Jordan — map and facts

About Jordan

Jordan is a constitutional monarchy in the Middle East with a population of approximately 10 million people, a figure that has grown substantially due to successive waves of Palestinian, Iraqi, and Syrian refugees. Amman is the capital and by far the largest city. The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is governed under a constitutional monarchy; King Abdullah II has reigned since 1999 and holds considerable executive authority. The economy relies on services, tourism, phosphate and potash exports, and substantial foreign aid and remittances. Jordan has very limited oil and gas resources and must import the majority of its energy. The country hosts one of the highest per-capita refugee populations in the world, placing ongoing strain on public services and resources. Arabic is the official language, and Islam is the state religion, though Jordan maintains a policy of religious tolerance. Jordan has signed peace treaties with both Israel (1994) and maintained longstanding diplomatic relations with Western nations, positioning itself as a moderate regional actor.

Geography and Landscape

Jordan covers approximately 89,000 square kilometres and is largely landlocked, with a short coastline of around 26 kilometres on the Gulf of Aqaba in the south, providing access to the Red Sea. The country can be divided broadly into three geographic zones. The Jordan Rift Valley in the west, which includes the Jordan River and the Dead Sea, the lowest point on Earth's surface at approximately 430 metres below sea level, forms a dramatic natural boundary with Israel and the West Bank. East of the rift, the highlands of the Jordanian Plateau rise to between 900 and 1,700 metres and receive comparatively higher rainfall, supporting most of the population and agriculture. Further east, the landscape gives way to the vast Syrian and Arabian deserts, covering over three-quarters of the national territory. The Wadi Rum desert in the south is known for its striking red sandstone formations. The climate ranges from Mediterranean in the northwest to hyper-arid in the eastern desert.

History

The territory of modern Jordan has been inhabited since the Palaeolithic era. It formed part of successive ancient civilisations, including the Nabataean Kingdom, whose rose-red capital Petra was established around the fourth century BCE and became a major caravan trade hub. The region was absorbed into the Roman Empire in 106 CE as the province of Arabia Petraea. The Byzantine period gave way to Arab Muslim rule following the Battle of Yarmouk in 636 CE. The region subsequently came under Umayyad, Abbasid, Crusader, and Mamluk control before Ottoman incorporation in the early sixteenth century. Following Ottoman defeat in World War One, Britain administered the territory as Transjordan under a League of Nations mandate from 1921. The Emirate of Transjordan became fully independent in 1946 under Emir Abdullah I, who was proclaimed king. Following the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, Jordan annexed the West Bank, holding it until Israel's capture in 1967. King Hussein, who reigned from 1952 to 1999, navigated the country through turbulent regional politics, and his son Abdullah II has continued Jordan's role as a relatively stable partner in a volatile region.