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Jordan - Country
Overview
Background:
For most of its history since independence from British administration
in 1946, Jordan was ruled by King HUSSEIN (1953-99).
A pragmatic ruler, he successfully
navigated competing pressures from the major powers (US, USSR, and UK),
various Arab states, Israel, and a large internal Palestinian population,
despite several wars and coup attempts.
In 1989 he reinstituted parliamentary
elections and gradual political liberalization; in 1994 he signed a
formal peace treaty with Israel. King ABDALLAH II - the eldest son of
King HUSSEIN and Princess MUNA - assumed the throne following his father's
death in February 1999.
Since then, he has consolidated his
power and undertaken an aggressive economic reform program. Jordan acceded
to the World Trade Organization in 2000, and began to participate in
the European Free Trade Association in 2001. After a two-year delay,
parliamentary and municipal elections took place in the summer of 2003.
The Prime Minister and government appointed
in April 2005 declared they would build upon the previous goernment's
achievements to respect political and human rights and improve living
standards.
Location:
Middle East, northwest of Saudi Arabia
Land boundaries:
total: 1,635 km
border countries: Iraq 181 km, Israel 238 km, Saudi Arabia 744 km, Syria
375 km, West Bank 97 km
Climate:
mostly arid desert; rainy season in west (November to April)
Terrain:
mostly desert plateau in east, highland area in west; Great Rift Valley
separates East and West Banks of the Jordan River
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Dead Sea -408 m
highest point: Jabal Ram 1,734 m
Nationality:
noun: Jordanian(s)
adjective: Jordanian
Ethnic groups:
Arab 98%, Circassian 1%, Armenian 1%
Religions:
Sunni Muslim 92%, Christian 6% (majority Greek Orthodox, but some Greek
and Roman Catholics, Syrian Orthodox, Coptic Orthodox, Armenian Orthodox,
and Protestant denominations), other 2% (several small Shi'a Muslim
and Druze populations) (2001 est.)
Languages:
Arabic (official), English widely understood among upper and middle
classes
Country name:
conventional long form: Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
conventional short form: Jordan
local long form: Al Mamlakah al Urduniyah al Hashimiyah
local short form: Al Urdun
former: Transjordan
Government type:
constitutional monarchy
Capital:
'Amman
Administrative divisions:
12 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Ajlun, Al 'Aqabah,
Al Balqa', Al Karak, Al Mafraq, 'Amman, At Tafilah, Az Zarqa', Irbid,
Jarash, Ma'an, Madaba
Independence:
25 May 1946 (from League of Nations mandate under British administration)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 25 May (1946)
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of black (top), representing the Abbassid
Caliphate, white, representing the Ummayyad Caliphate, and green, representing
the Fatimid Caliphate; a red isosceles triangle on the hoist side, representing
the Great Arab Revolt of 1916, and bearing a small white seven-pointed
star symbolizing the seven verses of the opening Sura (Al-Fatiha) of
the Holy Koran; the seven points on the star represent faith in One
God, humanity, national spirit, humility, social justice, virtue, and
aspirations; design is based on the Arab Revolt flag of World War I
Currency (code):
Jordanian dinar (JOD)
Exchange rates:
Jordanian dinars per US dollar - 0.709 (2004), 0.709 (2003), 0.709 (2002),
0.709 (2001), 0.709 (2000)
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