Contents
Country Overview
Jordan is a constitutional hereditary monarchy in Western Asia, bordering Syria, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Israel and the West Bank. The Hashemite Kingdom has a predominantly arid landscape, a short Red Sea coastline at Aqaba, and important historical sites at Petra, Jerash and Wadi Rum. Its economy combines services, tourism, manufacturing, phosphate and potash production, and external trade. Water scarcity, labor-market pressures and refugee-hosting commitments are major policy issues. King Abdullah II remains head of state and Prime Minister Jafar Hassan leads the cabinet.
CapitalAmmanKingdom’s seat of government [2]
Population11.52 millionWorld Bank 2025 estimate [3]
Nominal GDPUS$61.61 billionWorld Bank 2025 [3]
Head of stateKing Abdullah IIRoyal Hashemite Court, November 2026 [5]
Prime ministerJafar HassanCurrent government formed September 2024 [6]
UNESCO World Heritage8 properties6 cultural, 1 natural, 1 mixed; 2026 [12]
Data and status note: The 2015 Jordanian census counted 9,531,712 persons, including non-Jordanians, while the World Bank estimates 11,520,684 residents in 2025. Registered refugees are a separate UNHCR administrative population, not an amount to add automatically to residents. The World Bank modeled unemployment figure (16.5% in 2025) differs from the IMF table’s national unemployment measure (21.3%). WTO merchandise trade covers 2024, while GDP and population are shown for 2025. The Aqaba Marine Reserve inscription in 2026 raised the World Heritage count to eight.
Identity & State Formation
- Official name
- Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan (Al-Mamlakah al-Urdunniyyah al-Hāshimiyyah). [2]
- Short name
- Jordan; Arabic name Al-Urdunn. [2]
- Capital
- Amman, national government and principal metropolitan center. [2]
- UN region
- Western Asia in the UN M49 system. [1]
- Government form
- Hereditary constitutional parliamentary monarchy. [2][5]
- Monarch
- King Abdullah II, who succeeded King Hussein in 1999. [5]
- Crown prince
- Al Hussein bin Abdullah II is the heir apparent. [5]
- Head of government
- Prime Minister Jafar Hassan, whose government was formed September 18, 2024. [6]
- Constitutional framework
- 1952 constitution, as subsequently amended. [2]
- Independence
- 25 May 1946 is commemorated as independence from the British mandate framework. [2]
- National holiday
- Independence Day is May 25. [2]
- Official language
- Arabic; English is widely used in commerce and professional settings. [2][21]
- Official religion
- Islam is designated as the state religion under the constitutional framework. [2]
- Currency
- Jordanian dinar (JOD), subdivided into 1,000 fils. [19]
- Exchange-rate arrangement
- Dinar’s exchange-rate policy maintains a long-standing peg to the US dollar. [19]
- ISO identifiers
- JO, JOR and numeric code 400. [1]
- Telephone code
- +962. [1]
- National flag
- Black, white and green horizontal stripes with a red hoist triangle and white star. [2]
- Administrative divisions
- 12 governorates, each with districts and smaller jurisdictions. [2]
- Hashemite dynasty
- Royal family traces political lineage to the Hashemite tradition. [5]
- Historical Transjordan
- Emirate of Transjordan emerged in the post–World War I mandate period. [2]
- 1946 independence
- The independent kingdom developed from Transjordan’s earlier administration. [2]
- Arab League membership
- Jordan participates in Arab regional diplomacy through the League of Arab States. [20]
- United Nations admission
- Jordan was admitted as a UN member in 1955. [20]
Geography & Population
Jordan’s resident-population estimates include noncitizen residents, while UNHCR and UNRWA registration schemes serve different administrative purposes.
