Jordan (Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan)

https://www.humantruth.info/jordan.html

By Vexen Crabtree 2025

Jordan Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
Status	Independent State
Social and Moral Index	109th best
Capital	Amman
Land Area	88 780km²₁
Location	Asia, The Middle East
Population	10.0m₂
Life Expectancy	74.26yrs (2017)₃
GNI	$9 924 (2017)₄
ISO3166-1 Codes	JO, JOR, 400₅
Internet Domain	.jo₆
Currency	Dinar (JOD)₇
Telephone	+962₈

1. Overview

#islam #israel #UK #USA

“Following World War I and the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire, the UK received a mandate to govern much of the Middle East. Britain separated out a semi-autonomous region of Transjordan from Palestine in the early 1920s, and the area gained its independence in 1946; it adopted the name of The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in 1950. The country's long-time ruler was King HUSSEIN (1953-99). A pragmatic leader, he successfully navigated competing pressures from the major powers (US, USSR, and UK), various Arab states, Israel, and a large internal Palestinian population. Jordan lost the West Bank to Israel in the 1967 war and defeated Palestinian rebels who attempted to overthrow the monarchy in 1970. King HUSSEIN in 1988 permanently relinquished Jordanian claims to the West Bank - called "The 1988 Disengagement Decision." In 1989, he reinstituted parliamentary elections and initiated a gradual political liberalization and legalized political parties in 1992. In 1994, he signed a peace treaty with Israel. King ABDALLAH II, King HUSSEIN's eldest son, assumed the throne following his father's death in February 1999. Since then, he has consolidated his power and implemented some economic and political reforms. Jordan acceded to the World Trade Organization in 2000, and began to participate in the European Free Trade Association in 2001. In 2003, Jordan staunchly supported the Coalition ouster of SADDAM Husayn in Iraq and, following the outbreak of insurgent violence in Iraq, absorbed thousands of displaced Iraqis. Municipal elections were held in July 2007 under a system in which 20% of seats in all municipal councils were reserved by quota for women. Beginning in January 2011 in the wake of unrest in Tunisia and Egypt, as many as several thousand Jordanians staged weekly demonstrations and marches in Amman and other cities throughout Jordan to push for political reforms and to protest against government corruption, rising prices, rampant poverty, and high unemployment. In response, King ABDALLAH replaced his prime minister four times and formed two commissions - one to propose specific reforms to Jordan's electoral and political party laws and the other to consider limited constitutional amendments. In a televised speech in June 2011, King ABDULLAH announced plans to work toward transferring authority for appointing future prime ministers and cabinet ministers to parliament; in a subsequent announcement, he outlined a revised political parties law intended to encourage greater political participation. Protesters and opposition elements generally acknowledged those measures as steps in the right direction, but many continue to push for greater limits on the king's authority and to fight against government corruption. A royal decree issued in September 2011 approved constitutional amendments passed by the parliament aimed at strengthening a more independent judiciary and established a constitutional court and independent election commission to oversee municipal and parliamentary elections. In October 2011, King ABDALLAH dismissed the Jordanian cabinet and replaced the prime minister in response to widespread public dissatisfaction with government performance and escalating criticism of the premier because of public concerns over his reported involvement in corruption. Parliamentary elections held in January 2013 were overseen by the newly established Independent Electoral Commission and resulted in the election of 150 members to the Lower House of Parliament.”
CIA's The World Factbook (2013)₉

“At the crossroads of history for more than 2000 years, the kingdom of Jordan is a treasure trove of world-class heritage sites and spectacular desert scenery. Jordan has welcomed high volumes of visitors since camel caravans plied the legendary King´s Highway transporting frankincense in exchange for spices. Nabataean tradesmen, Roman legionnaires, Muslim armies and zealous Crusaders have all passed through the land we now call Jordan, leaving spectacular monuments behind. In turn, these monuments have provoked a modern wave of visitors who, since the early 19th century, have been fascinated to discover this potent past or who have gone in search of the origins of their faith.
Thanks to its diversity and small size, Jordan repays even the shortest visit with world-class sights and activities. Petra, the ancient Nabataean city locked in the heart of Jordan´s sandstone escarpments, is the jewel in the crown of the country´s many antiquities, but it is far from the only reason to visit. Apart from the many other spectacular historical and biblical sites, the country offers striking desert landscapes, a salty sea at the lowest point on earth, and rural towns that keep continuity with the traditions of the past.”
"The World" by Lonely Planet (2014)₁₀

2. Jordan National and Social Development

#economics #human_development #wealth

UN HDI (2021)₁₁
Pos.		Higher is better Value₁₁
1	Switzerland	0.962
2	Norway	0.961
3	Iceland	0.959
	...
100=	Suriname	0.730
101	Uzbekistan	0.727
102=	Dominica	0.720
102=	Jordan	0.720
104	Libya	0.718
105	Paraguay	0.717
106=	Palestine	0.715
106=	St Lucia	0.715
	Asia Avg	0.75
	World Avg	0.72
q=191.

Gross National Income Per-Capita (2021)₁₁
Pos.		Higher is better PPP $₁₁
1	Liechtenstein	$146 830
2	Singapore	$90 919
3	Qatar	$87 134
	...
108	Tunisia	$10 258
109	Fiji	$9 980
110	Iraq	$9 977
111	Jordan	$9 924
112	Lebanon	$9 526
113	Bhutan	$9 438
114	Philippines	$8 920
115	Jamaica	$8 834
	Asia Avg	$22 215
	World Avg	$20 136
q=193.

