State and Government
The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is a constitutional
monarchy, ruled since 1952 by His Majesty King Hussein. With
the passing of the monarch in February of 1999, the King’s
eldest son, His Majesty King Abdullah, ascended the throne.
In Jordan, executive power is vested in the Council of
Ministers which is appointed by the King, and which is
accountable to a two house parliament.
The 40 members of the Upper House are appointed by the King,
while the 80 deputies of the Lower House are elected by
popular vote. Constitutional provisions define the rights
and duties of Jordanian citizens, while guaranteeing the
right of free worship, opinion, press, association and
private property.
Since 1989 all elements of the Jordanian political spectrum
have demonstrated commitment to increased democracy,
liberalization and consensus building. These reforms, which
have been guided by the late King Hussein, have placed
Jordan on an irreversible path toward democratization.
The result has been greater empowerment and involvement of
everyday citizens in Jordan’s civic life, contributing to
increased stability and institutionalization, which will
benefit the county far into the future.
The remarkably stable political and social climate that
Jordan has enjoyed for decades under the Hashemite Dynasty
continues to thrive under His Majesty King Abdullah’s
leadership. The new King has undertaken his father’s legacy
of reform, committing his country to the goals of
privatization, economic liberalization, and modernization of
the law.
Geography & History
Strategically positioned at the convergence of Europe, Asia
and Africa, Jordan’s 89,342 square kilometers present a
diversity of landscapes. From the hills and mountains of the
geographic center of Jordan, the Badia Plains extend in an
eastward direction into Saudi Arabia. The Jordan River,
flowing through the fertile Rift Valley, forms Jordan’s
western boundary and terminates in the Dead Sea. This body
of water lies at the lowest point on earth, 400 meters below
sea level. To the south, the Port of Aqaba provides Jordan
with a gateway to the Red Sea
Climate
Jordan’s climate is arid, and moderate in temperature.
Winter temperatures in Amman average around 7 – 10 ° C in
January, with July temperatures reaching 23 - 27° C. Average
annual rainfall varies from less than 50 mm to over 600 mm
in certain parts of the country. Amman, at over 950 meters
elevation, is known for its cool, dry nights even in full
summer.
Population
Jordan’s population of 4.8 million is 92% Jordanian and 8%
non-Jordanian. Gender distribution is fairly even at 52%
male, 48% female. The country is young, with 40% of the
population under the age of 15, and only 3% over the age of
65.
Islam is the predominant religion. 92% of the people are
Sunni Muslims. 6% are Christian, while the remainder are
Shia Muslims, Sunni Circassians, Chechens, Druze, and Bahai.
The Muslim New Year and other Islamic holy days are public
holidays.
Language
Arabic is the official language, but English is spoken
widely, especially in business.
Currency
The unit of currency is the Jordanian Dinar (JD), and the
rate of exchange is 1 JD = 1.42 US $.
Time
Time is GMT + 2 (in winter, +3 in summer), or 7 hours ahead
of US Eastern Standard Time. Summer time is observed from
April through September.
Working Days & Hours
Most private businesses observe Friday as the weekly
holiday, while banks and government offices close on Fridays
and Saturdays. Jordanian labor law limits most workers to 48
hours per week, the exception being hotel, restaurant and
cinema workers with 54 hours. Annual paid leave is 14 days,
21 for workers over five years with the same employer.
Working Permits & Visas
Visas are required for entry into Jordan. Fees and length of
stay vary according to the visitor’s nationality. Visas can
be obtained from either a Jordanian diplomatic mission, or
for some nationalities, at point of entry.
Work permits are required from the Ministry of Labor, and
are issued for a period of one year