JordanJordan

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Map of Jordan

Flag of Jordan

GeographyGeography LocationLocation: Middle East, northwest of Saudi Arabia, : Middle East, northwest of Saudi Arabia,

between Israel (to the west) and Iraqbetween Israel (to the west) and Iraq AreaArea: 89,342 sq km, which is a little smaller then : 89,342 sq km, which is a little smaller then

IndiaIndia Natural ResourcesNatural Resources: phosphates, potash, shale oil: phosphates, potash, shale oil TerrainTerrain: mostly desert plateau in east, highland : mostly desert plateau in east, highland

area in west; Great Rift Valley separates East and area in west; Great Rift Valley separates East and West Banks of the Jordan RiverWest Banks of the Jordan River

Highest elevationHighest elevation: Jabal Umm ad Dami 1,854 m: Jabal Umm ad Dami 1,854 m Natural HazardsNatural Hazards: droughts; periodic earthquakes: droughts; periodic earthquakes Environmental current issuesEnvironmental current issues: limited natural : limited natural

freshwater resources; deforestation; overgrazing; freshwater resources; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertificationsoil erosion; desertification

Jordan

General InformationGeneral Information NationalityNationality: Jordanian: Jordanian Ethnic groupsEthnic groups: Arab 98%, Circassian 1%, : Arab 98%, Circassian 1%,

Armenian 1%Armenian 1% LanguagesLanguages: Arabic (official), English (widely : Arabic (official), English (widely

understood among upper and middle classes)understood among upper and middle classes) ReligionsReligions: Sunni Muslim 92% (official), Christian : Sunni Muslim 92% (official), Christian

6% (majority Greek Orthodox, but some Greek 6% (majority Greek Orthodox, but some Greek and Roman Catholics, Syrian Orthodox, Coptic and Roman Catholics, Syrian Orthodox, Coptic Orthodox, Armenian Orthodox, and Protestant Orthodox, Armenian Orthodox, and Protestant denominations), other 2% (several small Shia denominations), other 2% (several small Shia Muslim and Druze populations) (2001 est.)Muslim and Druze populations) (2001 est.)

JordanJordan is about the size of Indiana. is about the size of Indiana.

Hashemite Kingdom

General Information cont.General Information cont. PopulationPopulation: 6,508,271 (July 2011 est.): 6,508,271 (July 2011 est.) Birth RateBirth Rate: 0.984% (2011 est.): 0.984% (2011 est.) CapitalCapital: Amman: Amman Sex RatioSex Ratio: 1.06, more men till around 65 years : 1.06, more men till around 65 years

old then the ratio changes from 1.06 to .97old then the ratio changes from 1.06 to .97 Life ExpectancyLife Expectancy: 80 years old: 80 years old HIV/AIDSHIV/AIDS: fewer then 500 people have it: fewer then 500 people have it

To the left is a part of Jordan’s desert.

To the other left it one of Jordan’s cliffs along the 26 miles of ocean that this country borders.

GovernmentGovernment TypeType: constitutional monarchy: constitutional monarchy Independence dayIndependence day: Independence Day, 25 May (1946): Independence Day, 25 May (1946) Legal systemLegal system: mixed legal system of civil law and Islamic : mixed legal system of civil law and Islamic

religious law; judicial review of legislative acts in a specially religious law; judicial review of legislative acts in a specially provided High Tribunalprovided High Tribunal

Chief of StateChief of State: King Abdullah II (since 7 February 1999); : King Abdullah II (since 7 February 1999); Crown Prince Hussein (born 28 June 1994), eldest son of Crown Prince Hussein (born 28 June 1994), eldest son of King Abdullah IIKing Abdullah II

Head of governmentHead of government: Prime Minister Awn Shawkat : Prime Minister Awn Shawkat Khasawnah (since 24 October 2011); Deputy Prime Minister Khasawnah (since 24 October 2011); Deputy Prime Minister Tawfiq Kreishan (since 2 July 2011)Tawfiq Kreishan (since 2 July 2011)

CabinetCabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister in : Cabinet appointed by the prime minister in consultation with the monarch; note - on 1 February 2011 consultation with the monarch; note - on 1 February 2011 the King dismissed the cabinet and designated Marouf al-the King dismissed the cabinet and designated Marouf al-Bakhit the new prime ministerBakhit the new prime minister

National SymbolNational Symbol: eagle: eagleJordan's King Abdullah II

An eagle

Economy OverviewEconomy Overview Jordan's economy is among the smallest in the Middle East, with Jordan's economy is among the smallest in the Middle East, with