Social & Moral Development Index₁₂
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₁₂
1	Denmark	26.9
2	Norway	29.1
3	Sweden	29.9
	...
106	St Lucia	92.6
107	Kyrgyzstan	93.2
108	Brunei	93.5
109	Jordan	93.7
110	Suriname	93.9
111	Honduras	93.9
112	Nicaragua	94.4
113	Maldives	94.5
	Asia Avg	92.0
	World Avg	89.0
q=200.

The United Nations produces an annual Human Development Report which includes the Human Development Index. The factors taken into account include life expectancy, education and schooling and Gross National Income (GNI) amongst many others..

The Social and Moral Development Index concentrates on moral issues and human rights, violence, public health, equality, tolerance, freedom and effectiveness in climate change mitigation and environmentalism, and on some technological issues. A country scores higher for achieving well in those areas, and for sustaining that achievement in the long term. Those countries towards the top of this index can truly said to be setting good examples and leading humankind onwards into a bright, humane, and free future. See: Which are the Best Countries in the World? The Social and Moral Development Index.

3. Jordan's Demographics and Migration

#birth_control #demographics #fertility #health #immigration #life_expectancy #longevity #migration #overpopulation #population #yemen

Population Datasets:

Jordan's population is predicted to fall to 8 415 000 by 2030. This country has a fertility rate of 2.79. The fertility rate is, in simple terms, the average amount of children that each woman has. The higher the figure, the quicker the population will grow, although, to calculate the rate you also need to take into account morbidity - the rate at which people die. If people live healthy and long lives and morbidity is low, then, 2.0 approximates to the replacement rate (two new children for each set of parents who die), which would keep the population stable. If all countries had such a fertility rate, population growth would end. The actual replacement rate in most developed countries is around 2.1, once you take mortality into account₁₃. The highest fertility rate ever detected in a single year was in Yemen in 1985, at 8.86.₁₄

Population₂
Pos.		2018 Population₂
1	China	1.4b
2	India	1.4b
3	USA	327.1m
	...
86	Greece	10.5m
87	Portugal	10.3m
88	Sweden	10.0m
89	Jordan	10.0m
90	Azerbaijan	9.9m
91	Hungary	9.7m
92	UAE	9.6m
93	Honduras	9.6m
	World Avg	39.0m
q=195.

Life Expectancy Higher is better₁₁
Pos.		2021 Years₁₁
1	Monaco	85.9
2	Hong Kong	85.5
3	Japan	84.8
	...
63	Malaysia	74.9
64	Brunei	74.6
65	Hungary	74.5
66	Jordan	74.3
67	Serbia	74.2
68	Romania	74.2
69	Cape Verde	74.1
70	Morocco	74.0
	World Avg	71.28
q=195. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Fertility Rate 2.0 is best₁₅
Pos.		2022₁₅
1	US Virgin Islands	2.00
2	Ecuador	2.00
3	Nepal	2.01
	...
134	Haiti	2.77
135	Mongolia	2.77
136	Swaziland	2.79
137	Jordan	2.79
138	Kyrgyzstan	2.80
139	Aruba	1.18
140	China	1.18
141	Algeria	2.83
	World Avg	2.47
q=208. Also scored for 1960s-2010s.

Old-Age Dependency Ratio Lower is better₁₆
Pos.		2016 Per 100₁₆
1	Uganda	04.3
2	Mali	04.5
3=	Chad	04.7
	...
50=	Botswana	07.7
50=	UAE	07.7
52	Oman	07.8
53	Jordan	08.0
54	Laos	08.1
55	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	08.2
56	Belize	08.3
57	Gabon	08.5
	World Avg	18.3
q=185.

Migration Datasets:

Immigrants₁₇
Pos.		2017 %₁₇
1	UAE	88.4%
2	Kuwait	75.5%
3	Qatar	65.2%
	...
10	Oman	44.7%
11	Hong Kong	39.1%
12	Saudi Arabia	37.0%
13	Jordan	33.3%
14	Nauru	32.7%
15	Lebanon	31.9%
16	Switzerland	29.6%
17	Australia	28.8%
	World Avg	9.4%
q=195.

Emigrants₁₈
Pos.		2010 %₁₈
1	Dominica	104.8%
2	Palestine	68.4%
3	Samoa	67.3%
	...
54	Nicaragua	12.5%
55	Latvia	12.3%
56	Luxembourg	11.8%
57	Jordan	11.3%
58	Kyrgyzstan	11.2%
59	Tajikistan	11.2%
60	Cuba	10.9%
61	Mauritius	10.9%
	World Avg	11.5%
q=192.

4. Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance

#equality #freedom #gender_equality #human_rights #islam #jordan #jordan_women #morals #politics #prejudice #tolerance #women

Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2025)₁₉
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₁₉
1	Sweden	7.8
2	Netherlands	8.7
3	Denmark	8.8
	...
146	Gambia	115.0
147	Guinea-Bissau	115.8
148	Malaysia	117.2
149	Jordan	118.6
150	Solomon Islands	119.1
151	Uganda	119.2
	Asia Avg	103.00
	World Avg	89.80
q=199.

