JORDAN’s History

Officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is an Arab country in Southwest Asia spanning the southern part of the Syrian Desert down to the Gulf of Aqaba. It shares borders with Syria to the north, Iraq to the north-east, the West Bank and Israel to the west, and Saudi Arabia to the east and south. It shares control of the Dead Sea with Israel, and the coastline of the Gulf of Aqaba with the State of Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt. Much of Jordan is covered by desert, particularly the Arabian Desert; however the north-western area, with the Jordan River, is regarded as part of the Fertile Crescent. The capital city of Amman is in the north-west.

Capital (and largest city) Amman
Official languages Arabic
Ethnic groups 98% Arab (48% Palestinian, 17% Jordanian, 14% Iraqi, 12% Bedouin, 5% Syrian, 1.6% Cherkess) and 2% others (Race = Mostly Caucasian).
Government Constitutional monarchy
– King Abdullah II
Independence
– End of British League of Nations mandate 25 May 1946
Area
– Total 89,341 km2 (112th) 45,495 sq mi
– Water (%) 0.8
Population
– July 2008 estimate 6,198,677 (102nd)
– July 2004 census 5,611,202
– Density 64/km2 (131st)
Currency Jordanian dinar (JOD)
Time zone UTC+2 (UTC+2)
– Summer (DST) UTC+3 (UTC+3)
Drives on the right
Internet TLD .jo
Calling code 962