Modern states /
Jordan
The Hashimite Kingdom of Jordan
Arabic: 'al-mamlakatu l-urdunniyyati l-hāshimiyya

Play national anthem Search 'Jordan' Major cities Amman 1.4 million Zarqa 510,000 Irbid 300,000 Ramtha 100,000 Aqaba 85,000 Madaba 80,000 Salt 80,000 Karak 75,000 Jerash 32,000 All figures are 2005 estimates.		Status Independent monarchy, divided into 12 governorates (muhafaza(t)). Day of independence: May 25, 1946 (from League of Nations mandate under British administration). Government Head of state: King Abdullah 2. Prime minister: Faysal al-Fayez. National Assemblies: The Senate has 55 members appointed by the king, up from 40 before. The House of Representatives has 110 members elected in general elections, where 6 seats are reserved for women. Geography Inhabitants: 5.9 million (2005 estimate). Census December 10 1994: 4.14 million (52% male, 48% female). Population growth rate: 2.9% Total area: 97,740 kmē Water: 329 km² Density: 60 per kmē Border: 1,635 km (Palestine 97 km, Israel 238 km, Saudi Arabia 744 km, Iraq 181 km, Syria 375 km). Coastline: 26 km. Highest point: Jabal Ram 1,734 m Lowest point: Dead Sea -408 m Arable land: 2.9% Capital: Amman Human Development Index World rank (of 177): 86 Index (1.0 max):0.760 Explanation Demography Ethnic groups: Palestinian Arabs, Bedouins, Circassians, Armenians. Languages: Arabic. Religions: Sunni Islam, Christianity, Druze Shi'i Islam. Economy Currency: Dinars (JOD) 1 Dinar=US$1.41. US$1=0.71 (fixed)

Climate and Geography
Most of Jordan is semi-desert, while the eastern regions often tips over to being desert. Jordan relies much on the sparse rain falling over the country, and water flushing through the Jordan Valley (along the Jordan river).
When Jordan's territories west of the Dead Sea were lost in the war against Israel in 1967, half of the country's agricultural land disappeared (the just claim to this land is since 1988 transferred from Jordan to Palestine). Jordan is partly mountainous.
Jordan has been strongly urbanized in modern ages, and most of the nomadic activities of the indeginous bedouin population has disappeared. Even if the recent years have shown many challenges for the society and the economy, Jordan is still among the best organized societies in the Middle East.