Changes

*Religions (est.): Sunni Muslim 94%, Christian 6%,   

*Religions (est.): Sunni Muslim 94%, Christian 6%,   

*Languages: Arabic (official), English.  

*Languages: Arabic (official), English.  

*Education (2006, according to Jordan's Department of Statistics): Literacy--90.9%.and is the highest in the Arab world.

*Education (2006, according to Jordan's Department of Statistics): Literacy—90.9%.and is the highest in the Arab world.

*Health (2003): Infant mortality rate--19/1,000. Life expectancy--71 yrs.

*Health (2003): Infant mortality rate—19/1,000. Life expectancy—71 yrs.

*Ethnic groups: Mostly Arab but small communities of Circassians, Armenians, and Kurds.  

*Ethnic groups: Mostly Arab but small communities of Circassians, Armenians, and Kurds.  

*Work force (1.3 million, of which 260 thousand are registered guest workers): public sector 17%, services 36%, manufacturing 20%, education 12%, health and social services 10%, primary industries 5%.

*Work force (1.3 million, of which 260 thousand are registered guest workers): public sector 17%, services 36%, manufacturing 20%, education 12%, health and social services 10%, primary industries 5%.

Legislative power rests in the bicameral National Assembly. The number of deputies in the current Chamber of Deputies is 110, with a number of seats reserved for various religions, ethnicities, and women. The Chamber, elected by universal suffrage to a 4-year term, is subject to dissolution by the King. The King appoints the 55-member Senate for a 4-year term. Parliamentary elections are scheduled to be held in the fall of 2007.

Legislative power rests in the bicameral National Assembly. The number of deputies in the current Chamber of Deputies is 110, with a number of seats reserved for various religions, ethnicities, and women. The Chamber, elected by universal suffrage to a 4-year term, is subject to dissolution by the King. The King appoints the 55-member Senate for a 4-year term. Parliamentary elections are scheduled to be held in the fall of 2007.

The constitution provides for three categories of courts--civil, religious, and special. About 20 women are murdered each year in Jordan in the barbaric practice known as "[[honor killing]]", sometimes for simply dating a man. Until recently, the Jordanian penal code allowed for "honor" killers to get sentences as lenient as six months. Attempts to apply thougher punishments for these henious crimes are resisted and blocked by the country's Muslim lawmakers.<ref>FOX News: [http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,246712,00.html Jordanian Shoots Dead 17-Year-Old Daughter in Honor Killing] (January 25, 2007)</ref>

The constitution provides for three categories of courts—civil, religious, and special. About 20 women are murdered each year in Jordan in the barbaric practice known as "[[honor killing]]", sometimes for simply dating a man. Until recently, the Jordanian penal code allowed for "honor" killers to get sentences as lenient as six months. Attempts to apply thougher punishments for these henious crimes are resisted and blocked by the country's Muslim lawmakers.<ref>FOX News: [http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,246712,00.html Jordanian Shoots Dead 17-Year-Old Daughter in Honor Killing] (January 25, 2007)</ref>

Administratively, Jordan is divided into 12 governorates, each headed by a governor appointed by the King. They are the sole authorities for all government departments and development projects in their respective areas.  

Administratively, Jordan is divided into 12 governorates, each headed by a governor appointed by the King. They are the sole authorities for all government departments and development projects in their respective areas.  

===Principal Government Officials===  

===Principal Government Officials===

*Chief of State--King Abdullah bin al-Hussein II

*Chief of State—King Abdullah bin al-Hussein II

*Prime Minister--Abdullah Ensour

*Prime Minister—Abdullah Ensour

*Minister of Defense--Nader Al-Thahabi

*Minister of Defense—Nader Al-Thahabi

*Foreign Minister--Abdelelah al-Khatib

*Foreign Minister—Abdelelah al-Khatib

*Ambassador to the UN--Charge d'affaires Bashir Zubi

*Ambassador to the UN—Charge d'affaires Bashir Zubi

===Political Conditions===

===Political Conditions===

*Per capita GDP (2006): $2,533.

*Per capita GDP (2006): $2,533.

*Natural resources: Phosphate, potash.  

*Natural resources: Phosphate, potash.  

*Agriculture: Products--fruits, vegetables, wheat, olive oil, barley, olives. Land--10% arable; 5% cultivated.  

