The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, commonly called Jordan, is a country in the Middle East. It is bordered by Syria to the north, Iraq to the north-east, Saudi Arabia to the east and south, and Israel and West Bank to the west. It shares with Israel the coastlines of the Gulf of Aqaba and the Dead Sea. Jordan's main religion is Islam and its main language is Arabic. A map showing countries commonly considered to be part of the Middle East The Middle East is a region comprising the lands around the southern and eastern parts of the Mediterranean Sea, a territory that extends from the eastern Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf. ... The Syrian Arab Republic is a country in the Middle East, bordering (from south to north) on Lebanon, Israel, Jordan, Iraq and Turkey. ... The Republic of Iraq is a Middle Eastern country in southwestern Asia encompassing the ancient region of Mesopotamia. ... The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is a country on the Arabian Peninsula. ... The State of Israel (Hebrew: מדינת ישראל, translit. ... The West Bank is a territory in the Middle East constituting the area west of the Jordan River annexed by Jordan at the end of the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. ... Sinai Peninsula, Gulf of Suez(west), Gulf of Aqaba(east) viewed from Space Shuttle STS-40. ... The Jordan River flowing into the Dead Sea The Dead Sea ( Hebrew ים המלח, Arabic البحر الميت) is the lowest point on the Earths surface. ... Islam ( Arabic al-islām الإسلام,  listen?) the submission to God is a monotheistic faith and the worlds second-largest religion. ... Arabic is a Semitic language, closely related to Hebrew and Aramaic. ...

(In Detail) (In Detail)
National motto: none
Official language	Arabic
Capital	Amman
King	Abdullah II
Prime Minister	Adnan Badran
Area  - Total  - % water Large flag of Jordan Image originally derived from the public domain flags of the CIA World Factbook. ... Hashemite Coat of Arms This image depicts a seal, an emblem, a coat of arms or a crest. ... Flag ratio: 1:2 The national flag of Jordan is based off the flag of the Arab revolt against the Ottoman Empire during World War I. The flag consists of three horizontal bands (black, white and green) that are all connected by a red triangle on the left edge. ... The Coat of Arms of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is a derivation of the Hashemite coat of arms, and symbolizes the rule of that family over the nation. ... Here is a list of state mottos for countries and their subdivisions around the world. ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... An official language is something that is given a unique status in the countries, states, and other territories. ... Arabic is a Semitic language, closely related to Hebrew and Aramaic. ... In politics a capital (also called capital city or political capital — although the latter phrase has an alternative meaning based on an alternative meaning of capital) is the principal city or town associated with its government. ... Location of Amman Amman (Arabic عمان ʿAmmān), the capital of the Kingdom of Jordan, is a city of more than 1. ... The Jordanian monarchy was set up in 1921, with help from the British. ... King Abdullah and Queen Rania His Majesty King Abdullah II ibn al-Hussein ( Arabic: عبدالله الثاني بن الحسين) (born January 30, 1962) is the current King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan since February 7, 1999. ... Categories: Jordan | Prime Ministers of Jordan ... Adnan Badran (born December 15, 1935) is a Jordanian scientist, academic and politician. ... This article explains the meaning of area as a physical quantity. ...	Ranked 110th 92,300 km² 0.01% Here is a list of the countries of the world sorted by area. ... Square kilometre (US spelling: Square kilometer), symbol km², is an SI unit of surface area. ...
Population  - Total (2002)  - Density In the most common sense of the word, a population is the collection of people—or organisms of a particular species—living in a given geographic area. ... Population density can be used as a measurement of any tangible item. ...	Ranked 107th 5,153,378 48/km² This is a list of sovereign states and other territories by population. ...
Independence  - Declared  - Recognised Independence is autonomous self-government of a country by its residents and indigenous population. ...	From the League of Nations May 25, 1946 The League of Nations was an international organisation founded after the First World War with its constitution being approved by the Paris Peace Conference in 1919. ... May 25 is the 145th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (146th in leap years). ...
Currency	Jordanian dinar
Time zone	UTC +2
National anthem	As-salam al-malaki al-urdoni
Internet TLD	.jo
Calling Code	962

