Al Mamlakah al Urduniyah al Hashimiyah

Origin of Name The country of Jordan is named for the River Jordan, the name of which is derived from a Hebrew and Canaanite word meaning "descend", a reference to the fact that the river flows into the Dead Sea.

Location Middle East
Bordered By Israel, Syria, Iraq, Saudi Arabia

Total Area 35,628 sq mi (92,300 sq km)
Coastline 16 mi (26 km)
Highest Point Jabal Ram; 5,755 ft (1,754 m)
Lowest Point Dead Sea; -1,299 ft (-396 m)
Natural Resources phosphates, potash, shale oil

Nationality Jordanian
Population (July 2016) 8,185,384
Largest Cities Amman
Ethnic Groups Arab, Circassian, Armenian
Religions Sunni Muslim, Greek Orthodox, Greek Catholic, Roman Catholic, Syrian Orthodox, Coptic Orthodox, Armenian Orthodox, Protestant
Languages Arabic (official), English

Capital Amman
Form of Government constitutional monarchy
Present Constitution Adopted January 1, 1952 (amended many times)
Chief of State King Abdallah II (since February 7, 1999)
Head of Government Prime Minister Hani Mulki (since June 1, 2016)
Cabinet Cabinet appointed by the Prime Minister
Legislature bicameral National Assembly (Majlis al-'Umma)
Judiciary Court of Cassation, Supreme Court
Local Administration 12 governorates

Currency Jordanian Dinar
Per Capita Income $11,900
Principal Industries clothing, phosphate mining, fertilizers, pharmaceuticals, petroleum refining, cement, potash, inorganic chemicals, light manufacturing, tourism
Agricultural Products citrus, tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, stone fruits, strawberries; sheep, poultry, dairy
Export Commodities clothing, pharmaceuticals, potash, phosphates, fertilizers, vegetables, manufactures
Import Commodities crude oil, machinery, transport equipment, iron, cereals

Independence Achieved May 25, 1946
From League of Nations mandate under British administration
National Holiday Independence Day, May 25
Flag three equal horizontal bands of black (representing the Abbassid Caliphate), white (representing the Ummayyad Caliphate), and green (representing the Fatimid Caliphate); a red isosceles triangle on the hoist side represents the Great Arab Revolt of 1916; the small white seven-pointed star inside the triangle symbolizes the seven verses of the opening Sura (Al-Fatiha) of the Holy Koran; the seven points on the star represent faith in One God, humanity, national spirit, humility, social justice, virtue, and aspirations

SEE ALSO
Dead Sea
Israel
Iraq
Saudi Arabia
Dead Sea

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This page was last updated on 05/25/2017.