Jordan

circa 312 BCE – Petra becomes major Nabataean city

63 BCE – Roman conquest under Pompey

636 CE – Battle of Yarmouk; Islamic Caliphate takes control

1516–1918 – Ottoman rule over Jordanian territory

1916–1918 – Great Arab Revolt against Ottoman Empire

1921 – Emirate of Transjordan established under British mandate

May 25, 1946 – Independence declared; Kingdom of Jordan established

1948 – First Arab-Israeli War; Jordan gains control of West Bank

1967 – Six-Day War; West Bank lost to Israel

1988 – Jordan formally renounces claim to West Bank

1994 – Jordan signs peace treaty with Israel

2011 – Protests during Arab Spring; reforms initiated

2020–2024 – Stability amid regional tensions and refugee influx from Syria

Location: Middle East, Western Asia
Capital: Amman
Language: Arabic
Currency: Jordanian Dinar (JOD)
Population: ~11.4 million (last updated: April 2025)
Time Zone: Eastern European Time (EET)

Borders: Israel, Palestine (West Bank), Syria, Iraq, Saudi Arabia
Landscape: Desert plateaus, Jordan Rift Valley, highlands
Water Bodies: Dead Sea, Jordan River, Gulf of Aqaba
Notable Natural Features: Wadi Rum, Dana Biosphere Reserve

Ethnic Groups: Predominantly Arab; minority Circassian, Armenian, and Chechen communities
Religion: Mostly Sunni Muslim (~92%), Christian minorities (~6%) (last updated: 2021)
Urban Population: ~91% (last updated: 2023)
Youthful Population: ~60% under age 30 (last updated: 2024)

Famous For: Hospitality, Petra, Bedouin heritage, Arabic calligraphy, historical sites
Cuisine: Mansaf (national dish), falafel, hummus, maqluba, Arabic coffee
Arts: Traditional music, poetry, embroidery, film festivals
Sports: Football (soccer), taekwondo, rally racing

Economy Type: Developing, service-oriented
GDP: Approx. $50 billion USD (last updated: 2024)
Major Industries: Tourism, finance, pharmaceuticals, information technology, mining (phosphates, potash)
Key Exports: Textiles, fertilizers, chemicals, fruits and vegetables
Unemployment Rate: ~21.4% (last updated: 2024)
Economic Zones: Aqaba Special Economic Zone, industrial hubs around Amman and Zarqa

Government Type: Constitutional monarchy
Head of State: King Abdullah II (since 1999 – last updated: April 2025)
Head of Government: Prime Minister Bisher Al-Khasawneh (last updated: April 2025)
Legislature: Bicameral (House of Representatives & Senate)
Constitution: In effect since 1952 (amended multiple times)

Petra: Ancient Nabataean city, UNESCO site
Wadi Rum: Desert landscapes, camping under stars
Amman: Roman Theater, Citadel, modern cafés and souks
Dead Sea: Lowest point on Earth, mineral-rich waters
Jerash: Roman ruins and temples
Aqaba: Red Sea resort city, diving and snorkeling

UNESCO World Heritage Sites: 6 (last updated: 2023)