The Jordanian dinar (ISO 4217 code JOD) is the Official Currency of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. ... -1... UTC also stands for the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Coordinated Universal Time or UTC, also sometimes referred to as Zulu time, is an atomic realization of Universal Time or Greenwich mean time, the astronomical basis for civil time. ... The National Anthem is the name of a song by the band Radiohead. ... The national anthem of Jordan is known As-salam al-malaki al-urdoni or Long Live the King. ... A top-level domain (TLD) is the last part of which Internet domain names consist of. ... .jo is the Internet country code top-level domain ( ccTLD) for Jordan. ...

History

Main article: History of Jordan History of Jordan. ...

The land that became Jordan forms part of the richly historical Fertile Crescent region. Its history began around 2000 B.C., when Semitic Amorites settled around the Jordan River in the area called Canaan. Subsequent invaders and settlers included Hittites, Egyptians, Israelites, Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Arab Muslims, Christian Crusaders, Mameluks, Ottoman Turks, and, finally, the British. At the end of World War I, the territory now comprising Israel, Jordan, the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and Jerusalem was awarded to the United Kingdom by the League of Nations as the mandate for Palestine and Transjordan. In 1922, the British divided the mandate by establishing the semi-autonomous Emirate of Transjordan, ruled by the Hashemite Prince Abdullah, while continuing the administration of Palestine under a British High Commissioner. The mandate over Transjordan ended on May 22, 1946; on May 25, the country became the independent Hashemite Kingdom of Transjordan. It ended its special defense treaty relationship with the United Kingdom in 1957. The Fertile Crescent is a region in the Middle East incorporating present-day Israel, West Bank, and Lebanon and parts of Jordan, Syria, Iraq and south-eastern Turkey. ... Semitic is an adjective which in common parlance mistakenly refers specifically to Jewish things, while the term actually refers to things originating among speakers of Semitic languages or people descended from them, and in a linguistic context to the northeastern subfamily of Afro-Asiatic. ... Amorite (Hebrew ’emōrî, Egyptian Amar, Akkadian Amurrū (corresponding to Sumerian MAR.TU or Martu) refers to a Semitic people who occupied the middle Euphrates area from the second half of the third millennium BC and also appear in the Tanakh. ... This article is about the Jordan River in western Asia. ... This article is about the land called Canaan. ... Hittites is the conventional English-language term for an ancient people who spoke an Indo-European language and established a kingdom centered in Hattusa (the modern village of Boğazköy in todayss north-central Turkey), through most of the second millennium BC. The Hittite kingdom, which at its height controlled... The Arab Republic of Egypt, commonly known as Egypt, (in Arabic: مصر, romanized Miṣr or Maṣr, in Egyptian dialect) is a republic mostly located in north-eastern Africa. ... An Israelite is a member of the Twelve Tribes of Israel, descended from the twelve sons of the Biblical patriarch Jacob who was renamed Israel by God in the book of Genesis, 32:28 The Israelites were a group of Hebrews, as described in the Bible. ... Assyria, a country named after its original capital city, Asshur on the Tigris, was originally a colony of Babylonia, and was ruled by viceroys from that kingdom. ... Babylonia was an ancient state in Iraq), combining the territories of Sumer and Akkad. ... Iran ( Persia: ایران) is a Middle Eastern country located in southwestern Asia that until 1935 was referred to in the West as Persia. ... An Ottoman Mamluk, from 1810 Mamluks (or Mameluks) (the Arabic word usually translates as owned, singular: مملوك plural: مماليك) comprised slave soldiers used by the Muslim Caliphs and the Ottoman Empire, and who on more than one occasion seized power for themselves. ... The Ottoman Empire at the height of its power Imperial motto El Muzaffer Daima The Ever Victorious (as written in tugra) Official language Ottoman Turkish Capital İstanbul ( Constantinople/Asitane/Konstantiniyye ) Sovereigns Sultans of the Osmanli Dynasty Population ca 40 million Area 12+ million km² Establishment 1299 Dissolution October 29, 1923... Ypres, 1917, in the vicinity of the Battle of Passchendaele. ... The State of Israel (Hebrew: מדינת ישראל, translit. ... The West Bank is a territory in the Middle East constituting the area west of the Jordan River annexed by Jordan at the end of the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. ... Map of the Gaza Strip from The World Factbook. ... The League of Nations was an international organisation founded after the First World War with its constitution being approved by the Paris Peace Conference in 1919. ... The British Mandate of Palestine was a swathe of territory in the Middle East, formerly belonging to the Ottoman Empire, which the League of Nations entrusted to the United Kingdom to administer in the aftermath of World War I as a Mandate Territory. ... King Abdullah I of Jordan (1882 - July 20, 1951), known as Abdullah bin Husayn, was, successively, Emir of Trans-Jordan (1921_1946) under a British Mandate, then King of Transjordan (May 25, 1946 - 1949), and finally King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan (1949-1951). ...

