Jordan

Where is Jordan?

Located in the Middle East, Jordan has a 1,744.00 km border with Iraq (179 km), Israel (307 km), Saudi Arabia (731 km), Syria (379 km) and West Bank (148 km). It has a 26.00 km coastline. The 2004 agreement, which settled a border dispute with Syria, is currently pending demarcation.

Amman is the capital and most populous city of Jordan as well as the country's cultural, economic, and political center. Located in Northern Jordan and surrounded by the As-Salt, Madaba, Russayfah, and Az-Zarqa regions, the city became the capital of the nation in 1921. Amman has been inhabited since around 10050 B.C. The population of the Amman area is approximately four million citizens, which makes up about 40 percent of the entire population of Jordan. Amman is also a popular tourist destination in the Middle-East, becoming the fourth most visited city in the region with 1.8 million annual visitors. The country is also a hub for medical tourism in the area with over $1 billion annually generated from foreign patients. The climate of Jordan falls under the semi-arid classification of climates and is characterized by mildly hot and breezy summers and winters that hardly ever see negative temperatures.

Jordan is an Asian country covering 89,342.00 km² of which 0.60% is water and 88,802.00 km² is land. This makes it the 110th largest country in the world and about three-quarters the size of Pennsylvania; slightly smaller than Indiana. Its geographic coordinates are 31 00 N, 36 00 E and Amman is the capital city.

The country was named for the Jordan River, which makes up part of Jordan's northwest border.

Its ISO code is JO.

Geography

Jordan has a mean elevation of 812 m above sea level.

It has an arid climate that becomes rainy in the western regions of the country between November and April. Its terrain mostly consists of desert plateaus in the east and highlands in the west.

Population

Jordan has a population of 8,185,384 making it the 96th largest in the world. The population is heavily concentrated in the west, particularly the northwest.

Arabic is the official language. The major ethnic group is Arab. The majority of the population is Muslim.

The official language of Jordan is Modern Standard Arabic and this language is the official language of domestic government, education, and media in the nation. Jordanians speak a variation of Modern Standard Arabic which can be separated into three dialects including Bedouin Jordanian, and rural and urban variants. Over 95% of the population of Jordan is from Arab descent but many in the country also have an understanding of English which is also taught in many schools and universities. Approximately 92% of the population is literate in Modern Standard Arabic. Minority languages in Jordan include Armenian, Chechen, French, and German. Many universities stress the importance of learning English as the Jordanian economy and job market both require a working knowledge of the language.

The dialing code for the country is 962.

Government

Jordan is an independent country. Gained independence from the League of Nations in 1946. Its constitution was last ratified in 1952.

Jordan is a parliamentary monarchy in which the monarch holds the highest political power and is considered the head of state. The 1952 Constitution of Jordan vests the executive authority of the country in the king and his cabinet, giving King Abdullah II the power to execute, sign, and veto all laws in the country. Abdullah II has ruled the country since 1999, and his family has ruled Jordan since 1921. The current Prime Minister of Jordan is Hani Al-Mulki who has held office since 2016 and reports to the King of Jordan. The house of parliament in Jordan is located in the northeastern part of the capital city Amman and has 65 Senators and 130 elected members of the House of Representatives. Although the country has had somewhat of a turbulent modern political history, the 2016 Jordanian national elections were unanimously praised by observers for their transparency and fairness.

Economy

Factoring in Purchasing Power Parity, Jordan's GDP is $86,190,000,000.00 (USD) with $11,100.00 (USD) per capita. This makes it the 88th largest economy and its citizens the 131st richest in the world. The currency of Jordan is the Dinar (JOD).

Its major export partners are the United States, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq. Its main exports are textiles, fertilizers, potash, and phosphates. Its major import partners are Saudi Arabia, China, and the United States. Its major imports include crude oil, refined petroleum products, machinery, and transport equipment.

Flag

Jordan's flag is made up of three equally sized horizontal bands of black, white, and green, as well as a red triangular chevron on the mast side of the flag with a seven-sided white star in the middle of the chevron. This flag was officially adopted on 18 April 1928, and the flag is inspired by the flag of the Arab Revolt during World War I. The black, green, and white bands represent the ancient Abbasid, Umayyad, and Fatimid Caliphates who were some of the first Muslim communities in the world. The red chevron represents the Arab Revolt as well as the Hashemite Dynasty. The star is said to represent the unity of the Arab people, as well as the first verses in the Quran.