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 Jordan| Facts & Figures |
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| Ruler: King Abdullah
II (1999) Prime Minister: Nader
Dahabi (2007) Land area: 35,344 sq mi (91,541 sq km);
total area: 35,637 sq mi (92,300 sq km) excludes West
Bank Population (2009 est.): 6,342,948
(growth rate: 2.2%); birth rate: 19.5/1000; infant mortality rate:
14.9/1000; life expectancy: 78.8; density per sq km: 67
Capital and largest city (2003 est.):
Amman, 2,677,500 (metro. area), 1,293,200 Other large cities: Zarka, 512,200;
Irbid, 267,200; As-Salt, 200,400 Monetary unit: Jordanian dinar More Facts & Figures |
GeographyThe Middle East kingdom of Jordan is bordered on
the west by Israel and the Dead Sea, on the north by Syria, on the east by
Iraq, and on the south by Saudi Arabia. It is comparable in size to
Indiana. Arid hills and mountains make up most of the country. The
southern section of the Jordan River flows through the country.
GovernmentConstitutional hereditary monarchy.
HistoryIn biblical times, the country that is now
Jordan contained the lands of Edom, Moab, Ammon, and Bashan. Together with
other Middle Eastern territories, Jordan passed in turn to the Assyrians,
the Babylonians, the Persians, and, about 330
B.C.
, the Seleucids. Conflict between the Seleucids
and the Ptolemies enabled the Arabic-speaking Nabataeans to create a
kingdom in southeast Jordan. In
A.D.
106 it
became part of the Roman province of Arabia and in 633–636 was
conquered by the Arabs. In the 16th century, Jordan submitted to Ottoman
Turkish rule and was administered from Damascus. Taken from the Turks by
the British in World War I, Jordan (formerly known as Transjordan) was
separated from the Palestine mandate in 1920, and in 1921, placed under
the rule of Abdullah ibn Hussein.
In 1923, Britain recognized Jordan's
independence, subject to the mandate. In 1946, grateful for Jordan's
loyalty in World War II, Britain abolished the mandate. That part of
Palestine occupied by Jordanian troops was formally incorporated by action
of the Jordanian parliament in 1950. King Abdullah was assassinated in
1951. His son Talal, who was mentally ill, was deposed the next year.
Talal's son Hussein, born on Nov. 14, 1935, succeeded him.
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