Transjordan was one of the Arab states which moved to assist Palestinian nationalists opposed to the creation of Israel in May 1948, and took part in the warfare between the Arab states and the newly founded State of Israel. The armistice agreements of April 3, 1949 left Jordan in control of the West Bank and provided that the armistice demarcation lines were without prejudice to future territorial settlements or boundary lines.

In 1950, the country was renamed "the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan" to include those portions of Palestine annexed by King Abdullah. While recognizing Jordanian administration over the West Bank, the United States maintained the position that ultimate sovereignty was subject to future agreement. King Abdullah I of Jordan (1882 - July 20, 1951), known as Abdullah bin Husayn, was, successively, Emir of Trans-Jordan (1921_1946) under a British Mandate, then King of Transjordan (May 25, 1946 - 1949), and finally King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan (1949-1951). ...

Jordan signed a mutual defense pact in May 1967 with Egypt, and it participated in the June 1967 war between Israel and the Arab states of Syria, Egypt, and Iraq. During the war, Israel gained control of the West Bank and all of Jerusalem. In 1988, Jordan renounced all claims to the West Bank but retained an administrative role pending a final settlement, and its 1994 treaty with Israel allowed for a continuing Jordanian role in Muslim holy places in Jerusalem. The U.S. Government considers the West Bank to be territory occupied by Israel and believes that its final status should be determined through direct negotiations among the parties concerned on the basis of UN Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338. The State of Israel (Hebrew: מדינת ישראל, translit. ... The Syrian Arab Republic is a country in the Middle East, bordering (from south to north) on Lebanon, Israel, Jordan, Iraq and Turkey. ... The Republic of Iraq is a Middle Eastern country in southwestern Asia encompassing the ancient region of Mesopotamia. ... The West Bank is a territory in the Middle East constituting the area west of the Jordan River annexed by Jordan at the end of the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. ... This article is about the United Nations, for other uses of UN see UN (disambiguation) Official languages English, French, Spanish, Russian, Chinese, Arabic Secretary-General Kofi Annan (since 1997) Established October 24, 1945 Member states 191 Headquarters New York City, NY, USA Official site http://www. ...

The 1967 war led to a dramatic increase in the number of Palestinians living in Jordan. Its Palestinian refugee population -- 700,000 in 1966 -- grew by another 300,000 from the West Bank. The period following the 1967 war saw an upsurge in the power and importance of Palestinian resistance elements (fedayeen) in Jordan. The heavily armed fedayeen constituted a growing threat to the sovereignty and security of the Hashemite state, and open fighting erupted in June 1970.

Other Arab governments attempted to work out a peaceful solution, but by September, continuing fedayeen actions in Jordan -- including the destruction of three international airliners hijacked and held in the desert east of Amman -- prompted the government to take action to regain control over its territory and population. In the ensuing heavy fighting, a Syrian tank force took up positions in northern Jordan to support the fedayeen but was forced to retreat. By September 22, Arab foreign ministers meeting at Cairo had arranged a cease-fire beginning the following day. Sporadic violence continued, however, until Jordanian forces won a decisive victory over the fedayeen in July 1971, expelling them from the country. Location of Amman Amman (Arabic عمان ʿAmmān), the capital of the Kingdom of Jordan, is a city of more than 1. ...

