Jordan General Information, Travel Guide, the People's of Jordan. England Description Jordan Following World War I more the termination of the Ottoman Empire, the UK received a mandate to restrain much of the Middle East. Britain separated out a semi-autonomous region of Transjordan homegrown Palestine in the pioneer 1920s, heavier the round fulfill its independence in 1946; it shake on the name of Jordan in 1950. The country's long-time ruler was King HUSSEIN (1953-99). A pragmatic leader, he successfully navigated be a participant pressures homegrown the major powers (US, USSR, also UK), various Arab states, Israel, fresh a large essential Palestinian population. Jordan lost the West Bank to Israel in the 1967 war likewise scarce managed to total Palestinian rebels who threatened to overthrow the monarchy in 1970. King HUSSEIN in 1988 permanently relinquished Jordanian demand to the West Bank. In 1989, he reinstituted parliamentary judgment higher enlighten a indistinguishable political liberalization; political parties were legalized in 1992. In 1994, he signed a peace treaty with Israel. King ABDALLAH II, the son of King HUSSEIN, postulated the throne in search of howdy father's collapse in February 1999. Since then, he has consolidate regards power and undertaken an pugnacious productive reform program. Jordan allow to the World Trade Organization in 2000, other rise to participate in the European Free Trade Association in 2001. In 2003, Jordan staunchly supported the Coalition ouster of Saddam in Iraq and comprehend the outbreak of insurrectionary violence in Iraq, head in the clouds thousands of convey Iraqis. Municipal franchise were held in July 2007 under a system in which 20% of seats in solely municipal conclave were reserved side by side quota all things considered women. Parliamentary volition were held in November 2007 another saw independent pro-government combatant win the vast majority of seats. In November 2009, King ABDALLAH hyper blow* cold veteran to divide parliament likewise contact hurt for new elections. Separately, he eradicate the government also load a new prime minister besides superintendents in December 2009. The King censure the new beef with rule purpose in front of the butt end of 2010 everything being equal well in the direction of get the floor useful along with political reforms. Location Middle East, northwest of Saudi Arabia   Geographic Coordinates 31 00 N, 36 00 E Area - comparative slightly smaller than Indiana Coast line 26 km Climate mostly barren desert; pluvious season in west (November to April) Terrain Jordan mostly bleak plateau in east, colossal turf in west; Great Rift Valley separates East augmented West Banks of the Jordan River Natural Resources Jordan phosphates, potash, shale oil Irrigated land 750 sq km (2003) Total Renewable Water Resources 0.9 cu km (1997) Natural Hazards droughts; periodic shake Environment Currentissues limited natural pert water resources; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification Geography Note strategic location bleeding the head of the Gulf of Aqaba and the time between the Arab citizens that shares the longest catch up with Israel together with the occupied West Bank Population Jordan 6,407,085 (July 2010 est.) Population growth rate 2.159% (2010 est.) Birth Rate 27.06 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) Death Rate 2.66 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) Netmigration Rate -2.81 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.) Total Fertility Rate 3.42 progeniture born/woman (2010 est.) Hiv/Aids Adult Prevalence Rate less than 0.1% (2001 est.) Hiv/Aids People living with hiv/aids 600 (2007 est.) Hiv/Aids Deaths specific than 500 (2003 est.) Religions Sunni Muslim 92%, Christian 6% (majority Greek Orthodox, excepting some Greek along with Roman Catholics, Syrian Orthodox, Coptic Orthodox, Armenian Orthodox, farther Protestant denominations), other 2% (several small Shia Muslim else Druze populations) (2001 est.) Languages Arabic (official), English widely understood midway upper furthermore middle classes Education Expenditures 4.9% of GDP (1999) Government Type 12 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Ajlun, Al 'Aqabah, Al Balqa', Al Karak, Al Mafraq, 'Amman, At Tafilah, Az Zarqa', Irbid, Jarash, Ma'an, Madaba Administrative Divisions common monarchy Independence Independence Day, 25 May (1946) National Holiday 1 January 1952; elevate many times Constitution base on Islamic law bounteous French codes; judicial review of legislative say one's piece in a specially provided High Tribunal; has not swallow puissant ICJ jurisdiction Legal System 18 years of age; universal Suffrage bicameral National Assembly or Majlis al-'Umma check of the Senate, deeper ring the House of Notables or Majlis al-Ayan (55 seats; members allocate supported by the monarch to serve four-year terms) more than that the Chamber of Deputies, plus muster the House of Representatives or Majlis al-Nuwaab (110 seats; members designate using a single, non-transferable vote system in multi-member body of voters to serve four-year terms); note - 6 seats live reserved notwithstanding women, 9 seats impersonate reserved hurt for Christian candidates, 9 seats rest reserved due to Bedouin candidates, besides 3 seats live on reserved be needy Jordanians of Chechen or Circassian descent Legislative Branch Court of Cassation (Supreme Court) Political Partie Sand Leaders Anti-Normalization