Jordan is amongst the worst places in the world at ensuring human rights and freedom, and it has severe cultural issues when it comes to tolerance and equality. Jordan does worse than average in the rate of gender bias (from 7 indicators)₂₀, commentary in Human Rights Watch reports₂₁, supporting personal, civil & economic freedoms₂₂, its nominal commitment to Human Rights₂₃, opposing gender inequality₂₄, its average Freedom in the World rating (still good for Asia), combatting modern slavery₂₅, supporting press freedom₂₆, LGBT equality in the 2020s₂₇ and in freethought₂₈. And finally, it falls into the worst 20 in terms of its success in fighting anti-semitic prejudice₂₉. "In 2017, Jordan continued to violate human rights, including restrictions on free expression, free assembly, and women´s rights"₃₀. Jordan does not accept basic human rights regarding religion; only Islam is acceptable₃₀.

For tables, charts and commentary, see:

Human Rights and Freedom in Jordan

5. Jordan's Health

#alcohol #birth_control #demographics #health #jordan #life_expectancy #longevity #mental_health #obesity #overpopulation #parenting #population #smoking #suicide #vaccines

Compared to Asia (2025)₃₁
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₃₁
1	Japan	37.3
2	Singapore	41.1
3	S. Korea	50.5
	...
33	Palestine	103.9
34	Azerbaijan	103.9
35	Indonesia	104.1
36	Jordan	106.2
37	Philippines	106.3
38	Bangladesh	107.0
39	India	110.5
40	Cambodia	111.7
41	Myanmar	112.2
	Asia Avg	80.90
q=50.

Health (2025)₃₁
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₃₁
1	Monaco	10.3
2	Liechtenstein	30.1
3	Japan	37.3
	...
122	Indonesia	104.1
123	Bermuda	104.3
124	Belize	106.0
125	Jordan	106.2
126	Philippines	106.3
127	Bangladesh	107.0
128	Botswana	108.2
129	Dominican Rep.	109.1
	World Avg	97.57
q=207.

The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Liechtenstein and Japan₃₂. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are Angola, Somalia and S. Sudan₃₂.

42 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on its average life expectancy, its alcohol consumption rate, its fertility rate, its smoking rate, its suicide rate, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance, the prevalence of overweight adults, obesity rate, its adolescent birth rate, delivery rate of infant DTP immunizations, delivery rate of 7x Infant Immunizations 2011-2015 and childhood mortality. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Europe and The Mediterranean₃₂, whereas the worst are Africa, Micronesia and Melanesia₃₂.

For more, see:

"Countries With the Healthiest Cultures and Health Policies" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

5.1. Health Datasets

#alcohol #birth_control #demographics #health #jordan #life_expectancy #longevity #mental_health #obesity #overpopulation #smoking #suicide

Jordan does relatively well in encouraging good health, compared to many other countries. Jordan comes in the best 20 for its suicide rate₃₃ (the best in Asia) and in its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance₃₄ (amongst the lowest in Asia). It does better than average for its alcohol consumption rate₃₅, delivery rate of 7x Infant Immunizations 2011-2015₃₆, its average life expectancy₁₁, its adolescent birth rate₃₇ and in childhood mortality in the 2020s₃₈. Jordan still has work to do. Jordan does worse than average in delivery rate of infant DTP immunizations in the 2020s₃₉, its fertility rate₁₅ and in the prevalence of overweight adults₄₀. And finally, it falls into the worst-performing 20 for its smoking rate₄₁. In an attempt to improve its horrendous death rate from related illness, in 2020 smoking in indoor public spaces was finally banned₄₂. The number of overweight adults has increased by 14% during the last 40 years. Life expectancy in Jordan improved by +6.2yrs in the 30 years from 1990, less than the global average of +7.9yrs. Jordan is amongst only 41 countries who have seen their fertility rate drop by more than 4 since the 1960s. Its peak fertility rate was 8.13 in 1969.

In the buildup to the 2020 ban on smoking in indoor public spaces, Jordan was declared to be the heaviest user of tobacco by an international report, and its death rate from related diseases was 1 in 5 of all deaths (compared to 1 in 10 globally)₄₂.

“Larissa Al-Uar, from the activist group Tobacco Free Jordan, said the announcemenet was a "huge change". [...] She said previous efforts to curb the country's record-high smoking rates had suffered from weak enforcement as well as what health advocates claimed was widespread interference in policymaking by multinational tobacco companies. A Guardian investigation found that tobacco company lobbyists had been regularly invited to sit in on meetings to debate regulations on their products.”
The Guardian (2020)₄₂

Life Expectancy Higher is better₁₁
Pos.		2021 Years₁₁
1	Monaco	85.9
2	Hong Kong	85.5
3	Japan	84.8
	...
63	Malaysia	74.9
64	Brunei	74.6
65	Hungary	74.5
66	Jordan	74.3
67	Serbia	74.2
68	Romania	74.2
69	Cape Verde	74.1
70	Morocco	74.0
	Asia Avg	73.48
	World Avg	71.28
q=195. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Alcohol Consumption Lower is better₃₅
Pos.		2016 Per Capita₃₅
1	Bangladesh	0.0
2	Kuwait	0.0
3	Libya	0.0
	...
17=	Sudan	0.5
18=	Bhutan	0.6
18=	Morocco	0.6
20=	Jordan	0.7
20=	Senegal	0.7
22=	Oman	0.8
22=	Indonesia	0.8
22=	Azerbaijan	0.8
	Asia Avg	3.9
	World Avg	6.2
q=189.

Fertility Rate 2.0 is best₁₅
Pos.		2022₁₅
1	US Virgin Islands	2.00
2	Ecuador	2.00
3	Nepal	2.01
	...
134	Haiti	2.77
135	Mongolia	2.77
136	Swaziland	2.79
137	Jordan	2.79
138	Kyrgyzstan	2.80
139	Aruba	1.18
140	China	1.18
141	Algeria	2.83
	Asia Avg	2.17
	World Avg	2.47
q=208. Also scored for 1960s-2010s.

