Country Profile: Jordan

Jordan, officially known as the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, is strategically located in the Middle East, bordered by Israel, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia. With a population of over 11 million, the country is characterized by its arid desert terrain, with a significant population concentrated around the capital, Amman. The economy is classified as upper-middle-income, facing challenges such as high unemployment and dependency on imports due to a lack of natural resources. Jordan is a parliamentary constitutional monarchy, historically ruled by the Hashemite family, and continues to navigate complex regional dynamics while striving for economic growth and stability.

Geography

Jordan is situated in the Middle East, bordered by Iraq, Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Syria, featuring a mix of arid desert plateaus and the unique Jordan River Valley, which hosts the Dead Sea, the lowest point on Earth. The country covers an area of approximately 89,342 square kilometers, with a small coastline along the Gulf of Aqaba. Its climate is predominantly arid, with a rainy season from November to April.

89,342 sq km: Total area of Jordan.
1,744 km: Total length of land borders.
-431 m: Elevation of the Dead Sea, the lowest point in Asia.
1,854 m: Highest point, Jabal Umm ad Dami.
11.5%: Estimated agricultural land use in 2023.
92%: Percentage of the population living in urban areas (2023).
8.4%: Permanent pasture land area in 2023.

People and Society

Jordan has a diverse population estimated at around 11.3 million in 2025, where Jordanians make up the majority, alongside significant numbers of Syrians, Palestinians, and Egyptians. The official language is Arabic, with English widely spoken among the educated classes. The society is predominantly Muslim (over 97%), with a small Christian minority. As of 2023, the literacy rate is about 94.8%, indicating a relatively high level of education.

11,312,507: Population estimate for 2025.
1.68%: Projected annual population growth rate (2025).
21.9: Birth rate per 1,000 people (2025).
76.5 years: Life expectancy at birth (2024).
94.8%: Literacy rate in 2023.
30.9%: Proportion of the population aged 0-14 years (2025).
92%: Urban population in 2023.

Economy

Jordan's economy is classified as upper-middle-income, heavily reliant on imports due to its limited natural resources. The country grapples with a high unemployment rate, particularly among youth and women, and has been impacted by global economic fluctuations. Major sectors include services, agriculture, and manufacturing, with significant contributions from tourism and foreign remittances.

$109.986 billion: GDP (purchasing power parity) estimated for 2024.
18%: Unemployment rate in 2024.
41.7%: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) in 2024.
15.7%: Percentage of the population living below the poverty line (2018).
8.8%: Remittances as a percentage of GDP (2023).
$53.352 billion: Estimated GDP (official exchange rate) for 2024.
5.1%: Agriculture's contribution to GDP in 2024.

Government

Jordan is a parliamentary constitutional monarchy. The current king is Abdallah II, who ascended the throne in 1999. The governance structure includes a bicameral National Assembly, consisting of an elected House of Representatives and an appointed Senate. Citizens have the right to vote at 18, with legislative elections held every four years.

King ABDALLAH II: Current monarch since 1999.
Amman: Capital city, coordinates 31.95 N, 35.93 E.
138: Total seats in the House of Representatives (2024).
69: Total seats in the Senate (appointed).
4 years: Term length for both legislative chambers.
12: Number of administrative governorates.

Military and Security

The Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF) is responsible for national defense and internal security. Military expenditures are significant, constituting around 4.5% of GDP as of 2024. Jordan has a robust partnership with the US, benefiting from military aid and joint training operations.

100,000: Estimated active-duty personnel in the Armed Forces (2025).
4.5%: Military expenditures as a percentage of GDP (2024).
140: Troops deployed on peacekeeping missions (DRC) in 2025.
17 years: Minimum age for voluntary military service.
5%: Military expenditures as a percentage of GDP (2021).
24 months: Initial military service term.

Energy

Jordan's energy sector relies predominantly on fossil fuels, although there is increasing investment in renewable energy sources, including solar and wind. The country has achieved full electrification, with significant improvements in power generation capacity in recent years.

100%: Electrification rate for the total population (2022).
6.891 million kW: Installed electricity generating capacity (2023).
20.31 billion kWh: Total electricity consumption (2023).
76.9%: Percentage of electricity generated from fossil fuels as of 2023.
4.865 billion cubic meters: Natural gas imports in 2023.
269,000 metric tons: Coal consumption in 2023.

Environment

Jordan faces significant environmental challenges, including limited freshwater resources and land degradation. The country is a participant in various international environmental agreements aimed at biodiversity conservation and climate action.

22.434 million metric tons: Total CO2 emissions (2023).
14.6%: Percentage of municipal solid waste recycled (2022).
11.5%: Total agricultural land area (2023).
500 million cubic meters: Total annual municipal water withdrawal (2022).
92%: Urban population (2023).

Transportation

The transportation infrastructure in Jordan includes a network of roads, railways, and a single major port located at Al Aqabah. The country has 18 airports, facilitating both domestic and international travel.

18: Total number of airports (2025).
509 km: Total length of railway (2020).
34: Total number of vessels in the merchant marine (2023).
1: Major operational port at Al Aqabah.
6: Total heliports (2025).

Communications

Jordan boasts a high level of connectivity, with widespread mobile and internet access across the population. The telecommunications sector is dominated by government-owned organizations, but private companies have also emerged.

93%: Percentage of the population using the internet (2023).
8.05 million: Mobile cellular subscriptions (2024).
451,000: Fixed-line telephone subscriptions (2023).
805,000: Total broadband fixed subscriptions (2023).

Key Metrics

Metric	Value	Note
Population	11,312,507	Estimate for 2025
Area	89,342 sq km	Total land area
GDP (PPP)	$109.986 billion	Estimate for 2024
Unemployment Rate	18%	Estimate for 2024
Birth Rate	21.9 births/1,000 people	Estimate for 2025
Life Expectancy	76.5 years	Estimate for 2024
Literacy Rate	94.8%	Estimate for 2023
Military Expenditures (% of GDP)	4.5%	Estimate for 2024
Total Area	89,342 sq km	Land area
Energy Consumption per Capita	32.909 million Btu/person	Estimate for 2023