Jordan''s economy is among the smallest in the Middle East. Jordan’s economy is dominated by services, which account for over 65 percent of GDP and more than 75 percent of jobs. Jordan’s natural resources are potash and phosphate, agricultural land is limited and water is considerably scarce. With insufficient supplies of water, oil, and other natural resources, the government is heavily reliance on foreign assistance. Other economic challenges for the government include chronic high rates of poverty, unemployment, inflation, and a large budget deficit.

Jordan has made significant headway with privatisation. The Jordanian economy is private-sector oriented. Accordingly, direct state ownership is relatively small. It is significant only in the mining sector (phosphates and potash) and in public utilities (electricity, water, communications, and bus, railway and air transport). Jordan has experienced strong economic growth (more than seven percent annually) with a remarkable upward trend since 2004. Much of this growth is due to rising exports, its location as a services hub to Iraq, and private capital inflows.

The global economic slowdown and regional turmoil, however, have depressed Jordan''s GDP growth, impacting export-oriented sectors, construction, and tourism.

The regional unrest has generated adverse spillover effects on economic activity in the Kingdom, driven by a retrenchment in investment, tourism and exports which also suffered from the continued poor performance of the world economy.

Economic challenges for the government include chronic high rates of poverty, unemployment, inflation, and a large budget deficit.

The kingdom has the world’s fourth-largest reserves of oil shale (about 40 billion tons), an organic-rich, fine-grained sedimentary rock from which liquid hydrocarbons (shale oil) can be produced. Shale oil is a substitute for conventional crude oil, and the oil can also be burned directly for power production similar to coal. Shale could help strengthen the fiscal position of Jordan whose economy has been impacted by the regional upheaval in the Arab world.

Essential Information     

Area: 89,342 sq km
Population: 6,482,081 (July 2013 est.)
Capital: Amman
Principal Towns:Zarqa, Irbid, Aqaba.
Languages: Arabic is the official language and English is widely spoken.
Gross Domestic Product (Nominal): $31.4 billion (2012 est.)
GDP per capita: $4,844 (2012 est.)
International Reserves: $7.4 billion (2012)
Climate: The majority of Jordan lies between 600 and 900 metres above sea level, resulting in temperatures at the higher altitudes being some 5°C lower than in the Jordan Valley. Rainfall is mainly confined to period between November and April. In Amman the average temperature between May and October is 22°C rising to a maximum of some 38°C in August. The Winter/Spring period of November to April sees an average temperature of some 9°C lower with a December low of about 5°C.
 
Currency: $1 = 0.71 Jordanian Dinar (JOD)
 
DEMOGRAPHY
Age Distribution:
            0-14 years: 34.9%
15-24 years: 20.1%
25-54 years: 35.8%
55-64 years: 4.2%
65 years and over: 4.9%
Population Growth:
            -0.965% (2012 est.)
Education:
Of total population: 92.6% age 15 and over can read and write
 
NATURAL RESOURCES
 
Fossil Fuel: oil
Minerals: phosphates, potash, shale oil
Hydro-electric: small 0.6 percent

Visa Requirements:

Visas are required for US, UK and all European nationals; a seven-day tourist can be obtained at the airports and frontiers. For stays exceeding three months a residence permit is required.

 National Day 25 May

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Diplomatic representation of Jordan in Switzerland