insufficient supplies of water, oil, and other natural resources, underlying insufficient supplies of water, oil, and other natural resources, underlying the government's heavy reliance on foreign assistance. Other economic the government's heavy reliance on foreign assistance. Other economic challenges for the government include chronic high rates of poverty, challenges for the government include chronic high rates of poverty, unemployment, inflation, and a large budget deficit. Since assuming the unemployment, inflation, and a large budget deficit. Since assuming the throne in 1999, King ABDALLAH has implemented significant economic throne in 1999, King ABDALLAH has implemented significant economic reforms, such as opening the trade regime, privatizing state-owned reforms, such as opening the trade regime, privatizing state-owned companies, and eliminating most fuel subsidies, which in the past few companies, and eliminating most fuel subsidies, which in the past few years have spurred economic growth by attracting foreign investment and years have spurred economic growth by attracting foreign investment and creating some jobs. The global economic slowdown, however, has creating some jobs. The global economic slowdown, however, has depressed Jordan's GDP growth. Export-oriented sectors such as depressed Jordan's GDP growth. Export-oriented sectors such as manufacturing, mining, and the transport of re-exports have been hit the manufacturing, mining, and the transport of re-exports have been hit the hardest. The Government approved two supplementary budgets in 2010, hardest. The Government approved two supplementary budgets in 2010, but sweeping tax cuts planned for 2010 did not materialize because of but sweeping tax cuts planned for 2010 did not materialize because of Amman's need for additional revenue to cover excess spending. The Amman's need for additional revenue to cover excess spending. The budget deficit is likely to remain high, at 5-6% of GDP, and Amman likely budget deficit is likely to remain high, at 5-6% of GDP, and Amman likely will continue to depend heavily on foreign assistance to finance the deficit will continue to depend heavily on foreign assistance to finance the deficit in 2011. Jordan's financial sector has been relatively isolated from the in 2011. Jordan's financial sector has been relatively isolated from the international financial crisis because of its limited exposure to overseas international financial crisis because of its limited exposure to overseas capital markets. Jordan is currently exploring nuclear power generation to capital markets. Jordan is currently exploring nuclear power generation to forestall energy shortfalls. forestall energy shortfalls.

EconomyEconomy

GDPGDP: $34.53 billion (2010 est.): $34.53 billion (2010 est.) GDP real growth rateGDP real growth rate: 3.1% (2010 est.): 3.1% (2010 est.) Population below poverty linePopulation below poverty line: 14.2% : 14.2%

(2002)(2002) Unemployment rateUnemployment rate: 12.5% (2010 est.): 12.5% (2010 est.) Public debtPublic debt: 61.2% of GDP (2010 est.): 61.2% of GDP (2010 est.) Agricultural productsAgricultural products: citrus, tomatoes, : citrus, tomatoes,

cucumbers, olives, strawberries, stone cucumbers, olives, strawberries, stone fruits; sheep, poultry, dairyfruits; sheep, poultry, dairy

Relationship with U.SRelationship with U.S The United States and Jordan have had a good The United States and Jordan have had a good

relationship for over four decades.relationship for over four decades. U.S. policy seeks to reinforce Jordan's U.S. policy seeks to reinforce Jordan's

commitment to peace, stability, and moderation. commitment to peace, stability, and moderation. Through economic and military assistance and Through economic and military assistance and

through close political cooperation, the United through close political cooperation, the United States has helped Jordan maintain its stability and States has helped Jordan maintain its stability and prosperity. prosperity.

The United States has provided Jordan with The United States has provided Jordan with economic assistance totaling more than $9 billion economic assistance totaling more than $9 billion since 1952.since 1952.

Funds to develop health care, education, Funds to develop health care, education, construction to increase water availability. construction to increase water availability.

Sharia in JordanSharia in Jordan

The main law that Jordan is based of The main law that Jordan is based of is Sharia.is Sharia.

This means that the Islamic law is This means that the Islamic law is very active in Jordan.very active in Jordan.

September 1970 was the last conflict September 1970 was the last conflict Jordan had, it was known as Black Jordan had, it was known as Black SeptemberSeptember

Human RightsHuman Rights Human Rights in Jordan concerns many Human Rights in Jordan concerns many

outside and in the country.outside and in the country. Problems:Problems: Abuse of foreign domestic workers.Abuse of foreign domestic workers. Restricted freedoms of assembly and

association. Legal and societal discrimination and

harassment of women remain a concern. Jordan has been working on all of this and

has been getting better but the matter still is that Jordan’s human rights are not very good.

Current EventsCurrent Events

They have been recent protests on the They have been recent protests on the government.government.

This resulted in firing the cabinet ministers.This resulted in firing the cabinet ministers. The Muslim Brotherhood, one of the largest

opposition groups in Jordan, on January 26 urged Jordanians to pour into streets later in the week to protest against Prime Minister Samir Rifai's economic policies and the political situation in the country.

Current events cont.Current events cont.

On February 1, the Royal Palace announced that On February 1, the Royal Palace announced that King Abdullah II has sacked the government as a King Abdullah II has sacked the government as a consequence of the street protests and has asked consequence of the street protests and has asked Marouf al-Bahkit, an ex-army general, to form a Marouf al-Bahkit, an ex-army general, to form a new cabinet.new cabinet.

On 28 March, three days after deadly clashes On 28 March, three days after deadly clashes between protesters and supporters of the king, between protesters and supporters of the king, King Abdullah II called for national unity, telling King Abdullah II called for national unity, telling his citizens to avoid "any behavior or attitude that his citizens to avoid "any behavior or attitude that would affect our unity."would affect our unity."

Credits/Bibliography https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/

geos/jo.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jordan

%E2%80%93United_States_relations http://www.rad-aid.org/countries.aspx?pageName=jordan http://www.mapsofworld.com/flags/jordan-flag.html http://www.desktopwallpaperhd.com/wallpapers/Landscape-

desert-jordan-photography-staticfiles-image-shared-images-129691.html

http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/countries/jordan-guide/

http://archive.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=jordanian-government-expresses-commitment-to-media-reform-2010-12-29

http://www.alaska-in-pictures.com/crying-eagle-5211-pictures.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_rights_in_Jordan