No fighting occurred along the 1967 Jordan River cease-fire line during the October 1973 Arab-Israeli war, but Jordan sent a brigade to Syria to fight Israeli units on Syrian territory. Jordan did not participate in the Gulf War of 1990-91. In 1991, Jordan agreed, along with Syria, Lebanon, and Palestinian representatives, to participate in direct peace negotiations with Israel sponsored by the U.S. and Russia. It negotiated an end to hostilities with Israel and signed a declaration to that effect on July 25, 1994 (see Washington Declaration). As a result, an Israeli-Jordanian peace treaty was concluded on October 26, 1994. Following the outbreak of Israeli-Palestinian fighting in September 2000, the Jordanian government offered its good offices to both parties. Jordan has since sought to remain at peace with all of its neighbours. See also: 2003 invasion of Iraq and Gulf War (disambiguation) C Company, 1st Battalion, The Staffordshire Regiment, 1st UK Armoured Division The Persian Gulf War was a conflict between Iraq and a coalition force of 34 nations led by the United States. ... The Lebanese Republic or Lebanon is a country in Southwest Asia, bordering the Mediterranean Sea. ... The Palestinian flag, adopted in 1948, is a widely recognized modern symbol of the Palestinian people. ... July 25 is the 206th day (207th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 159 days remaining. ... 1994 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International year of the Family. ... The Israel-Jordan peace treaty was signed at the southern border crossing of Wadi Araba on October 26, 1994, and made Jordan only the second Arab country (after Egypt) to normalize relations with Israel. ... October 26 is the 299th day of the year (300th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 66 days remaining. ... 1994 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International year of the Family. ... September is the ninth month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of four Gregorian months with the length of 30 days. ...

Politics

Main article: Politics of Jordan This article describes the Politics of Jordan Jordan is a constitutional monarchy based on the constitution promulgated on January 8, 1952. ...

Jordan is a constitutional monarchy based on the constitution promulgated on January 8, 1952. Executive authority is vested in the king and his council of ministers. The king signs and executes all laws. His veto power may be overridden by a two-thirds vote of both houses of the National Assembly. He appoints and may dismiss all judges by decree, approves amendments to the constitution, declares war, and commands the armed forces. Cabinet decisions, court judgments, and the national currency are issued in his name. The council of ministers, led by a prime minister, is appointed by the king, who may dismiss other cabinet members at the prime minister's request. The cabinet is responsible to the Chamber of Deputies on matters of general policy and can be forced to resign by a two-thirds vote of "no confidence" by that body. A constitutional monarchy is a form of government established under a constitutional system which acknowledges a hereditary or elected monarch as head of state. ... An organizations constitution defines its form, structure, activities, character, and fundamental rules. ... January 8 is the 8th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... Under the doctrine of the separation of powers, the executive is the branch of a government charged with implementing, or executing, the law. ... The Jordanian monarchy was set up in 1921, with help from the British. ... Law (a loanword from Danish- Norwegian lov), in politics and jurisprudence, is a set of rules or norms of conduct which mandate, proscribe or permit specified relationships among people and organizations, provide methods for ensuring the impartial treatment of such people, and provide punishments for those who do not follow... The word veto comes from Latin and literally means I forbid. ... The National Assembly is the name of either a legislature, or the lower house of a bicameral legislature in some countries. ... Amendment has at least two meanings: An amendment is a formal alteration to any official document or record, typically with the aim of improving it for the better. ... For other uses of War, see War (disambiguation). ... Military branches: Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF; includes Royal Jordanian Land Force, Royal Naval Force, and Royal Jordanian Air Force); Badiya (irregular) Border Guards; Ministry of the Interiors Public Security Force (falls under JAF only in wartime or crisis situations) Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age Military manpower... Alternate meanings in cabinet (disambiguation) A Cabinet is a body of high-ranking members of government, typically representing the executive branch. ... This article is about courts of law. ... Alternative meaning: Prime Minister (band) A prime minister is the leading member of the cabinet of the top level government in a parliamentary system of government of a country, alternatively A prime minister is an official in a presidential system or semi-presidential system whose duty is to execute the...