Smoking in the 2020s Lower is better₄₁
Pos.		Total %₄₁
1	Nigeria	3.3%
2	Ghana	3.4%
3	Panama	5.2%
	...
149	Latvia	33.9%
150	Lebanon	34.3%
151	France	34.6%
152=	Jordan	35.6%
152=	Cyprus	35.6%
154	Bosnia & Herzegovina	36.2%
155	Andorra	36.2%
156	Solomon Islands	36.9%
	Asia Avg	22.8%
	World Avg	20.0%
q=165. Also scored for 2000s-2020s.

Jordan sits amongst only 10 countries in the world that saw its smoking rate increase over the 2010s, compared to the previous decade.

Suicide Rate₃₃
Pos.		2013 Per 100k₃₃
1	Haiti	0
2	Grenada	0
3	Egypt	0.1
4	Jordan	0.2
5	Maldives	0.7
6	Azerbaijan	1.3
7	S. Africa	1.8
8	Bahamas	2.5
9	Peru	2.9
10	Kuwait	3.6
11	Armenia	3.9
12	Dominican Rep.	4.6
	Asia Avg	19.50
	World Avg	20.93
q=91.

Food Aid, Health Contributions & WHO Compliance Lower is better₃₄
Pos.		2017 Rank₃₄
1	Sweden	1
2	Ireland	2
3	Denmark	3
	...
15	Saudi Arabia	15
16	Belgium	16
17	New Zealand	17
18	Jordan	18
19	S. Korea	19
20	Kuwait	20
21	Japan	21
22	Spain	22
	Asia Avg	64.4
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Overweight Adults Lower is better₄₀
Pos.		1976 %₄₀
1	Bangladesh	4.7
2	Vietnam	5.1
3	Nepal	5.4
	...
156=	Iceland	40.6
156=	Canada	40.6
158	Poland	40.8
159	Jordan	41.0
160=	Lebanon	41.2
160=	Greece	41.2
162	Bulgaria	41.4
163=	USA	41.6
	Asia Avg	23.1
	World Avg	27.1
q=191.

Adult Obesity Lower is better₄₃
Pos.		2022 %₄₃
1	Vietnam	2.1%
2	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	2.2%
3	Ethiopia	2.4%
	...
162	Turkey	34.3%
163	Malta	34.6%
164	Uruguay	34.7%
165	Jordan	35.6%
166	Croatia	35.7%
167	Argentina	36.0%
168	Panama	36.1%
169	Mexico	36.1%
	Asia Avg	21.1%
	World Avg	24.7%
q=199. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

5.2. Children's Health Datasets

#children's_health #health #parenting #population #vaccines

Adolescent Birth Rate Lower is better₃₇
Pos.		2022 Per 1000₃₇
1	Hong Kong	1.6
2	Denmark	1.8
3	S. Korea	2.1
	...
74	Djibouti	22.7
75	Chile	22.8
76	Mauritius	24.0
77	Jordan	24.9
78	Mongolia	25.0
79	Bahamas	25.1
80	Morocco	25.5
81	Fiji	26.1
	Asia Avg	25.9
	World Avg	43.8
q=195. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Infant DTP Immunizations (2020s) Higher is better₃₉
Pos.		Total Avg %₃₉
1=	Luxembourg	99.0
1=	Oman	99.0
1=	Niue	99.0
	...
131=	Algeria	89.9
132	Iraq	89.8
133	Togo	89.6
134	Jordan	89.5
135	Colombia	89.4
136	Niger	89.0
137	Guatemala	88.9
138	Kyrgyzstan	88.7
	Asia Avg	90.6
	World Avg	88.5
q=211. Also scored for 1980s-2020s.

7x Infant Immunizations (2011-2015) Higher is better₃₆
Pos.		2015 Avg %₃₆
1=	Hungary	99.0
1=	China	99.0
3	Uzbekistan	98.9
	...
36	Slovakia	97.0
37	Kyrgyzstan	96.7
38	Brazil	96.7
39=	Jordan	96.6
39=	Brunei	96.6
41	Spain	96.5
42	Poland	96.5
43	Libya	96.4
	Asia Avg	90.5
	World Avg	88.3
q=194.

Infant Mortality (2020s) Lower is better₃₈
Pos.		Total Per 1000₃₈
1	San Marino	2.11
2	Finland	2.59
3	Luxembourg	2.60
	...
88=	Iran	16.05
89	Brazil	16.51
90	Mexico	16.56
91	Jordan	16.74
92	Grenada	17.24
93	Panama	17.26
94	St Vincent & Grenadines	17.32
95	St Lucia	17.37
	Asia Avg	23.58
	World Avg	32.19
q=195. Also scored for 1960s-2020s.

6. Jordan's Responsibility Towards The Environment

#biodiversity #climate_change #deforestation #environmentalism #food #internationalism #jordan #meat #over-exploitation #the_environment #veganism #vegetarianism

Compared to Asia (2025)₄₄
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₄₄
1	Sri Lanka	34.9
2	Nepal	47.9
3	India	49.5
4	Philippines	49.6
5	Japan	57.4
6	Thailand	59.5
7	Vietnam	60.6
8	Indonesia	61.9
9	Jordan	63.1
10	Hong Kong	64.6
11	Cyprus	64.8
12	Bangladesh	69.7
13	Maldives	70.5
	Asia Avg	86.44
q=51.

Responsibility Towards The Environment (2025)₄₄
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₄₄
1	Sri Lanka	34.9
2	Uruguay	43.2
3	Switzerland	45.0
	...
35	Indonesia	61.9
36	Cameroon	62.6
37	Italy	63.1
38	Jordan	63.1
39	Ireland	63.1
40	Burkina Faso	63.1
41	Gambia	63.3
42	Senegal	63.4
	World Avg	84.93
q=199.

We have known for a long term that we must protect the environment from habitation destruction, over-exploitation, pollution, and the emissions that cause climate change. In 1998, Greenpeace wrote that "Environment can no longer be meaningfully separated from health, quality of life, democracy, education, economy or trade"₄₅. What countries have been doing the right thing, via legislation and national culture? All countries' current and historical approach towards the environment is gauged via 21 datasets, including multiple decades of data on its forested percent change 2000-2020, its environmental performance, energy to GDP efficiency, its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment, the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population, reducing annual meat consumption per person and its score on the Green Future Index.

The countries that do the best (Sri Lanka, Uruguay and Switzerland) tend to have avoided the excesses of early industrial countries, and have not yet repeated the same mistakes of environmental destruction - at least, not on the same scale. The regions with the best average results per country are Central America, South America and Scandinavia. The worst are Eritrea, The Vatican City and Timor-Leste (E. Timor), and the worst regions Micronesia, Australasia and Melanesia.

For more, see:

"Countries With the Best Environmental Records" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

Jordan is positioned 38th in the world in terms of its responsibility towards the environment. This rank is calculated from 21 data sets. Jordan does better than average in its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment, its environmental performance₄₆, the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population₄₇, reducing annual meat consumption per person₄₈ and in its forested percent change 2000-2020₄₉. Jordan still has work to do. Jordan does worse than average in terms of energy to GDP efficiency₅₀ (still good for Asia).

Forest Area Change 2000-2020 Higher is better₄₉
Pos.		Total₄₉
1	Guernsey	82.6%
2	Bahrain	75.2%
3	Iceland	64.7%
	...
113=	Pitcairn Islands	0.0%
113=	Bermuda	0.0%
113=	Faroe Islands	0.0%
113=	Jordan	0.0%
113=	Andorra	0.0%
113=	Grenada	0.0%
113=	Aruba	0.0%
113=	Svalbard	0.0%
	Asia Avg	3.2%
	World Avg	-0.1%
q=234.

Environmental Performance Higher is better₄₆
Pos.		2018₄₆
1	Switzerland	87.4
2	France	84.0
3	Denmark	81.6
	...
59	Azerbaijan	62.3
60	S. Korea	62.3
61	Kuwait	62.3
62	Jordan	62.2
63	Armenia	62.1
64	Peru	61.9
65	Montenegro	61.3
66	Egypt	61.2
	Asia Avg	54.5
	World Avg	56.4
q=180.

Energy to GDP Efficiency Lower is better₅₀
Pos.		2022 Avg₅₀
1	Rwanda	0.25
2	Chad	0.26
3	Tanzania	0.31
	...
85	Namibia	1.07
86	Cambodia	1.07
87	Albania	1.08
88	Jordan	1.10
89	Mexico	1.10
90	Taiwan	1.10
91	Bolivia	1.11
92	Chile	1.11
	Asia Avg	1.50
	World Avg	1.23
q=165. Also scored for 1960s-2010s.

International Accords on the Environment Higher is better
Pos.		Total Avg Rate
1	Sweden	83%
2	Canada	82%
3	Norway	81%
	...
31	Austria	70%
32	Venezuela	70%
33	Kazakhstan	70%
34	Jordan	69%
35	Portugal	69%
36	Costa Rica	69%
37	Mexico	69%
38	Uzbekistan	69%
	Asia Avg	55.4%
	World Avg	57.5%
q=197. Also scored for 1970s-2020s.

Jordan was one of the 19 countries that signed the Basel Convention on its very first day.

Rational Beliefs on the Environment Higher is better₄₇
Pos.		2011 %₄₇
1	Argentina	78.3%
2	Greece	77.6%
3	Brazil	77.1%
	...
60	Zambia	41.9%
61	Singapore	41.6%
62	Ukraine	41.5%
63	Jordan	41.4%
64	India	41.2%
65	Canada	41.2%
66	Serbia	41.1%
67	Ghana	40.4%
	Asia Avg	37.9%
	World Avg	39.9%
q=145.

Meat Consumption Lower is better₄₈
Pos.		2021 kg₄₈
1	Congo, DR	03.0
2	Burundi	03.5
3	Bangladesh	04.3
	...
64	Central African Rep.	34.4
65	Comoros	34.5
66	Venezuela	35.6
67	Jordan	36.0
68	Lebanon	36.3
69	Paraguay	36.4
70	Azerbaijan	37.1
71	Namibia	37.2
	Asia Avg	46.7
	World Avg	52.5
q=185. Also scored for 2010s.

In the 2010s, meat consumption per person in Jordan was reducing.₄₈

7. Jordan's Modernity and Learning

#education #english #intelligence #maths #metric #modernity #politics #religion #religiosity #research #science #secularisation #technology #the_internet

Compared to Asia (2025)₅₁
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₅₁
1	Taiwan	25.4
2	S. Korea	25.5
3	Japan	26.8
	...
30	Kuwait	85.5
31	Sri Lanka	88.5
32	Brunei	89.6
33	Jordan	90.3
34	Mongolia	94.2
35	Saudi Arabia	95.8
36	Indonesia	96.3
37	Oman	99.4
38	Maldives	109.6
	Asia Avg	83.04
q=51.

