The Landscape of ICT in

Jordan

*Source: http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/jo.html

        For most of Jordan's history since its independence from the British mandate in 1946, Jordan was ruled by King Hussein (1953-1999). King Hussein was succeeded by his son King Abdullah II, who is the eldest son of King Hussein.  Jordan's unique location in the Middle East (east of Israel/Palestine and west of Iraq) gives it a strategic importance in the region.  Jordan is a member of the WTO as well as a signatory to several international agreements such as the FTA with the United States.  It is a small kingdom with a population of 5.3 million.  The Jordanian government, with the push of King Abdullah II, has taken many initiatives towards developing an ICT sector in the country.  The ICT sector is till in its infancy and will need some time before it is fully established.  Please feel free to click on the link on the right to view the various aspects of Jordan's ICT industry or scroll down to get a brief country overview.

Country Overview

• Geography:[1]
  • Location: Middle East
  • Area: 92,300 sq km
  • Climate: mostly arid desert; rainy season in west (November to April)
  • Natural Resources: phosphates, potash, shale oil
• People: [1]
  • Population: 5,307,470
  • Population by Governorate: [2]
    • Amman: 1,971,800
    • Balqa: 339,900
    • Zarqa: 815,100
    • Madaba: 132,100
    • Irbid: 924,500
    • Mafraq:238,900
    • Jarash: 152,400
    • Ajlun: 115,000
    • Karak: 208,300
    • Tafiela: 78,800
    • Ma'an: 101,000
    • Aqaba: 104,200
  • Population growth rate: 2.89%
  • Age Structure:
    • 0-14 years: 36.6%
    • 15-64 years: 60%
    • 65 years and over: 3.4%
  • Sex Ratio: 1.1 male(s)/female
  • 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
  • Literacy Rate: 86.6%
• Government: [1]
  • Government type: Constitutional Monarchy
  • Capital: Amman
  • Chief of state: King Abdallah II
• Economy: [1]
  • GDP: purchasing power parity - $21.6 billion
  • GDP - real growth rate: 2.8%
  • GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $4,200
  • GDP - composition by sector:
    agriculture: 3.7%
    industry: 26%
    services: 70.3%
  • Population below poverty line: 30%
  • Inflation Rate: 1.5%
  • Labor Force: 1.25 million
  • Labor Force (by occupation): services 82.5%, industry 12.5%, agriculture 5%
  • Unemployment Rate: 16% official rate; actual rate is 25%-30%
• Communications: [2]
  • Land Line Subscribers: 57%
  • Mobile Telephone Subscribers: 20%
  • Internet Diffusion (by household): 2.6%
• Legal System: [1]
  • Based on Islamic law and French codes; judicial review of legislative acts in a specially provided High Tribunal; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction