to fight against government corruption. In September 2011, a royal decree approved constitutional amendments passed by the Parliament aimed at strengthening a more independent judiciary and establishing a constitutional court and independent election commission to oversee the next municipal and parliamentary elections, slated for April 2012 and fall 2012, respectively. King ABDALLAH in October 2011 dismissed the Jordanian cabinet and replaced the prime minister in response to widespread public dissatisfaction with government performance and escalating criticism of the premier because of public concerns over his reported involvement in corruption.

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 1,674,260 females age 16-49: 1,611,315 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 1,439,192 females age 16-49: 1,384,500 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 73,574 female: 69,420 (2010 est.)

Military branches

Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF): Royal Jordanian Land Force (RJLF), Royal Jordanian Navy, Royal Jordanian Air Force (Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Malakiya al-Urduniya, RJAF), Special Operations Command (Socom); Public Security Directorate (normally falls under Ministry of Interior, but comes under JAF in wartime or crisis) (2011)

Military expenditures

8.6% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 4

Military service age and obligation

17 years of age for voluntary military service; initial service term 2 years, with option to reenlist for 18 years; conscription for males at age 18 was suspended in 1999, but reinstated in July 2007 in order to provide youth training necessary for job market needs; all males under age 37 are required to register; women not subject to conscription, but can volunteer to serve in noncombat military positions in the Royal Jordanian Arab Army Women's Corps and RJAF (2012)

Age structure

0-14 years: 34.9% (male 1,168,406/ female 1,102,892) 15-64 years: 60.2% (male 1,982,731/ female 1,932,722) 65 years and over: 4.9% (male 156,735/ female 165,401) (2012 est.)

Birth rate

26.52 births/1,000 population (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 51

Death rate

2.74 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 220

Education expenditures

NA

Ethnic groups

Arab 98%, Circassian 1%, Armenian 1%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

less than 0.1% (2001 est.) country comparison to the world: 132

HIV/AIDS - deaths

fewer than 500 (2003 est.) country comparison to the world: 88

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

600 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 149

Health expenditures

4.5% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 150

Hospital bed density

1.8 beds/1,000 population (2009)

Infant mortality rate

total: 15.83 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 108 male: 16.42 deaths/1,000 live births female: 15.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)

Languages

Arabic (official), English (widely understood among upper and middle classes)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 80.18 years country comparison to the world: 29 male: 78.82 years female: 81.61 years (2012 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 92.6% male: 95.8% female: 89.2% (2010 est.)

Major cities - population

AMMAN (capital) 1.088 million (2009)

Maternal mortality rate

63 deaths/100,000 live births (2010) country comparison to the world: 97

Median age

total: 22.4 years male: 22 years female: 22.7 years (2012 est.)

Nationality

noun: Jordanian(s) adjective: Jordanian

Net migration rate

-33.42 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 220

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

19.5% (2004) country comparison to the world: 23

Physicians density

2.45 physicians/1,000 population (2009)

Population

6,508,887 (July 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 104

Population growth rate

-0.965% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 228

Religions

Sunni Muslim 92% (official), Christian 6% (majority Greek Orthodox, but some Greek and Roman Catholics, Syrian Orthodox, Coptic Orthodox, Armenian Orthodox, and Protestant denominations), other 2% (several small Shia Muslim and Druze populations) (2001 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: urban: 98% of population rural: 97% of population total: 98% of population unimproved: urban: 2% of population rural: 3% of population total: 2% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 13 years male: 13 years female: 13 years (2008)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.95 male(s)/female total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

3.36 children born/woman (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 52

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 27% country comparison to the world: 21 male: 22.6% female: 45.9% (2009)

Urbanization

urban population: 79% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: 1.6% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Disputes - international

2004 Agreement settles border dispute with Syria pending demarcation

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin): 1,979,580 (Palestinian Refugees) (UNRWA); 29,286 (Iraq) (2011); 204,303 (Syria) (2013)

Airports

18 (2012) country comparison to the world: 138

Airports - with paved runways

total: 16 over 3,047 m: 8 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2012)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 2 under 914 m: 2 (2012)

Heliports

1 (2012)

Merchant marine

total: 12 country comparison to the world: 106 by type: cargo 4, passenger/cargo 6, petroleum tanker 1, roll on/roll off 1 foreign-owned: 2 (UAE 2) registered in other countries: 16 (Bahamas 2, Egypt 2, Indonesia 1, Panama 11) (2010)

Pipelines

gas 439 km; oil 49 km (2010)

Ports and terminals

Al 'Aqabah

Railways

total: 507 km country comparison to the world: 111 narrow gauge: 507 km 1.050-m gauge (2008)

Roadways

total: 7,891 km country comparison to the world: 142 paved: 7,891 km (2009)