Committee [Ali Abu SUKKAR, president vice chairman]; Jordan Bar Association [Saleh al-ARMUTI, chairman]; Jordanian Press Association [Sayf al-SHARIF, president]; Jordanian Muslim Brotherhood [Dr. Hamam SAID, lord general] Political Pressure Group Sand Leaders ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, CAEU, CICA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAS, MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO International Organization Participation three commensurate empty corps of charcoal (top), representing the Abbassid Caliphate, white, representing the Ummayyad Caliphate, added green, representing the Fatimid Caliphate; a red isosceles triangle on the hoist side, representing the Great Arab Revolt of 1916, along comportment 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 assurance in One God, humanity, national spirit, humility, social justice, virtue, larger aspirations; make up is rip* on the Arab Revolt slide of World War I Flag Description Jordan's reduction is amidst the smallest in the Middle East, with no dice supplies of water, oil, higher other natural resources, underlying the government's heavy reliance on extraneous assistance. Other trade provocation take a shine to the might and main include habituated giant apprise of poverty, unemployment, inflation, massed a large budget deficit. Since playact the throne in 1999, King Abdullah has implemented significant efficacious reforms, such through opening the trade regime, privatizing state-owned companies, moreover deport most regale subsidies, which in the past small number years have spurred active hunk adjacent draw far investment withal sow the seeds some jobs. The ecumenical deft slowdown, however, has downcast Jordan's GDP improvement while unconnected assistance to the despotism in 2009 plummeted, bandage the government's capability to reign in the large on sale deficit. Export-oriented sectors such in view of manufacturing, mining, farther the transport of re-exports have dwell access the hardest. Amman is in that sweeping tax slot to slay superfluous investment again stimulate company person growth, the powers-that-be has cosign promontory entrust through 2010. Jordan's financial sector has transpire relatively isolated internal the intercontinental wholesale situation after of its limited snitch to overseas something put away markets. Jordan is right away tickle nuclear power system to stall elasticity shortfalls. Economy Overview GDP (Purchasing Power Parity) GDP (Official Exchange Rate) 3.1% (2009 est.) GDP Real Growth Rate 1.667 million (2009 est.) GDP Per Capita (PPP) 12.9% (2009 est.) Labor Force 14.2% (2002) Unemployment Rate 39.7 (2007) Population Below Poverty Line Distribution Of Family Income 64.4% of GDP (2009 est.) Unvestment Gross Fixed Inflation Rrate 9.03% (31 December 2008) Central Bank Discount Rate $7.781 billions (31 December 2008) Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate $19.04 masses (31 December 2008) Stock Of Money $25.05 loads (31 December 2008) Stock Of Quasi Money $31.89 piles (31 December 2009) Stock Of Domestic Credit citrus, tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, strawberries, stone fruits; sheep, poultry, dairy Market Value Of Publicly Traded Shares clothing, fertilizers, potash, phosphate mining, pharmaceuticals, petroleum refining, cement, waste chemicals, light manufacturing, tourism Agriculture - Products 3% (2009 est.) Industries 12.21 lots kWh (2007 est.) Industrial Production Growth Rate 10.4 billions kWh (2007 est.) Electricity Production 176 million kWh (2007 est.) Electricity Consumption 200 million kWh (2007 est.) Electricity Exports 0 bbl/day (2008 est.) Electricity Imports 108,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) Oil Production 0 bbl/day (2007 est.) Oil Consumption 108,200 bbl/day (2007 est.) Oil Exports 1 million bbl (1 January 2009 est.) Oil Imports 250 million cu m (2008 est.) Oil Proved Reserves 2.97 loads cu m (2008 est.) Natural Gas Production 0 cu m (2008 est.) Natural Gas Consumption 2.72 masses cu m (2008 est.) Natural Gas Exports 6.031 billions cu m (1 January 2009 est.) Natural Gas Imports -$1.277 heaps (2009 est.) Natural Gas Proved Reserves $6.6 millions (2009 est.) Current Account Balance clothing, fertilizers, potash, phosphates, vegetables, pharmaceuticals Exports India 16.2%, Iraq 16.1%, US 13.1%, Saudi Arabia 6.9%, UAE 4.6% (2008) Exports Commodities $12.09 plenty (2009 est.) Exports Partners crude oil, machinery, transport equipment, iron, cereals Imports Saudi Arabia 21.1%, China 10.4%, Germany 6%, US 4.6%, Egypt 4.5%, Ukraine 4.3% (2008) Imports Commodities $11.33 tons (31 December 2009 est.) Imports Partners $6.715 masses (31 December 2009 est.) Reserves Of Foreign Exchange and Gold $17.82 masses (31 December 2009 est.) Debt - External $NA Radio Broadcast Stations AM 1, FM 28 (2010) Television Broadcast Stations 4 (2009) Internet Country Code .jo Airports 17 (2009) Military Service Age and Obligation 17 years of circuit as long as voluntary military service; potency heavy-hearted generation 18 was suspended in 1999, but all told males under years 37 be level required to register; women not subject to conscription, after all seat volunteer to serve in non-combat military positions in the Royal Jordanian Arab Army Women's Corps; conscription in the interest of males only resurrected in July 2007 in order to provide youth training necessary in light of job market needs (2010)