Legislative power rests in the bicameral National Assembly. The 80-member Chamber of Deputies, elected by universal suffrage to a 4-year term, is subject to dissolution by the king. Of the 80 seats, 71 must go to Muslims and nine to Christians. The 40-member Senate is appointed by the king for an 8-year term. Chamber of the Estates-General, the Dutch legislature. ... In government, bicameralism is the practice of having two legislative or parliamentary chambers. ... Universal suffrage (also general suffrage or common suffrage) consists of the extension of voting privileges to all adults, without distinction as to race, sex, belief or social status. ... A Muslim is a believer in or follower of Islam. ... This article is about the religious people known as Christians. ... A senate is a deliberative body, often the upper house or chamber of a legislature. ...

The constitution provides for three categories of courts--civil, religious, and special. Administratively, Jordan is divided into eight governorates, each headed by a governor appointed by the king. They are the sole authorities for all government departments and development projects in their respective areas. A governor is an official who heads the government of a colony, state or other sub-national state unit. ...

King Hussein ruled Jordan from 1953 to 1999, surviving a number of challenges to his rule, drawing on the loyalty of his military, and serving as a symbol of unity and stability for both the East Bank and Palestinian communities in Jordan. King Hussein ended martial law in 1991 and legalized political parties in 1992. In 1989 and 1993, Jordan held free and fair parliamentary elections. Controversial changes in the election law led Islamist parties to boycott the 1997 elections. Hussein bin Talal (Arabic: حسين بن طلال) (November 14, 1935 - February 7, 1999) was the King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan from 1952 to 1999. ... 1953 is a common year starting on Thursday. ... Corresponding geographically to todays Kingdom of Jordan, the Emirate of Transjordan was an autonomous political subdivision of the British Mandate of Palestine, split off in April 1921. ... The Palestinian flag, adopted in 1948, is a widely recognized modern symbol of the Palestinian people. ... Martial law is the system of rules that takes effect (usually after a formal declaration) when a particular situation requires that a military authority take control of the normal administration of justice (and usually of the whole state). ... Legalization is the process of removing a legal prohibition against something which is currently illegal. ... A political party is a political organization subscribing to a certain ideology or formed around very special issues. ... Alternative meanings: Parliamentary system, Parliament (band), Parliament (cigarette). ... Islam ( Arabic al-islām الإسلام,  listen?) the submission to God is a monotheistic faith and the worlds second-largest religion. ...

King Abdullah II succeeded his father Hussein following the latter's death in February 1999. Abdullah moved quickly to reaffirm Jordan's peace treaty with Israel and its relations with the United States. Abdullah, during the first year in power, refocused the government's agenda on economic reform. King Abdullah and Queen Rania His Majesty King Abdullah II ibn al-Hussein ( Arabic: عبدالله الثاني بن الحسين) (born January 30, 1962) is the current King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan since February 7, 1999. ... The Israel-Jordan peace treaty was signed at the southern border crossing of Wadi Araba on October 26, 1994, and made Jordan only the second Arab country (after Egypt) to normalize relations with Israel. ... The State of Israel (Hebrew: מדינת ישראל, translit. ...

Jordan's continuing structural economic difficulties, burgeoning population, and more open political environment led to the emergence of a variety of political parties. Moving toward greater independence, Jordan's parliament has investigated corruption charges against several regime figures and has become the major forum in which differing political views, including those of political Islamists, are expressed. While King Abdullah remains the ultimate authority in Jordan, the parliament plays an important role.

Governorates

Main article: Governorates of Jordan The country of Jordan is divided into 12 governorates (Arabic: muhafazat, singular is muhafazah). ...