*Agriculture: Products—fruits, vegetables, wheat, olive oil, barley, olives. Land—10% arable; 5% cultivated.  

*Industry (26.5% of GDP in 2006): Types--phosphate mining, manufacturing, electricity and water; cement and petroleum production, and construction.  

*Industry (26.5% of GDP in 2006): Types—phosphate mining, manufacturing, electricity and water; cement and petroleum production, and construction.  

*Trade: Exports (2006)--$5.17 billion: phosphates, potash, garments, fertilizers, pharmaceutical products, agricultural products. Major markets--U.S., Iraq, India, Saudi Arabia, U.A.E., Syria, Israel, Kuwait. Imports (2006)--$11.46 billion: crude petroleum and derivatives, vehicles, machinery and equipment, cereals, fabrics and textiles. Major suppliers-- Saudi Arabia (mainly crude oil and derivatives), EU, China, U.S., Egypt, South Korea, Japan, Turkey.

*Trade: Exports (2006)--$5.17 billion: phosphates, potash, garments, fertilizers, pharmaceutical products, agricultural products. Major markets—U.S., Iraq, India, Saudi Arabia, U.A.E., Syria, Israel, Kuwait. Imports (2006)--$11.46 billion: crude petroleum and derivatives, vehicles, machinery and equipment, cereals, fabrics and textiles. Major suppliers—Saudi Arabia (mainly crude oil and derivatives), EU, China, U.S., Egypt, South Korea, Japan, Turkey.

== History ==

== History ==

In 1968, the Israeli army attacked the area in western Jordan to hit [[fedayeen]] controled areas and to take control of the Salt hights in central Jordan, a battle erupted in the Jordanian valley between the Israeli troops and the Jordanian army, which led the Israelis to withraw from the area.

In 1968, the Israeli army attacked the area in western Jordan to hit [[fedayeen]] controled areas and to take control of the Salt hights in central Jordan, a battle erupted in the Jordanian valley between the Israeli troops and the Jordanian army, which led the Israelis to withraw from the area.

The 1967 war led not only to a loss of a huge part of land under Jordan's control (the West Bank), but also a dramatic increase in the number of Palestinians living in the remainder of Jordan due to an inclusion of refugees. Its Palestinian refugee population--700,000 in 1966--grew by another 300,000 from the West Bank. The period following the 1967 war saw an upsurge in the power and importance of Palestinian resistance elements (fedayeen) in Jordan. The heavily armed fedayeen constituted a growing threat to the sovereignty and security of the Hashemite state, and open fighting erupted in June 1970.  

The 1967 war led not only to a loss of a huge part of land under Jordan's control (the West Bank), but also a dramatic increase in the number of Palestinians living in the remainder of Jordan due to an inclusion of refugees. Its Palestinian refugee population—700,000 in 1966—grew by another 300,000 from the West Bank. The period following the 1967 war saw an upsurge in the power and importance of Palestinian resistance elements (fedayeen) in Jordan. The heavily armed fedayeen constituted a growing threat to the sovereignty and security of the Hashemite state, and open fighting erupted in June 1970.  

No fighting occurred along the 1967 Jordan River cease-fire line during the October 1973 Arab-Israeli war, but Jordan sent a brigade to Syria to fight Israeli units on Syrian territory. Jordan did not participate in the Gulf war of 1990-91. In 1991, Jordan agreed, along with Syria, Lebanon, and Palestinian representatives, to participate in direct peace negotiations with Israel sponsored by the U.S. and Russia. It negotiated an end to hostilities with Israel and signed a peace treaty in 1994. Jordan has since sought to remain at peace with all of its neighbors.

No fighting occurred along the 1967 Jordan River cease-fire line during the October 1973 Arab-Israeli war, but Jordan sent a brigade to Syria to fight Israeli units on Syrian territory. Jordan did not participate in the Gulf war of 1990-91. In 1991, Jordan agreed, along with Syria, Lebanon, and Palestinian representatives, to participate in direct peace negotiations with Israel sponsored by the U.S. and Russia. It negotiated an end to hostilities with Israel and signed a peace treaty in 1994. Jordan has since sought to remain at peace with all of its neighbors.

==See Also==

==See also==

* [[Black September]]

* [[Black September]]

{{reflist}}

{{reflist}}

==External Links==

==External links==

* [https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/jo.html The World Fact Book]

* [https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/jo.html The World Fact Book]