Modernity & Learning (2025)₅₁
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₅₁
1	Vatican City	1.0
2	Finland	4.8
3	Belgium	8.5
	...
113	Sri Lanka	88.5
114	Libya	88.6
115	Brunei	89.6
116	Jordan	90.3
117	Antigua & Barbuda	92.9
118	Honduras	93.2
119	Mongolia	94.2
120	Saudi Arabia	95.8
	World Avg	80.33
q=194.

The most modern countries, with the best results from education, the highest levels of research, and with the easiest access to information on the Internet, are The Vatican City, Finland and Belgium₅₂. The worst countries are S. Sudan, Eritrea and Somalia₅₂. Despite improves in global education, access to tertiary (adult) education is becoming increasingly unequal between the rich haves and the poor have-nots₅₃.

“Education, at all levels and ages, is the single most vital support for equality as well as being a country's most vital economic and social resource. [...] Every successful aspirant to modernisation and economic development, from Japan to South Korea, China to Chile, has got there with a big emphasis on education.”
Bill Emmott (2017)₅₄

23 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on Research and Development, Intellectual Endeavours, metric system adoption rate, Religiosity, IQ, Secondary Education, Length of Schooling, Maths, Science & Reading, the percent of citizens with access to the internet, Freedom On The Internet, IT Security, IPv6 Uptake and digital quality of life. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Baltic States and Europe₅₂, whereas the worst are Melanesia, Africa and Micronesia₅₂.

For more, see:

" Which Countries are Most Modern, With the Best Education and Internet Access?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

7.1. Modernity Datasets

#intelligence #metric #religion #religiosity #research #science #secularisation

Research & Development Higher is better
Pos.		2016 % RDP PPP
1	S. Korea	4.29₅₅
2	Israel	4.11₅₅
3	Japan	3.58₅₅
	...
64=	Cuba	0.47₅₆
65=	Macedonia	0.44₅₆
65=	Puerto Rico	0.44₅₆
67	Jordan	0.43₅₇
68	Mozambique	0.42₅₈
69	Thailand	0.39₅₉
70=	Tanzania	0.38₅₈
70=	Romania	0.38₅₅
	Asia Avg	0.75
	World Avg	0.84
q=126.

Intellectual Endeavours Lower is better₃₄
Pos.		2017 Rank₃₄
1	Ukraine	1
2	Czechia	2
3	Hungary	3
	...
62	Malta	62
63	Ghana	63
64	Samoa	64
65	Jordan	65
66	Namibia	66
67	India	67
68	Lebanon	68
69	Senegal	69
	Asia Avg	97.1
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Metric System Adoption Rate Higher is better₆₀
Pos.		2025 %₆₀
1=	Slovakia	100
1=	Poland	100
1=	Portugal	100
	...
118=	Jamaica	90
118=	Kuwait	90
118=	Indonesia	90
118=	Jordan	90
118=	Ghana	90
118=	Kenya	90
118=	Equatorial Guinea	90
118=	St Vincent & Grenadines	90
	Asia Avg	90
	World Avg	92
q=187. Also scored for 1960s-2020s.

Jordan officially adopted metric in 1952₆₁. Progression:

1960 (60%): Metric present; traditional units common.
1970 (75%): Standardization in commerce/education.
1980 (85%): Metric dominant officially; informal legacy persists.
2000 (90%).
2025 (90%).

Religiosity Lower is better₆₂
Pos.		2018 %₆₂
1	China	3
2	Estonia	6
3	Czechia	7
	...
75=	India	80
76	Iraq	82
77=	El Salvador	85
77=	Jordan	85
79=	Palestine	86
79=	Uganda	86
79=	Chad	86
79=	Niger	86
	Asia Avg	55.8
	World Avg	54.3
q=106.

IQ Higher is better₆₃
Pos.		2006₆₃
1=	Hong Kong	108
1=	Singapore	108
3	S. Korea	106
	...
75=	Cuba	85
76=	Venezuela	84
76=	Colombia	84
76=	Jordan	84
76=	Afghanistan	84
76=	UAE	84
76=	Iran	84
76=	Pakistan	84
	Asia Avg	90.4
	World Avg	85.6
q=138.

7.2. Education Datasets

#education #english #maths #science

Secondary Education Higher is better₆₄
Pos.		2018₆₄
1=	Luxembourg	100.0%
1=	Estonia	100.0%
1=	Austria	100.0%
	...
51	Poland	85.3%
52	Belgium	84.8%
53	UK	84.5%
54	Jordan	84.0%
55	France	83.5%
56	Sri Lanka	82.8%
57	Bosnia & Herzegovina	81.2%
58	Malaysia	80.8%
	Asia Avg	66.0%
	World Avg	63.0%
q=169.

Length of Schooling Higher is better₆₅
Pos.		2021 Years₆₅
1	Australia	21.1
2	New Zealand	20.3
3	Greece	20.0
	...
154	Burundi	10.7
155	Kenya	10.7
156	Ivory Coast	10.7
157	Jordan	10.6
158	Guinea-Bissau	10.6
159	Guatemala	10.6
160	Liberia	10.4
161	Papua New Guinea	10.4
	Asia Avg	13.5
	World Avg	13.5
q=193. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Maths, Science & Reading Higher is better₆₆
Pos.		2015 Score₆₆
1	Singapore	1655
2	Hong Kong	1598
3	Japan	1586
	...
58	Colombia	1231
59	Qatar	1222
60	Georgia	1216
61	Jordan	1197
62	Indonesia	1186
63	Brazil	1185
64	Peru	1182
65	Lebanon	1129
	Asia Avg	1398
	World Avg	1389
q=70.

