About Jordan
Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is located in Western Asia on the East bank of the Jordan River. The country is landlocked with Saudi Arabia from the South, Iraq from North-East, Syria from the North and Palestine from the west.
Jordan is almost landlocked with a small shoreline on the Red Sea from the South-West and on the Western Side lies the Dead Sea. The population of Jordan is 10,053,000 spread over 12 municipalities. The sex ratio is 112.5 males for every 100 females. The total area of Jordan is 89,318 km. Amman is the capital of Jordan with the highest number of population (Department of statistics).
Political Situation
The framework of politics in Jordan is parliamentary monarchy, where the prime minister is the head of government and it is a multi-party system. Jordan is constitutional monarchy; the king exercises his power through the government he appoints which is responsible before the parliament.
King Hussein ruled Jordan from 1953 to 1999 surviving several challenges and he served as a symbol of unity and stability for both Jordanian and Palestinian communities in Jordan. King Abdullah II succeeded his father Hussein following his death in 1999. He reaffirmed the peace treaty and he focused the governmental agenda to economic reform.
Over the past few years, Jordan has been facing growing demands for political reform, especially in the awake of Tunisian Jasmine Revolution and unfolding events in Egypt which led to the Arab Spring events in 2011. King Abdullah dismissed his government at that time and appointed a series of prime ministers to oversee the introduction of political changes.
The political situation which engulfed the middle east has effected Jordan in a way or another. Jordan is facing external and internal challenges; externally Syria crisis spillover, international oil prices fluctuations and workers’ remittance particularly from the GCC. Internally particularly from public anger from the economic austerity and the new rising policies, laws and regulations. The concerns over cost of living and income tax reform have led to regular street protests.
Economic Situation
Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan’s primary natural resources are Phosphate and Potash; they are the major of export income. Energy and water resources are scarce and they are limiting the agricultural and industrial development. Therefore, Jordan has relatively few natural resources, and it is dependable on international aids and foreign loan.
The conflicts in the neighboring countries, Arab Spring and refugee’s influx are putting extra pressure on the limited resources.
The economy will remain in threat with the ongoing uncertainty in Syria, the slow revival of Iraq economy and the economic recessions in the Gulf Corporation Council.
Syria crisis is having an extended adverse effect on Jordan economy as Jordan hosted a stream of Syrian refugees.
Overall, the number of registered refugees with UNRWA and UNHCR has reached 2.8 million, making Jordan the largest refugee-hosting country worldwide, when compared to the size of its population.
Is the capital of Jordan, it has nine districts and four sub-districts and the total area is 7,579 square kilometers. The total population of Amman Governorate is 4,226,700 it has the largest population among the twelve districts, it contains 42% of total population of Jordan.
The male to female ratio is 53.69% to 46.31%. Amman is Jordan’s economic, political and cultural center.
Amman includes three qualified industrial zones (Ad-dulayl Industrial Park IDMC, Al Tajamouat Industrial City SPIC, and Qastal Industrial Park), and one under construction which is Al-Mushatta Industrial Estate.
Amman Contains sixteen charted, licensed and/or accredited universities; governmental and private.
Is situated in the fertile highlands of north Jordan with thick green forest; it consists of two main districts and two sub-districts with a total population of 185,700. The total area is 420 square kilometers.
The male to female ratio is 51.48% to 48.52%. There are two universities in Ajloun.
Plays a crucial role in the economy of Jordan due to the shoreline is the only governorate on a shoreline on the Red Sea from the South-West.
Aqaba is the fourth largest governorate of Jordan with a total area of 6,905 square kilometers. It has two districts and two sub-districts with total population of 198,500.
There is one university in Aqaba. It includes many important industrial factories, one airport and free zone. There is one qualified industrial zone which is Aqaba Special Economic Zone.
Has five districts and three sub-districts, with total population of 518,600 from which 53.68% are male.
The total area of Balqa district is 1,120 square kilometers The economy of this governorate is based on agriculture due to its fertile mountains and there is one university.
Consists of nine districts and eighteen sub-districts with total population of 1,867,000 and total area of 1,572 square kilometers. This governorate has the highest capita per square kilometer in the country. The male to female ratio is 51.67% to 48.33%.
Due to the fertile soils, 70% of this governorate lands are arable which counts for 13.5% of the total arable lands of the total country.
Crops grown in Irbid include olives, citrus fruits, and grain. Irbid serves as one of the educational centers of Jordan; there are three governmental universities and two private universities. Irbid Governorate has three major industrial zones Jordan Cyper City, Al-Hassan Industrial Estate and Gateway QIZ.
Due to the Geographical location in the North Western part of Jordan, it plays a major role as an industrial and trading center. It plays a role as a cultural center due to number of historical towns and archaeological sites.
This governorate is one district called Jerash Qasabah District consists of two sub-districts; the total population is 250,000 of which 52% are male.
It is the smallest governorate of Jordan with area of 410 Square kilometers, and the second highest population density in Jordan after Irbid governorate.
Jerash city is one of the most important archeological sites in the world and it is one of the richest cities with agricultural land. There is only one private university.
Has seven districts and three sub-districts with a total area of 3,495 square kilometers.
The total population is 333,900 from which 52.26% are male. The land of Karak is situated along the south eastern coast of the Dead Sea.
It is considered as an agricultural and industrial area, the poultry farms are covering 33% of the local consumption of poultry products and it contains raw minerals such as Potash, Phosphate, Bromine, Raw Cement, and Gypsum. Hussein Bin Abdullah II Industrial City is a qualified industrial zone located in Karak and there is one university.
Is the largest governorate of Jordan but the least population density.
The total area is 32,832 square kilometers, it covers 37% of the total area of Jordan, with total population of 152,000 leading to 4.6 capita per square kilometers.
This governorate consists of four districts and seven sub-districts. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia borders from North and East, which makes it in a strategic location on the Saudi and Iraqi Land Routes. Also it is strategically located near Aqaba Gulf. There are many historical and Archeological locations. It has one university.
Total population is 199,500 distributed over two main districts and five sub-districts.
The total area is 940 square kilometers The land of Madaba is located on the north eastern coast of the Dead Sea, and it contains various touristic forms, religious, curative and historical.
The climate of Madaba is suitable for agricultural development. There is one university in Madaba.
Is the second largest governorate of Jordan after Ma’an with an area of 26,551 square kilometers.
Mafraq is boarded by Syria from the north, Iraq from the east and Saudi from the south and east. The total population is 580,000 distributed over four districts and ten sub-districts. Mafraq has one governmental university.
Consists of three districts with total population of 101,600 the least population in governorate in Jordan (About 1% of the total population) with a total area of 2,209 square kilometers.
Mining sector is the most active sector and contributed in high volume of imports for the country as it includes Jordan Phosphate Mines JPMC in Hasa District and Lafarage Cement Factory Rashadiyah in Bsaira District.
It contains Dana Biosphere Reserve, the largest natural reserve in Jordan, which is a touristic destination. There is one university in Al-Tafilah District.
Has three districts and three sub-districts with a total area of 4,761 Square kilometers. The total population is 1,439,500.
Male to female ratio is 52.87% to 47.13%. it is the second biggest city in Jordan by the number of population.
There are two universities, one qualified industrial sub-zone and newly established qualified zone (Hallabat Industrial Park).
It contains more than half of the national industrial volume in terms of capital investment, labor force and manufacturing volume.
It is strategically located near Jordan Petroleum Refinery Company, Al-Hussein Thermal Station and the Free Zone. Al-Russeifa Districts is considering as a mining town due to its phosphate deposit.