At a Glance

Official Name: Kingdom of Jordan

Continent: Asia (Middle East)

Area: 34,318 square miles (88,884 sq km)

Population: 5,153,378

Capital City: Amman

Largest City: Amman (965,000)

Unit of Money: Jordanian dinar

Major Languages: Arabic (official), English

Literacy: 83%

Land Use: 4% arable, 1% permanent crops; 9% meadow, 1% forest, 85% other

Natural Resources: Phosphates, potash, shale oil

Government: Constitutional monarchy

Defense: 448 million

The Place

Jordan is in the Middle East, and shares borders with Israel, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Syria. It is almost completely surrounded, except for a 16-mile- (26-km-) long coastline on the Gulf of Aqaba. The country has 3 main land regions.

The Jordan River Valley begins south of the Sea of Galilee and extends down to the Dead Sea. The Jordan River flows through the valley and empties into the sea. This area is very hot, usually reaching more than 100°F (38° C) in summer months.

The Transjordan Plateau begins near the Syrian border. The plateau is shaped like a triangle, and narrows as it extends southward. The terrain is made up of hills that average 3,000 feet (900 m) in elevation.

The Syrian Desert is located south and east of the plateau. This area is very dry, with only about 10 inches (25 cm) of rainfall annually. Temperatures often reach 120° F (49° C) in the summer.

The People

Most of the population inhabits the highlands in the northwest. The country has a population density of 160 people per square mile (50 people per sq km). About three-quarters of Jordanians live in urban areas. Many city people live in modern homes or apartments with electricity and running water. Although some areas are quite crowded, living conditions are