7.3. Technology and Information Datasets

#modernity #politics #technology #the_internet

Internet Users Higher is better₆₇
Pos.		2016₆₇
1	Iceland	100%
2	Faroe Islands	99%
3	Norway	98%
	...
104=	Fiji	47%
105	Tonga	47%
106	Nigeria	46%
107	Jordan	46%
108	Panama	45%
109	Mexico	45%
110=	Kenya	45%
110=	Belize	45%
	Asia Avg	48.7%
	World Avg	48.1%
q=201.

Freedom On The Internet Lower is better₆₈
Pos.		2012₆₈
1	Estonia	10
2	USA	12
3	Germany	15
	...
21	Indonesia	42
22=	Libya	43
22=	Malaysia	43
24	Jordan	45
25=	Turkey	46
25=	Tunisia	46
27	Venezuela	48
28	Azerbaijan	50
	Asia Avg	56.6
	World Avg	46.7
q=47.

IPv6 Uptake Higher is better₆₉
Pos.		2017 Ratio₆₉
1	Belgium	55.4
2	Germany	41.8
3	Switzerland	35.1
	...
169=	Cuba	0.0
169=	St Vincent & Grenadines	0.0
169=	Montenegro	0.0
169=	Libya	0.0
169=	Jamaica	0.0
169=	Fiji	0.0
169=	Jordan	0.0
169=	Barbados	0.0
	Asia Avg	2.11
	World Avg	3.82
q=176.

Digital Quality of Life Higher is better₇₀
Pos.		2024₇₀
1	Germany	77.9%
2	Finland	76.9%
3	France	73.9%
	...
75	Dominican Rep.	43.4%
76	Ecuador	43.3%
77	Mauritius	42.9%
78	Jordan	42.6%
79	Egypt	42.5%
80	Panama	41.6%
81	Paraguay	41.2%
82	Tunisia	40.4%
	Asia Avg	46.4%
	World Avg	48.4%
q=121.

8. Jordan's Culture, Peace and Inequality

#capitalism #charity #corruption #economics #extremism #happiness #health #human_development #inequality #internationalism #life_expectancy #morals #peace #politics #poverty #religious_violence #social_development #terrorism

8.1. National Culture Datasets

#charity #corruption #happiness #internationalism #morals #politics

World Giving Index Higher is better₇₁
Pos.		2022 %₇₁
1	Indonesia	68.0
2	Kenya	61.0
3	USA	59.0
	...
101=	Tanzania	33.0
102=	Spain	32.0
102=	Benin	32.0
102=	Jordan	32.0
102=	France	32.0
102=	Greece	32.0
107=	Georgia	31.0
107=	Morocco	31.0
	Asia Avg	37.9
	World Avg	39.6
q=125. Also scored for 2010s.

Corruption Higher is better₇₂
Pos.		2022 Points₇₂
1	Denmark	90.0
2=	Finland	87.0
2=	New Zealand	87.0
	...
58=	Mauritius	50.0
59	Namibia	49.0
60	Vanuatu	48.0
61=	Jordan	47.0
61=	Malaysia	47.0
63=	Armenia	46.0
63=	Romania	46.0
65=	China	45.0
	Asia Avg	39.98
	World Avg	42.98
q=180. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Happiness Higher is better₇₃
Pos.		2024 Score₇₃
1	Finland	7.7
2	Denmark	7.5
3	Iceland	7.5
	...
125	Ghana	4.3
126	Myanmar	4.3
127	Togo	4.3
128	Jordan	4.3
129	Liberia	4.3
130	Madagascar	4.2
131	Zambia	3.9
132	Ethiopia	3.9
	Asia Avg	5.41
	World Avg	5.58
q=147. Also scored for 2010s.

Creativity & Culture Lower is better₃₄
Pos.		2017 Rank₃₄
1	Belgium	1
2	Netherlands	2
3	Estonia	3
	...
88	Indonesia	88
89	Cambodia	89
90	Peru	90
91	Jordan	91
92	Haiti	92
93	Tunisia	93
94	Papua New Guinea	94
95	Belarus	95
	Asia Avg	99.0
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Passport Reach (2020s) Higher is better₇₄
Pos.		Total Q₇₄
1	Singapore	192.2
2	Japan	192.0
3	S. Korea	190.7
	...
162=	Comoros	53.2
163	Bhutan	52.8
164	Central African Rep.	52.5
165	Jordan	52.2
166=	Turkmenistan	51.8
166=	Egypt	51.8
168	Angola	50.5
169=	Burundi	50.3
	Asia Avg	85.1
	World Avg	108.8
q=195. Also scored for 2000s-2020s.

Open Trading, Aid & Development Lower is better₃₄
Pos.		2017 Rank₃₄
1	Ireland	1
2	Denmark	2
3	Sweden	3
	...
21	Portugal	21
22	Moldova	22
23	Hungary	23
24	Jordan	24
25	Mauritius	25
26	Zimbabwe	26
27	Canada	27
28	Trinidad & Tobago	28
	Asia Avg	86.3
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

8.2. Peace Versus Instability Datasets

#extremism #human_development #peace #politics #religious_violence #terrorism

Global Peace Index Lower is better₇₅
Pos.		2023 Score₇₅
1	Iceland	1.12
2	Denmark	1.31
3	Ireland	1.31
	...
59	Gambia	1.89
60	Greece	1.89
61	Bosnia & Herzegovina	1.89
62	Jordan	1.90
63	Zambia	1.90
64	Cyprus	1.90
65	Serbia	1.92
66	Armenia	1.93
	Asia Avg	2.17
	World Avg	2.07
q=163. Also scored for 2010s.

