The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is an Arab and Muslim country located in the northern part of the Arabian Peninsula and in Western Asia. It is bordered by Syria to the north, Iraq to the east, Saudi Arabia to the south and southeast, and Palestine (the West Bank) to the west. Jordan was named after the Jordan River, which runs along its western border. Amman is its capital.
Official Language
The official language of the Kingdom is Arabic, while English is the second most widely used language.
System of Government
The system of government in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is a hereditary parliamentary monarchy. His Majesty King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein is the Head of State and the head of the three branches of government. His Majesty is also the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces.
The Jordanian Flag
The Jordanian flag has its roots in the banner of the Great Arab Revolt of 1916, from which it was adopted. Its black, white, and green colors represent the Abbasid, Umayyad, and Fatimid dynasties, respectively. The red triangle that brings together the sections of the flag represents the Hashemite dynasty. The seven-pointed star at the center of the red triangle symbolizes the seven verses of Al-Fatihah, the opening chapter of the Holy Qur’an.
Population Diversity
According to the 2005 population census, Jordan’s population was approximately 5.7 million. Arabs constitute the vast majority of the population (98%), while other ethnic groups include Circassians (1%) and Armenians (1%). The population is concentrated mainly in the central and northern regions of the country. Islam is the official religion, with Sunni Muslims accounting for approximately 92% of the population. Followers of other Islamic schools and sects, including the Druze, account for around 2%. Christians constitute approximately 6% of the population, the majority of whom belong to the Orthodox Church.
Area and Location
The Kingdom covers a total area of 92,300 square kilometers, of which 91,971 square kilometers are land and 329 square kilometers are water. Jordan’s borders extend for a total of 1,635 kilometers: 744 kilometers with Saudi Arabia, 375 kilometers with Syria, 238 kilometers along the 1948 Green Line, 181 kilometers with Iraq, and 97 kilometers with the West Bank—the shortest border segment.
Jordan also has access to the Red Sea through the city of Aqaba, located at the northern end of the Gulf of Aqaba. The country’s lowest point is the surface of the Dead Sea, at 408 meters below sea level, while its highest point is the summit of Mount Umm ad Dami, which rises to 1,854 meters above sea level.
Official Currency
The official currency is the Jordanian dinar (JOD), which is divided into 1,000 fils or 100 qirsh (piastres). Banknotes are issued in denominations of 50, 20, 10, 5, and 1 dinar. Coins are issued in denominations of half a dinar, a quarter dinar, and 100, 50, 25, 10, and 5 fils.