JORDAN CHRISTIAN DATING
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Geography
Area: 89,544 sq. km. (34,573 sq. mi.).
Cities: Capital--Amman (pop. 1.9 million). Other cities--Irbid (272,681), Az-Zarqa (472,830).

People
Nationality: Noun and adjective--Jordanian(s).
Population (2003 est.): 5.48 million.
Christian singles note-Religions (est.): Sunni Muslim 95%, Christian 4%, Other 1%.
Languages: Arabic (official), English.
Education (2001): Literacy--90%.
Health (2003): Infant mortality rate--19/1,000. Life expectancy--71 yrs.
Ethnic groups: Mostly Arab but small communities of Circassians, Armenians, and Kurds.
Work force (1.29 million): Services—74.9%; industry—21.8%; agriculture—3.6%
Unemployment rate: 14.5%.

Government
Type: Constitutional monarchy.
Independence: May 25, 1946.
Constitution: January 8, 1952.
Branches: Executive--king (chief of state), prime minister (head of government), council of ministers (cabinet). Legislative--bicameral National Assembly (appointed Senate, elected Chamber of Deputies). Judicial--civil, religious, special courts.
Political parties: Wide spectrum of parties legalized in 1992.
Suffrage: Universal at 18.
Administrative subdivisions: Twelve governorates--Irbid, Jarash, Ajloun, al-'Aqaba, Madaba, al-Mafraq, al-Zarqa, Amman, al-Balqa, al-Karak, al-Tafilah, and Ma'an.

Economy
GDP (2003 nominal): $9.95 billion.
Annual growth rate (2003): 3.3%; (first half 2004): 7.2%.
Per capita GDP (2003): $1,817.
Natural resources: Phosphate, potash.
Agriculture: Products--fruits, vegetables, wheat, olive oil, barley, olives. Land--10% arable; 5% cultivated.
Industry (24.8% of GDP): Types--phosphate mining, manufacturing, electricity and water; cement and petroleum production, and construction.
Trade (2003): Exports--$2.36 billion: phosphates, potash, textiles and garments, fertilizers, pharmaceutical products, agricultural products. Major markets--U.S., Iraq, India, Saudi Arabia, U.A.E., Israel. Re-exports: $0.72 billion. Imports--$5.74 billion: crude petroleum and derivatives, vehicles, machinery and equipment, cereals, fabrics and textiles. Major suppliers—Saudi Arabia, China, Germany, U.S., Iraq, EU.

Note: From 1949 to 1967, Jordan administered that part of former mandate Palestine west of the Jordan River known as the West Bank. Since the 1967 war, when Israel took control of this territory, the United States has considered the West Bank to be territory occupied by Israel. The United States believes that the final status of the West Bank can be determined only through negotiations among the parties concerned on the basis of UN Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338.

PEOPLE
Christian singles note-Jordanians are Arabs, except for a few small communities of Circassians, Armenians, and Kurds which have adapted to Arab culture. The official language is Arabic, but English is used widely in commerce and government. About 70% of Jordan's population is urban; less than 6% of the rural population is nomadic or seminomadic. Most people live where the rainfall supports agriculture. About 1.7 million persons registered as Palestinian refugees and displaced persons reside in Jordan, most as citizens.