- Regional location
- Western Asia, between the Levant and northern Arabian Peninsula. [1][2]
- Approximate area
- 89,213 square kilometres in the Government of Jordan’s geographic overview. [2]
- North border
- Syria. [2]
- East border
- Iraq. [2]
- South border
- Saudi Arabia. [2]
- West frontier
- Israel and the occupied West Bank border areas. [2][20]
- Red Sea access
- A short shoreline at Aqaba on the Gulf of Aqaba. [2]
- Maritime context
- Aqaba provides international sea access through the Gulf of Aqaba. [2]
- Primary inland-water feature
- The Jordan River system and terminal Dead Sea basin. [18]
- Dead Sea
- Extremely saline lake in a closed basin well below sea level. [18]
- Western highlands
- Uplands overlook the Jordan Rift Valley. [18]
- Eastern plateau
- Broad limestone and basalt desert and steppe environments. [18]
- Wadi Rum
- Sandstone and granite desert landscape in southern Jordan. [12]
- Dana region
- Rift escarpments and diverse habitats connect uplands and arid lowlands. [21]
- Eastern badia
- Sparsely populated arid interior supports pastoral and other desert activities. [18]
- Rainfall distribution
- Higher precipitation in western and northern uplands than eastern desert areas. [18]
- Water limitation
- Jordan is among the world’s highly water-stressed countries. [22][18]
- Heat exposure
- Hot dry summers characterize much of the kingdom. [18]
- Winter season
- Winter precipitation supplies important rainfall in uplands. [18]
- Population estimate
- 11,520,684 people in the World Bank 2025 series. [3]
- 2015 census total
- 9,531,712 counted persons, including non-Jordanians. [4][2]
- Census/estimate distinction
- A counted 2015 population and 2025 modeled estimate are not directly interchangeable. [4][3]
- Population concentration
- Amman and other northwestern urban areas hold a large share of residents. [2]
- Main northern cities
- Irbid and Zarqa are major population and economic centers. [2]
- Southern urban center
- Aqaba is the maritime and logistics gateway. [2]
- Governorates
- Amman, Irbid, Zarqa, Mafraq, Ajloun, Jerash, Madaba, Balqa, Karak, Tafileh, Maan and Aqaba. [2]
- Highest mountain terrain
- Southern uplands near Jabal Umm ad Dami exceed 1,800 metres. [2]
- Agricultural belt
- Irrigated Jordan Valley and rain-fed northern/western zones support cultivation. [22]
- Flood exposure
- Episodic heavy rainfall can cause dangerous flash flooding in wadis. [18]
- Drought pressure
- Water scarcity worsens under warming, demand growth and drought. [18][22]
- Population and refugees
- Host population includes diverse legal categories; refugee registries are separate from resident estimates. [15][3]
- 2025 UNHCR registrations
- Around 444,000 refugees and asylum seekers registered at December 2025; 95 percent from Syria. [15]
- Palestine refugee system
- UNRWA registers and serves Palestine refugees in Jordan using distinct eligibility rules. [16]
- Marine conservation
- Aqaba Marine Reserve safeguards coral and associated coastal ecosystems. [13]
Population and humanitarian reference dates
| Population measure | Figure | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| Jordan 2015 census | 9,531,712 | Counted residents including noncitizens |
| World Bank 2025 estimate | 11,520,684 | Model-based harmonized resident estimate |
| UNHCR registrations, December 2025 | ~444,000 | UNHCR registered refugees/asylum seekers; 95% Syria |
Economy & International Trade
GDP and labor statistics use different national/international definitions; the unemployment measures below should not be treated as mutually interchangeable.
- Economic structure
- Services-led economy with manufacturing, commerce, tourism and mining. [3][11]
- Nominal GDP, 2025
- Approximately US$61.61 billion in World Bank current dollars. [3]
- GDP per capita, 2025
- Approximately US$5,347.8 in the World Bank series. [3]
- GDP real growth, 2025
- About 2.8 percent in World Bank and IMF data. [3][11]
- Consumer inflation, 2025
- About 1.8 percent in the World Bank series. [3]
- Modeled unemployment, 2025
- World Bank/ILO modeled series reports about 16.5 percent. [3]
- National unemployment, 2025
- IMF Jordan table reports 21.3 percent under a different national labor measure. [11]
- Currency regime
- Jordanian dinar, maintained in a US-dollar peg arrangement. [19]
- Central bank
- Central Bank of Jordan oversees monetary and banking policy. [19]
- Banking and finance
- Banking, insurance, investment and professional services contribute to GDP. [19][11]
- Public finance
- Fiscal management balances development needs, debt, grants and interest costs. [11]
- Government debt measure
- IMF 2025 government/guaranteed debt measure differs from net-of-social-security figures. [11]
- Primary exports
- Garments, pharmaceuticals, fertilizers, potash, phosphates and jewelry are important. [10]
- Garment industry
- Textile and apparel manufacturing serves export markets including the United States. [10]
- Mineral resources
- Phosphate rock and potash deposits support chemical and fertilizer exports. [10]
- Pharmaceutical industry
- Generic medicine production and exports contribute to industry. [10]
- Agriculture
- Fruits, vegetables and olive cultivation are important but water-constrained. [22]
- Water-dependent farming
- Irrigation must compete with urban and industrial demand for scarce freshwater. [22][18]
- Information technology
- IT outsourcing, digital services and entrepreneurial firms are part of services development. [22]
- Tourism receipts
- Petra, Wadi Rum, Amman, Jerash and religious sites attract visitors. [12]
- Aqaba trade gateway
- Port functions handle maritime goods, tourism and logistics. [2]
- Remittances
- Overseas workers’ transfers are an important external-income flow. [3][11]
- External aid
- Grants and concessional financing help support the budget and refugee services. [11][15]
- Energy imports
- Fuel imports and energy security are important external-balance concerns. [11]
- Renewables
- Solar and wind development are strategic responses to import exposure. [11][18]
- Merchandise exports, 2024
- US$12.515 billion in the WTO profile. [10]
- Merchandise imports, 2024
- US$26.283 billion in the WTO profile. [10]
- Merchandise trade deficit, 2024
- Approximate US$13.768 billion based on stated WTO merchandise flows. [10]
- Top export destination, 2024
- United States received 26.2 percent of Jordan’s recorded goods exports. [10]
- Saudi export destination
- Saudi Arabia received 13.1 percent of goods exports in 2024. [10]
- India export destination
- India received about 11.2 percent of exports in 2024. [10]
- Iraq export destination
- Iraq accounted for approximately 10.9 percent of exports in 2024. [10]
- Largest import supplier, 2024
- China represented 19.6 percent of Jordan’s goods imports. [10]
- Saudi import supplier
- Saudi Arabia represented 15.6 percent of imports in 2024. [10]
- EU import supplier
- European Union represented 15.3 percent of imports in 2024. [10]
- Public-sector reform
- Revenue administration, enterprise policy and labor-market participation are reform concerns. [11]
- Climate/economic interaction
- Severe water constraints raise costs for agriculture, households and industry. [18][22]
- Trade measurement
- WTO product and partner data record goods rather than services, tourism or remittances. [10]
Jordan 2025 economic indicators
| Measure | Value | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Nominal GDP | US$61.61 billion | World Bank current-dollar series |
| GDP per capita | US$5,347.8 | World Bank |
| Real GDP growth | 2.8% | World Bank / IMF |
| Inflation | 1.8% | World Bank |
| Modeled unemployment | 16.5% | World Bank/ILO |
| National unemployment | 21.3% | IMF Jordan table; separate definition |
Jordan 2024 merchandise trade
| Flow | US$ billion | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Exports | 12.515 | WTO profile, goods |
| Imports | 26.283 | WTO profile, goods |
| Deficit | −13.768 | Exports minus imports, rounded |
Principal trade partners, 2024
| Direction / partner | Share | US$ billion |
|---|---|---|
| Exports — United States | 26.2% | 3.280 |
| Exports — Saudi Arabia | 13.1% | 1.635 |
| Exports — India | 11.2% | 1.397 |
| Imports — China | 19.6% | 5.158 |
| Imports — Saudi Arabia | 15.6% | 4.102 |
People & Society
- Official language
- Modern Standard Arabic in official documentation. [2]
- Spoken language
- Jordanian varieties of Arabic predominate in daily life. [2][21]
- English in society
- English is commonly taught and used in some professional sectors. [21]
- Religious composition
- Predominantly Muslim, with historic Christian communities and other minorities. [2][21]
- Religious history
- Christian pilgrimage and Islamic historical sites have longstanding regional importance. [12]
- Population diversity
- Citizens, migrant workers, refugees and other residents have distinct legal statuses. [4][15]
- Palestinian-origin communities
- People with Palestinian family roots are a major part of Jordanian social history. [16]
- Syrian refugee context
- UNHCR registrations and returns changed after political developments in Syria in 2024–2025. [15]
- Refugee protection
- UNHCR supports registered displaced people and coordinates with Jordanian agencies. [15]
- Education
- Public and private schools and universities serve a growing youth population. [21]
- Higher education
- Universities and professional institutions are concentrated in major cities. [21]
- Health services
- Public, military and private services coexist in the healthcare system. [17]
- Life expectancy
- World Bank 2024 rounded life expectancy is approximately 78 years. [3][17]
- Population pressures
- Urban growth adds demand for housing, employment, water and transportation. [22][3]
- Youth employment
- Skills, job creation and labor participation are central economic policy questions. [11]
- Women’s participation
- Legal and institutional reforms address education, labor and political representation. [9][11]
- Women’s reserved seats
- 18 local district seats are reserved for women in the 138-member lower house. [9]
- Family networks
- Extended kinship and local community institutions remain socially influential. [21]
- Traditional crafts
- Weaving, decorative arts, architecture and hospitality have local traditions. [14]
- Bedouin heritage
- Southern desert communities preserve distinctive oral, musical and social practices. [14][12]
- Food culture
- Mansaf, bread, olives, legumes and regional dishes are widely associated with Jordanian cuisine. [14]
- Historic cities
- Amman, Jerash, Salt and Karak preserve varied Roman, Islamic and Ottoman heritage. [12]
- Architecture
- Petra’s rock-cut structures and Umm al-Jimāl’s basalt buildings illustrate distinct periods. [12]
- Cultural institutions
- Museums, festivals and heritage organizations support archaeology and living traditions. [21]
- Sports
- Football and other team sports have national audiences. [21]
- Media
- Arabic-language broadcasting and digital news serve diverse communities. [21]
- Climate adaptation
- Public awareness of water conservation is essential to household and municipal planning. [18][22]
- Protected cultural landscapes
- Heritage preservation intersects with tourism, livelihoods and ecological protection. [12]
Government & Institutions
- Constitutional monarchy
- Hereditary monarchy operating under the constitution and parliamentary institutions. [2]
- Current monarch
- Abdullah II, king since 1999; served as head of state in November 2026. [5][23]
- Crown prince
- Al Hussein bin Abdullah II is the designated heir. [5]
- Head of government
- Prime Minister Jafar Hassan, serving in November 2026. [6][7]
- Government formation
- Current cabinet initially formed September 18, 2024. [6]
- 2026 cabinet changes
- Royal decree approved a cabinet reshuffle August 11, 2026. [7]
- Monarch’s executive authority
- King appoints the prime minister and exercises constitutional royal prerogatives. [2][5]
- National legislature
- Bicameral National Assembly (Majlis al-Umma). [9]
- Lower chamber
- House of Representatives (Majlis al-Nuwaab) has 138 seats. [9]
- Upper chamber
- Senate (Majlis al-Aayan) consists of appointed members. [9][5]
- 2024 election date
- House of Representatives election was September 10, 2024. [8]
- 2024 electoral arrangement
- 97 local seats and 41 nationwide party-list seats. [8]
- Islamic Action Front
- Won 31 lower-house seats in the 2024 election. [8]
- Political representation
- Parties and local constituency candidacies participate under the election law. [8]