Peacekeeping & Security Lower is better₃₄
Pos.		2017 Rank₃₄
1	Samoa	1
2	S. Africa	2
3	Tunisia	3
	...
28	Mongolia	28
29	Rwanda	29
30	Paraguay	30
31	Jordan	31
32	India	32
33	New Zealand	33
34	Malaysia	34
35	S. Korea	35
	Asia Avg	76.0
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Refugees & UN Treaties Lower is better₃₄
Pos.		2017 Rank₃₄
1	Austria	1
2	Germany	2
3	Netherlands	3
	...
108	Cape Verde	108
109	China	109
110	Kazakhstan	110
111	Jordan	111
112	Libya	112
113	Belize	113
114	Morocco	114
115	Iraq	115
	Asia Avg	92.2
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Impact of Terrorism Lower is better₇₆
Pos.		2019 Score₇₆
1	Togo	0.00
2	Mongolia	0.00
3	Swaziland	0.00
	...
84	Peru	2.84
85	Rwanda	2.95
86	Nicaragua	2.95
87	Jordan	3.09
88	Italy	3.11
89	Paraguay	3.12
90	Bahrain	3.20
91	Tanzania	3.27
	Asia Avg	3.60
	World Avg	2.78
q=150.

8.3. Economic Inequality and Poverty Datasets

#capitalism #economics #health #inequality #life_expectancy #poverty #social_development

Inequality in Life Expectancy Lower is better₇₇
Pos.		2019₇₇
1	Iceland	2.40
2=	Singapore	2.50
2=	Hong Kong	2.50
	...
81	Tonga	10.40
82	Mexico	10.50
83=	St Lucia	10.60
83=	Jordan	10.60
85	Colombia	10.70
86	Peru	10.80
87	Brazil	10.90
88	Belize	11.10
	Asia Avg	11.80
	World Avg	14.59
q=184.

Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient) Lower is better₇₈
Pos.		2023 %₇₈
1	Slovakia	24.1%₇₉
2	Slovenia	24.3%₇₉
3	Belarus	24.4%₈₀
	...
66=	Georgia	33.5%₈₁
67	Palestine	33.7%₈₂
68=	Tunisia	33.7%₇₉
68=	Jordan	33.7%₈₃
68=	Switzerland	33.7%₈₀
71=	Spain	33.9%₇₉
71=	Romania	33.9%₇₉
73	Tajikistan	34.0%₈₄
	Asia Avg	33.0%
	World Avg	36.5%
q=167. Also scored for 1980s-2010s.

Income inequality data is rarely available for Jordan - only for 7 years between 1980 and 2019.

Multidimensional Poverty Lower is better₈₅
Pos.		2018 Severity₈₅
1	Armenia	.001
2	Ukraine	.001
3	Serbia	.001
4	Turkmenistan	.001
5	Jordan	.002
6	Kazakhstan	.002
7	Montenegro	.002
8	Trinidad & Tobago	.002
9	Maldives	.003
10	Albania	.003
11	Thailand	.003
12	Moldova	.004
	Asia Avg	.084
	World Avg	.154
q=101.

9. Religion and Beliefs

#buddhism #christianity #hinduism #islam #jordan #judaism #religion #religion_in_jordan #religiosity #secularisation

Religiosity (2018)₆₂
Pos.		Lower is better %₆₂
1	China	3
2	Estonia	6
3	Czechia	7
	...
75=	India	80
76	Iraq	82
77=	El Salvador	85
77=	Jordan	85
79=	Palestine	86
79=	Uganda	86
79=	Chad	86
79=	Niger	86
83=	Kenya	87
83=	Mozambique	87
85=	Congo, DR	88
85=	Nigeria	88
85=	Nicaragua	88
88=	Djibouti	89
88=	Ghana	89
88=	Guatemala	89
	World Avg	54.3
q=106.

Pew Forum polling over the decades has found the following adherency rates:₈₆:

	2010	2020
Muslim	96.5%	97.1%
Christian	3.35%	2.81%
Unaffiliated	<0.1%	<0.1%
Hindu	<0.1%	<0.1%
Buddhist	<0.1%	<0.1%
Other	<0.1%	<0.1%
Jewish	None	None

The CIA World Factbook has slightly different data, and states: Sunni Muslim 92% (official), Christian 6% (majority Greek Orthodox, but some Greek and Roman Catholics, Syrian Orthodox, Coptic Orthodox, Armenian Orthodox, and Protestant denominations), other 2% (several small Shia Muslim and Druze populations) (2001 est.)₈₇.

Freedom of Religion and Belief: Jordan does not accept basic human rights regarding religion and belief₃₀. There is no official way to be non-religious, it is illegal to promote religions other than Islam, converting away from Islam is illegal, and, blasphemy laws are used to prevent any meaningful religious discussion except glorification of Islam₃₀. Muslims must abide by a particular interpretation of Sharia law₃₀.

There are signs of a resurgence in moderate Islam and some rulers have been more liberal than the public, but at the moment radicalist and fundamentalist pressure groups are simply too powerful for the government to resist₈₈.

Links: