Jordan
Basic information
- Area: 89,342 km²
- Calling code: +962
- Population (EST): 6,198,677
- Official language: Arabic and English
- Time zone: UTC+2 (UTC+2)
Overview
The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is situated in the Middle East, sharing borders with Iraq, Israel, Saudi Arabia and Syria, and has a population of approximately 5.5 million people. Its capital, Amman, is situated in the North West, close to the border with Israel, and is the country's largest city. Arabic is the official language, although English and, to a lesser extent, French are also spoken. The country is a member of the United Nations and League of Arab States. In recent years, there have been significant increases in cooperation between Jordan, its neighbours and the wider international community. The past five years have seen Jordan become a member of the World Trade Organisation and enter into free trade agreements with numerous countries and international organisations including Israel, Singapore, the United States and the European Union. While Jordanss economy is plagued by debt, unemployment and scarce natural resources, the country is in the process of pursuing wide ranging social, political and economic reforms, such as promoting the rule of law, transparency, women's rights and economic freedom, which are helping to create a growing and stable economy and provide an attractive climate for foreign investment. Sectors which look set for growth include construction, mining, pharmaceuticals, telecommunications/IT, textiles and tourism. The international airport in Amman caters for flights between the city and numerous destinations throughout the Middle East, Europe, North America, India and East Asia.
