Country Profile: Jordan

Jordan, officially known as the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, is strategically located in the Middle East, bordered by Israel to the west and Iraq to the east. The country, with a population of approximately 11.2 million, experiences a unique blend of modern and traditional governance, characterized by its parliamentary constitutional monarchy under King Abdullah II. Jordan's economy is upper-middle-income, heavily reliant on imports and foreign assistance, while facing challenges such as high debt and unemployment, particularly among youth and women.

Geography

Jordan is situated in the Middle East, sharing borders with Iraq, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and the West Bank. It covers an area of about 89,342 square kilometers, with predominantly arid desert terrain and significant geological features like the Jordan River Valley and the Dead Sea, the latter being the lowest point on Earth. The country experiences a mostly arid climate with a rainy season from November to April.

Highest Point: Jabal Umm ad Dami at 1,854 m
Lowest Point: Dead Sea at -431 m
Area: 89,342 sq km
Land Boundaries: 1,744 km
Coastline: 26 km along the Gulf of Aqaba
Natural Resources: Phosphates, potash, and shale oil

People and Society

Jordan's estimated population in 2024 stands at about 11.2 million, with a diverse demographic composition, including Jordanians, Syrians, and Palestinians. The country has a relatively young population, with a median age of 25 years, and a high urbanization rate, with 92% residing in urban areas. The official language is Arabic, and the majority of the population (over 97%) practices Islam.

Population Growth Rate: 0.78% (2024 est.)
Urban Population: 92% (2023)
Literacy Rate: 94.8% (2023)
Life Expectancy: 76.5 years (2024 est.)
Dependency Ratio: 54 (total, 2024 est.)
Infant Mortality Rate: 13.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

Economy

The Jordanian economy is classified as upper-middle-income, heavily dependent on imports due to limited natural resources. As of 2024, the real GDP is estimated at $109.986 billion, with a growth rate of 2.5%. Key sectors include services, industry, and agriculture, with substantial contributions from remittances and foreign assistance.

GDP per Capita: $9,500 (2024 est.)
Unemployment Rate: 18% (2024 est.)
Public Debt: 102.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
Poverty Rate: 15.7% of the population (2018 est.)
Exports: $22.186 billion (2023 est.)
Imports: $28.922 billion (2023 est.)

Government

Jordan operates under a parliamentary constitutional monarchy, led by King Abdullah II since 1999. The government is a blend of various legal traditions, including Ottoman and British influences, and has a mixed electoral system with bicameral legislative branches. The country emphasizes civil liberties, yet faces challenges regarding political freedom and gender representation.

Capital: Amman
Legislature: National Assembly (bicameral)
Suffrage Age: 18 years
Administrative Divisions: 12 governorates
Independence: 25 May 1946

Military and Security

The Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF) play a crucial role in the country's defense and internal security, actively participating in international peacekeeping missions. Military expenditure is about 4.5% of GDP as of 2024. The military emphasizes cooperation with the US, which remains a key security partner.

Active Military Personnel: ~100,000 (2025)
Military Expenditures: 4.5% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military Service Age: Starting from 17 years for voluntary service
Military Deployments: 200 police in the MONUSCO mission (2024)

Energy

Jordan's energy infrastructure primarily relies on fossil fuels, with a notable shift towards renewable energy sources like solar and wind. Despite achieving 100% electrification across the population by 2022, the country confronts challenges in energy production and consumption.

Installed Electric Capacity: 6.891 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity Consumption: 20.31 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Natural Gas Consumption: 5.441 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Petroleum Production: 20 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Environment

Jordan faces significant environmental challenges, including limited freshwater resources, deforestation, and biodiversity loss. The country is active in various international environmental agreements aimed at addressing these issues.

Carbon Dioxide Emissions: 22.434 million metric tonnes (2023 est.)
Urban Population: 92% (2023)
Total Renewable Water Resources: 937 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Transportation

Jordan's transportation network includes a mix of road, rail, and maritime routes, essential for both domestic and international connectivity. The country has one major port, Al Aqabah, which plays a vital role in trade.

Airports: 18 (2025 est.)
Railways: 509 km (2020)
Merchant Marine Vessels: 34 (2023)

Communications

Jordan possesses a relatively advanced telecommunications system, with high mobile and internet penetration rates. The overall fixed-line subscription is 451,000, while mobile cellular subscriptions reached approximately 7.73 million in 2023.

Internet Users: 93% of the population (2023 est.)
Broadband Subscriptions: 805,000 (2023 est.)

Key Metrics

Metric	Value	Note
Population	11,174,024 (2024 est.)
Area	89,342 sq km
GDP	$109.986 billion (2024 est.)
Unemployment Rate	18% (2024 est.)
Life Expectancy	76.5 years (2024 est.)
Birth Rate	22.2 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)
Energy Consumption per Capita	32.909 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Total Renewable Water Resources	937 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Carbon Dioxide Emissions	22.434 million metric tonnes (2023 est.)
Military Expenditures	4.5% of GDP (2024 est.)