Administratively, Jordan is divided into 12 governorates, each headed by a governor appointed by the king. They are the sole authorities for all government departments and development projects in their respective areas. A governorate is a subnational entity. ...

Wadi Rum, southern Jordan

• Ajlun
• Al Aqabah (Aqaba)
• Al Balqa
• Al Karak (Karak)
• Al Mafraq
• Amman
• At Tafilah
• Az Zarqa (Zarqa)
• Irbid
• Jarash
• Ma'an
• Madaba

Download high resolution version (1600x1200, 406 KB)PD-self File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Download high resolution version (1600x1200, 406 KB)PD-self File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Wadi Rum is a valley cut into the sandstone and granite rock in south west Jordan. ... Categories: Geography stubs ... Aqaba (Arabic: العقبة al-ʿAqabah; Jordan. ... Location of Amman Amman (Arabic عمان ʿAmmān), the capital of the Kingdom of Jordan, is a city of more than 1. ... Zarqa (Arabic الزرقاء az-Zarqā, local dialects ez-Zergā or ez-Zera, The Blue One) is a city in Jordan located in the northwest of Amman. ... Irbid (Arabic: أربد), anciently known as Arabella, is Jordans 2nd largest city located about 85 km north of Amman, situated at an equal distance from Pella and Umm Qais, and is a bustling community with a large university (Yarmouk University). ... The oval forum and main street of Roman Jerash, with modern Jerash rising behind them Jerash (ancient Antioch-on-the-Chrysorhoas, also known as Gerasa) was a city of the Graceo-Roman Decapolis, its ruins now located in the Gilead region of northwest Jordan. ... Maan is a city in southern Jordan. ... Madaba is a Governate in Jordan located 25 km southwest of Amman. ...

Geography

Map of Jordan

Main article: Geography of Jordan
This section has no data added yet, but you can help Wikipedia by adding additional info.
map of Jordan, converted directly from CIA World Factbook GIF File links The following pages link to this file: Jordan Geography of Jordan Categories: CIA World Factbook images ... map of Jordan, converted directly from CIA World Factbook GIF File links The following pages link to this file: Jordan Geography of Jordan Categories: CIA World Factbook images ... Location: Southwest Asia, northwest of Saudi Arabia. ... Wikipedia is a Web-based, free-content encyclopedia, which is written collaboratively by volunteers. ...

Economy

Main article: Economy of Jordan Jordan is a small country with limited natural resources. ...

Jordan is a small country with limited natural resources. The country is currently exploring ways to expand its limited water supply and use its existing water resources more efficiently, including through regional cooperation. Jordan also depends on external sources for the majority of its energy requirements. During the 1990s, its crude petroleum needs were met through imports from neighboring Iraq. Since early 2003, oil has been provided by some Gulf Cooperation Council member countries. In addition, a natural gas pipeline from Egypt to the southern port city of Aqaba was completed in 2003. The government plans to extend this pipeline north to the Amman area and beyond. Since 2000, exports of light manufactured products, principally textiles and garments manufactured in the Qualifying Industrial Zones (QIZ) that enter the United States tariff and quota free, have been driving economic growth. Jordan exported $6.9 million in goods to the U.S. in 1997, when two-way trade was $395 million; it exported $661 million in 2002 with two-way trade at $1.05 billion. Similar growth in exports to the United States under the bilateral Free Trade Agreement that went into effect in December 2001, to the European Union under the bilateral Association Agreement, and to countries in the region, holds considerable promise for diversifying Jordan's economy away from its traditional reliance on exports of phosphates and potash, overseas remittances, and foreign aid. The government has emphasized the information technology (IT) and tourism sectors as other promising growth sectors. The low tax and low regulation Aqaba Special Economic Zone (ASEZ) is considered a model of a government-provided framework for private sector-led economic growth.

The Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the United States that went into effect in December 2001 will phase out duties on nearly all goods and services by 2010. The agreement also provides for more open markets in communications, construction, finance, health, transportation, and services, as well as strict application of international standards for the protection of intellectual property. In 1996, Jordan and the United States signed a civil aviation agreement that provides for "open skies" between the two countries, and a U.S.-Jordan treaty for the protection and encouragement of bilateral investment entered into force in 2003. Jordan has been a member of the World Trade Organization since 2000. More information on the FTA is available on www.jordanusfta.com.

Jordan is classified by the World Bank as a "lower middle income country." The per capita GDP was approximately $1,817 for 2003 and 14.5% of the economically active population, on average, was unemployed in 2003. Education and literacy rates and measures of social well-being are relatively high compared to other countries with similar incomes. Jordan's population growth rate is high, but has declined in recent years, to approximately 2.8% currently. One of the most important factors in the government’s efforts to improve the well-being of its citizens is the macroeconomic stability that has been achieved since the 1990s. Rates of price inflation are low, at 2.3% in 2003, and the currency has been stable with an exchange rate fixed to the U.S. dollar since 1995.

While pursuing economic reform and increased trade, Jordan's economy will continue to be vulnerable to external shocks and regional unrest. Without calm in the region, economic growth seems destined to stay below its potential.

Foreign relations

Jordan has consistently followed a pro-Western foreign policy and traditionally has had close relations with the United States and the United Kingdom. These relations were damaged by support in Jordan for Iraq during the first Gulf war. Although the Government of Jordan stated its opposition to the Iraqi occupation of Kuwait, popular support for Iraq was driven by Jordan's Palestinian community, which favored Saddam as a champion against Western supporters of Israel.

Following the first Gulf war, Jordan largely restored its relations with Western countries through its participation in the Middle East peace process and enforcement of UN sanctions against Iraq. Relations between Jordan and the Gulf countries improved substantially after King Hussein's death. Following the fall of the Iraqi regime, Jordan has played a pivotal role in supporting the restoration of stability and security to Iraq. The Government of Jordan signed a memorandum of understanding with the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq to facilitate the training of up to 30,000 Iraqi police cadets at a Jordanian facility.

Jordan signed a nonbelligerency agreement with Israel (the Washington Declaration) in Washington, DC, on July 25, 1994. Jordan and Israel signed a historic peace treaty on October 26, 1994, witnessed by President Bill Clinton, accompanied by Secretary Warren Christopher. The U.S. has participated with Jordan and Israel in trilateral development discussions in which key issues have been water-sharing and security; cooperation on Jordan Rift Valley development; infrastructure projects; and trade, finance, and banking issues. Jordan also participates in the multilateral peace talks. Jordan belongs to the UN and several of its specialized and related agencies, including the World Trade Organization (WTO), the International Meteorological Organization (IMO), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and World Health Organization (WHO). Jordan also is a member of the World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF), Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), Nonaligned Movement, and Arab League. The Israel-Jordan peace treaty was signed at the southern border crossing of Wadi Araba on October 26, 1994, and made Jordan only the second Arab country (after Egypt) to normalize relations with Israel. ... Warren Minor Christopher (born October 27, 1925) is an American diplomat and lawyer. ...

Since the outbreak of the Intifadah in September 2000, Jordan has worked hard, in a variety of fora, to maintain lines of communication between the Israelis and the Palestinians to counsel moderation and to return the parties to negotiations of outstanding permanent status issues.

Following the intifadah, though, Jordan along with Egypt withdrew its ambassadors from Israel. Following the Sharm-al-Sheik Summit in Egypt on 8 February 2005, both countries announced plans to return ambassadors to the country.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Jordan Jordanians are Arabs, except for a few small communities of Circassians, Chechens, Armenians, and Kurds which have adapted to Arab culture. ...

