Prepared by: Dr. Musa Ajlouni January, 2010 - World Health ...

1. COUNTRY OVERVIEW1.1 Geography and demographyJordan is a small country with limited natural resources and semi-arid climate. Itsstrategic position connecting Asia, Africa and Europe has played a major role in shapingits past history and it’s present. Jordan has a total land territorial area of 89,300 squarekilometers, of which only 7.8% is arable land. Jordan's approximately 5.85 million people(2008) are mostly Arabs; with some Circassians, Chechens and Armenians. More than92% of the population is Moslems and about 6% are Christians.Based on results from the 2004 census, the estimated population of Jordan at the endyear 2008 was (5850000). In 2008 it was estimated that 36.9% of the population fallsunder 15 years, 59.6% between 15 and 64 years and 3.5% over 65 years. The averageannual population growth rate is 2.2%. 1’2’3Map of JordanThe total fertility rate (TFR) is relatively high in Jordan, though it has declined steadily inrecent years to 3.6 in 2008 1, 4 . The declining mortality rate and the high total fertility ratehave contributed to overall population growth that averaged 2.2% in 2008.Over the next 50 years, Jordan’s demographics will change dramatically. The country’spopulation is growing rapidly, doubling over the last 20 years and likely to almost doubleagain by 2035. More important, however, is the demographic transition the country isundergoing, as it moves from high fertility and mortality, to low fertility and mortality. This ischanging the age structure of the population, as well as leading to fundamental changes inJordan HRH Profile,Musa Ajlouni (Jan 2010) 13