- Women’s local seat reservation
- 18 seats in local constituencies reserved for women. [9]
- Christian reserved representation
- Nine lower-house seats reserved for Christians across electoral channels. [9]
- Circassian/Chechen reservations
- Three lower-house seats reserved for Circassians and Chechens. [9]
- Eligibility change
- 2022 reforms lowered the minimum candidate age for parliament to 25. [8]
- Constitutional history
- Basic constitutional law dates to 1952, with later amendments. [2]
- Judiciary
- Courts administer civil, criminal and other legal matters in the constitutional framework. [2]
- Government confidence
- The House of Representatives plays a role in government oversight and confidence. [9]
- Public administration
- Ministries and governorate-level administration implement policy. [2]
- 12 governorates
- Governorates are administrative, not separate sovereign political entities. [2]
- Royal addresses
- The king opened the 20th Parliament’s third ordinary session November 2, 2026. [5]
- Foreign affairs
- Crown, cabinet and foreign ministry conduct state diplomacy. [5][20]
- Legislative modernization
- Reforms seek to increase the share of party-list parliamentary seats in future cycles. [8]
- Rule-of-law debates
- Law, public accountability and institutional oversight are recurring policy themes. [5]
- Political rights
- Civil participation exists alongside limitations debated by domestic and international observers. [8]
- Security institutions
- Internal security and armed forces operate within the monarchy’s national security framework. [5]
- Government chronology
- 2024 parliamentary election, 2024 Hassan cabinet and 2026 reshuffle must be distinguished. [8][6][7]
Lower-house election framework, 2024
| Institutional component | Seats | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Local electoral constituencies | 97 | Local open lists |
| National party constituency | 41 | National closed lists |
| Total House | 138 | Five-year election cycle under law |
| Islamic Action Front | 31 won | 2024 opposition party seat count |
International Profile
The UNESCO 2026 property inventory includes a newly inscribed natural site and should not be reduced to the prior seven-property count.
- UN membership
- Jordan joined the United Nations in 1955. [20]
- Arab League
- Member of the League of Arab States. [20]
- Organization of Islamic Cooperation
- Participates in the OIC. [20]
- WTO membership
- Member of the World Trade Organization since 2000. [10]
- Diplomatic position
- Has ties to Arab neighbors, major Western governments and international agencies. [20]
- Jordan–Israel peace
- Bilateral peace treaty concluded in 1994; regional disputes remain unresolved. [20]
- Palestinian question
- Jordan supports a negotiated political resolution and hosts large Palestinian-origin communities. [20][16]
- Holy sites role
- Hashemite custodial responsibilities are associated with Muslim and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem. [5][20]
- Syria border
- Relations involve border security, trade and changing refugee-return conditions. [20][15]
- Iraq relations
- Trade, energy and transport corridors connect the two countries. [20][10]
- Saudi relations
- Saudi Arabia is a major border neighbor and merchandise trading partner. [20][10]
- Aqaba Process
- Jordanian initiative facilitates dialogue on counterterrorism and emerging security risks. [23]
- Kazakhstan 2026 visit
- King Abdullah II travelled to Kazakhstan on November 5, 2026 for bilateral and Aqaba Process discussions. [23]
- Refugee cooperation
- UNHCR works with Jordan on protection, services and voluntary return. [15]
- Palestine refugee institutions
- UNRWA provides separate mandated services for registered Palestine refugees. [16]
- Environmental diplomacy
- Water and climate cooperation is central to international development programs. [18][22]
- Water basin challenges
- River flows, groundwater scarcity and shared basins create cross-border policy needs. [22]
- Climate agreements
- Jordan participates in multilateral climate work. [18][20]
- World Heritage total
- Eight properties inscribed by UNESCO as of 2026. [12]
- Cultural UNESCO count
- Six cultural properties are inscribed. [12]
- Natural UNESCO count
- One natural property, Aqaba Marine Reserve, inscribed in 2026. [12][13]
- Mixed UNESCO count
- Wadi Rum Protected Area is listed as a mixed property. [12]
- Petra
- Nabataean rock-cut archaeological city inscribed in 1985. [12]
