Jordan  

With the lowest international domestic savings rate of -14% of GDP, the Jordanian economy, as a whole, consumes more than it earns. Still, household expenditure is equivalent to only 23% of GDP, and an unemployment rate of 14% ranks Jordan in the bottom 20 countries worldwide. Despite high levels of foreign direct investment ranking Jordan in the top 10, internationally, Jordan ranks 64th on the amount of physical capital available to workers and the inflation rate of 5% is also around the global median. Loan default rates are around the international average at 4.1%, as is the net interest margin of 3.5 percentage points, suggesting moderate competition in the banking sector. Jordan’s raw materials export concentration is low and the ratio of export revenues compared to the price of imported goods is high, ranking the country 39th, internationally, on the latter variable.

Investment in new technology in Jordan is minimal, with R&D expenditure standing at 0.4%, below the international average. The internet infrastructure as measured by bandwidth and secure internet servers is also weak, with international rankings of 80th and 65th, respectively, on these variables. There are only 67 personal computers per 1,000 people, ranking Jordan 64th on this variable. Despite this, ICT exports are higher than the global average, accounting for over 4% of total exports and ranking the country 33rd. By contrast, high-tech exports are much lower, accounting for only about 1% of the total export of manufactured goods. In order to set up a business in Jordan, entrepreneurs are required to undertake 11 formal procedures, ranking Jordan 73rd in terms of barriers to entry. This may have contributed to the low 2,361 new businesses registered in 2007.

Jordanians are constrained in their freedom to participate in political processes and express their beliefs, ranking this country 79th and 69th, respectively, on these variables. Legislative elections are somewhat competitive and executive elections are well regulated but lack political competition, ranking the country 82nd on the latter variable. Furthermore, the elected officials are not subject to extensive checks and balances which are used to curb arbitrary decision making. However, legislative elections are more competitive. The last regime change occurred less than 20 years ago, implying low stability political climate.

Although a low 90% enrolment rate in primary education places Jordan 72nd, enrolment rates of 89% and 39% in secondary and tertiary schooling rank Jordan above the median at 47th and 49th, respectively. Quality of education, as measured by class size, is roughly comparable to the international average, with one teacher per 20 students. The average Jordanian worker benefits from 5.6 years of secondary and 4.3 years of tertiary schooling, both variables ranking the country well inside the top 40, indicating a well-educated workforce. With 102 girls enrolled for every 100 boys, there is near gender equality in education.

Citizens of Jordan have adequate access to hospital staff with approximately 24 medical professionals per 10,000 capita, whilst their access to hospitals could be improved from its current level of 17 hospital beds per 1,000 capita. The health-adjusted life expectancy in Jordan, at 61, is slightly below the international median. Poverty-related health issues are a moderate problem in Jordan: the infant mortality rate is 2.2%, while 6% of the population is undernourished. Furthermore, 15% do not have access to sanitation while only 51% are satisfied with the water quality, placing Jordan amongst the bottom 10 on this variable.* Contrastingly, 89% of people are satisfied with their health and only 21% consider themselves to have debilitating health problems.* However, 35% report having experienced pain for a significant part of the day, the eighth highest rate, internationally.* The share of people who reported feeling well rested was 68%, also slightly below the international average.*

The number of reported homicides in Jordan was 41 deaths per one million people, placing the nation 44th on this variable. With only 3% of individuals reporting having been mugged or assaulted and one in 10 having their property stolen in 2008, the country ranks well above international averages for both variables.* A large proportion of people feel safe walking alone at nights, placing Jordan sixth on this variable.* However, there are significant security concerns related to refugees, internally displaced persons, targeted violence towards certain communities, human flight, and state-sponsored violence.

Rule of law is considered to be applied justly and equally, ranking Jordan 36th on this variable. Reasonable regulation of economic and commercial activity indicates open, competitive markets, and the government bureaucracy is regarded as efficient, ranking Jordan 46th and 44th, respectively, on these variables. Although more than half of Jordanian citizens believe that both local businesses and local government are corrupt, this proportion is far below the international average, ranking the country 24th and 20th, respectively, on these variables. A high 56% of respondents believed in the honesty of elections, and approval of the judicial system in Jordan is also very high, ranking the country ninth on this variable. An exceptional 96% of people have confidence in Jordan’s military, the fourth highest percentage of all countries.*

Freedom of movement, speech, and religion are heavily restricted in Jordan, ranking the country in the bottom 20, and accordingly only 56% report being satisfied with the freedom of choice afforded to them in their daily lives.* While roughly three in 10 think of Jordan as being a good place for ethnic minorities, only 45% believe the same is true for immigrants.* This places Jordan in the bottom 11 countries for both variables.

The proportion of Jordanians that consider friends as important in their lives is the seventh highest, worldwide.* However, only 84% of the population rely on family and friends, a percentage that is low by international standards. Furthermore, while social trust is comparatively high at 31%, only 17% of the population donate money to charities, while 7% volunteer their time.* Additionally, only onethird of the population claim to have helped a stranger recently.* These three variables place Jordan in the bottom quintile. Also, Jordan’s group membership ranks lowest, internationally, with less than 3% of the population involved in religious and social organisations.

* Data taken from the Gallup World Poll

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