Jordan

Since 1999 when King Abdullah II ascended the throne of Jordan after the death of his father King Hussein, the government has been engaged in a series of political reforms designed to raise the standard of living in Jordan. Debt, poverty, and unemployment drain the government of much-needed resources. Some 30 percent of the population live below the poverty line, and around two percent live on less than $1 a day. Poverty eradication is a major element of reforms and is necessary to improve the health of the poorest segment of the population of 5,906,760. The official unemployment rate is 12.5 percent of the labor force, but the unofficial rate is 30 percent. With a per capita income of $4,700, Jordan ranks in the mid-range of world incomes. Income disparity is common, and Jordan ranks 36.4 on the Gini index of human inequality. The poorest 10 percent of the population claim only 3.3 percent of resources, while the richest 10 percent share 29.8 percent. The United Nations Development Programme's (UNDP) Human Development Report ranks Jordan 86th of 233 countries on general quality-of-life issues.

Healthcare reforms have resulted in free care for those in need, and health insurance for children under the age of 5 is comprehensive. Free premarital exams are free at public health clinics. Throughout the kingdom, 200 health centers provide healthcare services, including perinatal care and family planning. Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and international agencies are integral to providing healthcare in Jordan. Commitment to healthcare has resulted in 10 percent of the total budget being earmarked for this purpose. The government spends 9.4 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on healthcare, providing $440 (international dollars) per capita to meet healthcare needs. However, less than half (45.2 percent) of total health spending derives from government resources, and only 0.7 percent is targeted for Social Security. The private sector provides 54.8 percent of total healthcare spending, with 74 percent of that amount coming from out-of-pocket expenses. There are 2.03 physicians, 3.24 nurses, 1.29 dentists, and 3.12 pharmacists per 1,000 population in Jordan.

Life expectancy in Jordan is 78.4 years, with women outliving men an average of five years. As is common in many Middle Eastern nations, male literacy (95.9 percent) is considerably higher than female literacy (86.3 percent). Primary school enrollment stands at 91 percent. Some 87 percent of females attend secondary school, as do 85 percent of males. Water supplies are threatened by drought and the lack of adequate natural fresh water resources, and Jordan is one of the 10 countries in the world most threatened by water shortages. Nevertheless, 91 percent of the population have access to safe drinking water. In urban areas, 94 percent of the population have access to improved sanitation, but only 85 percent of rural residents are able to meet this basic need.

Jordan has been successful at reducing fertility rates, and 56 percent of women use birth control of some form. Between 1970 and 1990, the fertility rate dropped from 7.9 to 5.9 births per woman and is currently 2.63. The reduction in fertility is due in part to the work of the Supreme Population Council, which was established in 1973 as the National Population Council. The focus of reproductive health in Jordan is holistic, attempting to bring men and women together to foster reproductive health and to improve the [Page 963]health of mothers and children. Skilled professionals attend all births, and 99 percent of women receive prenatal care. The current adjusted maternal mortality rate is 41 deaths per 100,000 live births.

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