- Quseir Amra
- Early Islamic desert monument inscribed in 1985. [12]
- Um er-Rasas
- Archaeological complex inscribed in 2004. [12]
- Wadi Rum
- Protected desert landscape inscribed in 2011 for natural and cultural values. [12]
- Baptism site
- Bethany Beyond the Jordan (Al-Maghtas) inscribed in 2015. [12]
- As-Salt
- Historical urban hospitality landscape inscribed in 2021. [12]
- Umm Al-Jimāl
- Ancient settlement inscribed in 2024. [12]
- Aqaba Marine Reserve
- New natural World Heritage property inscribed in 2026. [13]
- Tentative list
- UNESCO separately records nominated candidate sites on a tentative list. [12]
- Intangible heritage
- Oral, performing and social practices appear in distinct UNESCO intangible inventories. [14]
- Archaeology
- Petra, Jerash and desert sites connect Jordan to Nabataean, Roman and Islamic histories. [12]
- International tourism
- Heritage destinations contribute to trade in services, not merchandise exports. [12][10]
UNESCO World Heritage — Jordan
| Property | Category | Inscribed |
|---|---|---|
| Petra | Cultural | 1985 |
| Quseir Amra | Cultural | 1985 |
| Um er-Rasas | Cultural | 2004 |
| Wadi Rum Protected Area | Mixed | 2011 |
| Baptism Site / Al-Maghtas | Cultural | 2015 |
| As-Salt | Cultural | 2021 |
| Umm Al-Jimāl | Cultural | 2024 |
| Aqaba Marine Reserve | Natural | 2026 |
Sources and Methodology
Jordan’s 2015 Department of Statistics census is a counted population and should not be substituted for the World Bank 2025 resident estimate. UNHCR end-2025 registrations, UNRWA Palestine-refugee records and resident estimates have different coverage and cannot simply be summed. The World Bank modeled unemployment statistic is not the same indicator as the IMF’s government labor-force statistic. WTO 2024 merchandise trade excludes tourism, remittances and other services.
Editorial cutoff: November 6, 2026 (Pacific Time). Official data and international series have different observation dates, definitions, and publication lags. Historical, provisional, and projected values are identified; refresh the page after new elections, statistical revisions, or legal changes.
- UN Statistics Division — M49 region and codes — Western Asia statistical classification and identifiers.
- Government of Jordan — About Jordan — geography, governorates, government and census.
- World Bank — Jordan country indicators — 2025 population, GDP, prices, growth and modeled unemployment.
- Jordan Department of Statistics — 2015 census — census program, counted-population definitions and demographic baseline.
- Royal Hashemite Court — King’s parliamentary address, November 2, 2026 — current monarch, legislature and royal constitutional role.
- Jordan Prime Ministry — Current government — Prime Minister Jafar Hassan and government formation September 2024.
- Royal Hashemite Court — August 2026 cabinet reshuffle — 2026 government continuity and cabinet changes.
- IPU Parline — Jordan 2024 House election — 138-seat election, mixed voting rules and parties.
- IPU Parline — Jordan House of Representatives — seats, gender/minority reservations and elections.
- WTO Tariff & Trade Data — Jordan — 2024 merchandise trade, partners and products.
- IMF — Jordan review, June 17, 2026 — 2025 economic outlook, unemployment-measure caveat, public debt and remittances.
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre — Jordan — eight World Heritage properties including 2026 Aqaba Marine Reserve.
- UNESCO — Aqaba Marine Reserve — marine natural World Heritage inscription 2026.
- UNESCO — Jordan intangible cultural heritage — living heritage and safeguarding.
- UNHCR — Jordan Annual Results Report 2025 — UNHCR-registered refugee and asylum-seeker population at end-2025.
- UNRWA — Where we work: Jordan — registered Palestine refugees and separate UNRWA services.
- WHO — Jordan health profile — comparable health and longevity measures.
- World Bank Climate Knowledge Portal — Jordan — aridity, water stress, heat and climate exposure.
- Central Bank of Jordan — monetary and exchange-rate framework.
- Jordan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates — regional diplomacy and multilateral engagement.
- UNESCO — Jordan country overview — cultural, scientific and educational heritage.
- World Bank — Jordan overview — economic development and structural water challenges.
- Royal Hashemite Court — November 5, 2026 Kazakhstan visit — recent high-level diplomacy and confirmed king.