Jordanians are Arabs, except for a few small communities of Circassians, Armenians, and Kurds which have adapted to Arab culture. The official language is Arabic, but English is used widely in commerce and government. About 70% of Jordan's population is urban; less than 6% of the rural population is nomadic or semi-nomadic. Most people live where the rainfall supports agriculture. About 1.7 million persons registered as Palestinian refugees and displaced persons reside in Jordan, most as citizens. For other uses, see Arab (disambiguation). ... The term Circassians is a Western term derived from the Turkic Cherkess, and is not the self-designation of any people. ... The Armenians are a nation or ethnic group, originating in the Caucasus and eastern Asia Minor. ... Kurds are one of the Iranian peoples and speak Kurdish, a north-Western Iranian language related to Persian. ... Arabic is a Semitic language, closely related to Hebrew and Aramaic. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... Communities of nomadic people move from place to place, rather than settling down in one location. ... The Palestinian flag, adopted in 1948, is a widely recognized modern symbol of the Palestinian people. ...

Culture

Main article: Culture of Jordan

• Music of Jordan
• Islam in Jordan

The music of Jordan can be distinguished from that of its neighboring countries like Syria and Saudi Arabia by its strong Bedouin influence. ... More than 90 percent of population in Jordan adhered to Sunni Islam in the late 1980s. ...

References

• CIA World Factbook
• US State Department [1] (http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/5474.htm)

World Factbook 2004 cover The World Factbook is an annual publication by the Central Intelligence Agency of the United States with basic almanac-style information about the various countries of the world. ... The United States Department of State, often referred to as the State Department, is the Cabinet-level foreign affairs agency of the United States government, equivalent to foreign ministries in other countries. ...

Miscellaneous topics

• Communications in Jordan
• Transportation in Jordan
• Military of Jordan
• Royal Jordanian Air Force
• Foreign relations of Jordan
• Famous people from Jordan
• Royal Jordanian Airlines
• Public holidays in Jordan
• List of Prime Ministers of Jordan

Telephones - main lines in use: 403,000 (1997) Telephones - mobile cellular: 75,000 (1999) Telephone system: service has improved recently with the increased use of digital switching equipment, but better access to the telephone system is needed in the rural areas and easier access to pay telephones is needed by... Railways: (2000) total: 677 km narrow gauge (1. ... Military branches: Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF; includes Royal Jordanian Land Force, Royal Naval Force, and Royal Jordanian Air Force); Badiya (irregular) Border Guards; Ministry of the Interiors Public Security Force (falls under JAF only in wartime or crisis situations) Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age Military manpower... The Royal Jordanian Air Force (RJAF) (Al Quwwat al-Jawwiya Almalakiya al-Urduniya in Arabic) is the Aviation branch of the Jordanian armed forces. ... The foreign relations of Jordan have consistently followed a pro-Western foreign policy and traditionally Jordan has had close relations with the United States and the United Kingdom. ... The following is a list of famous people from Jordan: Bashar Abdul Jawad King Abdullah I of Jordan King Abdullah II of Jordan Queen Rania of Jordan Toujan al-Faisal Faisal al-Fayez Ibn al-Khattab Ali Abu al-Ragheb Sherif Hussein ibn Ali Mazen Asfour Mahmoud Mahmoud Atta Sultan... Royal Jordanian started operations in 1963 after a decree by His Royal Highness the late King Hussein. ... Public holidays in Jordan. ... Categories: Jordan | Prime Ministers of Jordan ...

External links

• Jordan Times (http://jordantimes.com/)
• Jordan Linux Users Group (http://www.jolug.org)
• Jordan Guide (http://www.asinah.net/jordan.html)
• CIA World Factbook - Jordan (http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/jo.html)
• Library of Congress Country Study - Jordan (http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/jotoc.html) data as of December 1989
• Arab Gateway - Jordan (http://www.al-bab.com/arab/countries/jordan.htm)
• LookSmart - Jordan (http://search.looksmart.com/p/browse/us1/us317916/us559898/us560105/us560113/) directory category
• Open Directory Project - Jordan (http://dir.yahoo.com/Regional/Countries/Jordan/) directory category
• Yahoo! - Jordan (http://dir.yahoo.com/Regional/Countries/Jordan/) directory category
• Yahoo! Full Coverage - Jordan (http://story.news.yahoo.com/fc?cid=34&tmpl=fc&in=World&cat=Jordan) news headline links

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