About Jordan

The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan

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

Ruler: King Abdullah II (1999)

Prime Minister: Nader Dahabi (2007)

Current government officials

Land area: 35,344 sq mi (91,541 sq km); total area: 35,637 sq mi (92,300 sq km) excludes West Bank

Population (2008 est.): 6,198,677 (growth rate: 2.3%); birth rate: 20.1/1000; infant mortality rate: 15.5/1000; life expectancy: 78.7; density per sq km: 67

Capital and largest city (2003 est.): Amman, 2,677,500 (metro. area), 1,293,200

Other large cities: Zarka, 512,200; Irbid, 267,200; As-Salt, 200,400

Monetary unit: Jordanian dinar

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: 90% (2003 est.)

Economic summary: GDP/PPP (2007 est.): $28.18 billion; per capita $4,700. Real growth rate: 5.7%. Inflation: 5.4%. Unemployment: 13.5% official rate; unofficial rate is approximately 30% (2007 est.). Arable land: 3%. Agriculture: wheat, barley, citrus, tomatoes, melons, olives; sheep, goats, poultry. Labor force: 1.563 million; services 85.8%, industry 10.5%, agriculture 3.7% (2007 est.). Industries: textiles, phosphate mining, fertilizers, pharmaceuticals, petroleum refining, cement, potash, inorganic chemicals, light manufacturing, tourism. Natural resources: phosphates, potash, shale oil. Exports: $6.037 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.): clothing, phosphates, fertilizers, potash, vegetables, manufactures, pharmaceuticals. Imports: $11.08 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.): crude oil, textile fabrics, machinery, transport equipment, manufactured goods. Major trading partners: U.S., Iraq, India, Saudi Arabia, China, Germany (2004).

Communications: Telephones: main lines in use: 614,000 (2006); mobile cellular: 4.343 million (2006). Radio broadcast stations: FM 31 (2007). Television broadcast stations: 22 (2007). . Internet hosts: 2,500 (2007). Internet users: 796,900 (2006).

Transportation: Railways: total: 505 km (2006). Highways: total: 7,500 km; paved: 7,500 km; unpaved: 0 km (2004). Ports and harbors: Al 'Aqabah. Airports: 17 (2007).

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