Jordan Country Profile

Snapshot of the Jordan Country Profile


Despite the absence of any significant natural resources, Jordan has succeeded in attracting foreign investments through economic reforms and has demonstrated solid economic growth rates, while the government has gradually been implementing policies to improve competition and foster transparency.

Positive developments in relation to corruption and investment:

  • The fight against corruption has been singled out as a top priority of both the King and the Jordanian government, who states that corruption is a great impediment to investment.
  • There appears to be a political will to fight corruption which has materialised into a series of initiatives, including the formation of an Anti-Corruption Commission.

Risks of corruption:

  • Government accountability is very weak, which has reportedly contributed to the abuse of public office and to corruption.
  • Public officials that take bribes are not systematically punished and the successful prosecution of corruption cases is difficult to achieve. Prosecution of high-ranking civil servants remains rare.
  • Companies operating in Jordan report hidden costs stemming from bureaucracy, red tape, vaguely formulated regulations and conflicting jurisdictions.