General
Information
|
Total Land Area: |
89,213 km2 |
|
Land Boundaries: |
1,635 km |
|
Coastline: |
26 km |
|
Capital: |
Amman |
|
Other Large
Cities: |
Az-Zarqa, Irbid,
As-Salt |
|
Official
Language: |
Arabic |
|
National
Currency Unit: |
Jordanian Dinar
(JOD) |
|
National Day: |
May 25 |
Location and
Geography
Jordan is located at
the heart of the
Middle East. It is
bordered by Syria in
the North, Saudi
Arabia in the East
and South, Palestine
and Israel in the
West, Iraq in the
East, and the Gulf
of Aqaba in the
South-west. The
country’s terrain is
variable with
moderate elevation
on the Eastern
desert plateau, high
mountains in the
West, sandstone
mountains in the
South with the
lowest land point at
the Dead Sea.
Inadequate rainfall
constitutes a
problem for the
country. The
countryside offers a
diversity of climate
and scenery. In
spring desert winds
bring higher
temperatures.
Daytime summer
temperatures can be
hot but nights are
pleasant. In winter,
it snows fairly on
the mountains and in
Amman.
Demography
|
Population:
|
5.25 million
(2002) |
|
Crude Birth
Rate:
|
28 per thousand
people (2002) |
|
Crude Death
Rate:
|
4 per thousand
people (2002) |
|
Infant Mortality
Rate:
|
27 per thousand
(2002) |
|
Life Expectancy:
|
Male: 71 years,
Female: 72 years
(2002) |
|
Urban
Population:
|
79.0 percent
(2002) |
|
Adult Literacy:
|
94.60 percent
(2002) |
Economy
Jordan’s economy is
diversified. Its
major sources of
income are
agriculture, mining,
manufacturing,
telecommunications,
transportation,
trade, and
construction.
Tourism also plays a
special role in the
economy. Jordan’s
main natural
resources are
phosphates, potash
and shale oil. Rock
phosphate, potash
and fertilisers are
traditional exports
and sources of hard
currency. The
extraction of
phosphates,
petroleum refining
and cement
production are the
country’s major
industries. A small
part of the land is
arable and,
therefore, put to
maximum use. Main
agricultural
products are wheat,
barley, citrus and
other fruits and
vegetables. Fishing
is carried out in
the Gulf of Aqaba.
|
GDP at Current
Market Prices:
|
9370 million US$
(2002) |
|
Per Capita GDP:
|
1785 US$ (2002) |
|
Share of Sectors
in GDP:
|
2.0%
Agriculture,
26.0% Industry,
72.0% Services,
(2002) |
|
Total Exports:
|
2747 million US$
(2002) |
|
Total Imports:
|
5226 million US$
(2002) |
|
Major Exports
Items: |
Phosphates,
fertilizers,
potash,
agricultural
products and
manufactured
goods |
|
Major Imports
Items: |
Crude oil,
machinery and
transportation
equipment,
foodstuffs and
cattle |
|
Major Trading
Partners: |
US, Iraq, India
and Germany
|
|
