The government of Jordan consistently has run budget deficits. Domestic revenues were 67 percent of current expenditure in 1980, but this figure had improved to 80 percent in 1985. Budgets tended to be only approximations of actual expenditure and revenue. The government did not present a consolidated budget that is, the central government budget did not encompass the separate budgets of the municipalities and some public institutions. Moreover, central government income depended on unpredictable disbursements of aid from foreign donors, while spending usually was increased by supplemental budgets submitted throughout the year.

Data as of December 1989