Where to Go - Middle East / India

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Jordan

Population: 4,998,564

Literacy rate: 86.6%

Life expectancy at birth: male – 74.94 yrs, female – 79.93 yrs

Infant mortality rate: 21.11 deaths/1,000 live births

Population growth rate: 3.1%

GDP growth rate: 2%

GDP per capita: £2,350

Unemployment: 15% official rate; actual rate is 25%-30%

Inflation: 3%

TI index: 4.6

Climate: mostly arid desert; rainy season in west (November to April)

Time: GMT + 2 (GMT + 3 from April to September).

Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50Hz. Lamp sockets are screw-type, and there is a wide range of wall sockets.

Websites: The US Library of Congress has a page on Jordan at http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/jotoc.html

Also the official Jordanian site has lots of interesting bits www.nic.gov.jo

This country has inadequate supplies of water and other natural resources. It benefited from Arab aid during the 70s and early 80s when its annual GNP growth averaged 10%, however a reduction in both aid and ex-patriate workers remittances slowed growth to around 2%. The economy rebounded in 1992, but recovery was uneven. All foreign debt was rescheduled, but the debt, together with poverty and unemployment, remain Jordan’s biggest problem.

The country is situated next to Israel with a small coast on the Red Sea and has been has tried to remain the voice of moderation in this area of the Middle East. This country would most often like to side with the west but has often been pressurised by it’s less stable neighbours. Most of the country is desert. The chief export is phosphate rock, although oil shipping helps the economy.

There is an important archaeological site at Petra (Batra) which includes temples carved from rock - well worth a visit (you may remember it from Indiana Jones and the last crusade).

Due to the political situation, it is advisable to check as to the before travelling. However, Jordanians are noted for their hospitality because of their Bedouin origins, and provided the politicians are not amusing themselves, you should have a good time.

Entry requirements

2 week visas are available on entry, these can be extended to up to 3 months.

Vaccinations

Hepatitis A, Polio, Typhoid and Yellow Fever.

Tax and Insurance

No information on tax. Get health insurance.

Gap Year Programmes

Click here to find gap year programmes and placements in Jordan

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