How Old is Jordan?

Jordan claimed its independence from the United Kingdom in 1921, making it 101 years old. Below are key figures, facts and stats:

Basic Info

Capital and largest city: Amman. Coordinates: 31°57′N 35°56′E

Official languages Arabic

Ethnic groups

95% Arab

3% Circassian, Chechen

2% Armenian, Asians and others

Demonym(s): Jordanian

Religion

97% Islam (official)

2% Christianity

1% Druze, Baháʼí

Government Info

Government: Unitary Parliamentary Semi-Constitutional Monarchy

• Monarch: Abdullah II

• Prime Minister: Bisher Al-Khasawneh

• Legislature: Parliament

• Upper house: Senate

• Lower house: House of Representatives

Facts on Independence from the United Kingdom

• Emirate: 11 April 1921

• Independence: 25 May 1946

• Constitution: 11 January 1952

Additional Info

• Total Area 89,342 km2 (34,495 sq mi) (110th)

• Water (%): 0.6

• Population, 2021 estimate: 11,042,719 (84th)

• 2015 census: 9,531,712

• Density: 114/km2 (295.3/sq mi) (70th)

• GDP (PPP) 2020 Estimate Total $102.158 billion (84th)

• Per capita: $10,007 (110th)

• GDP (nominal) 2020 Estimate Total: $42.609 billion (89th)

• Per capita: $4,174 (102nd)

• Gini (2011) 35.4 9(medium · 79th)

• HDI (2019) Increase 0.729 (high · 102nd)

• Currency: Jordanian dinar (JOD)

• Time zoneL UTC+2 (EET)

• Summer (DST): UTC+3 (EEST)

• Driving side: right

• Calling code: +962

• ISO 3166 code: JO

• Internet TLD: .jo .الاردن • Website: jordan.gov.jo

The Current State of Jordan

Jordan is a unitary state which is under a constitutional monarchy, as is common among those who claim independence from the United Kingdom in a (relatively) peaceful way. This means that Jordan has both a Prime Minister and a Monarch (King). The King functions as the head of state and also the commander of the Armed Forces of Jordan. The King declares peace and war and ratifies its laws and treaties. The King also convenes and closes legislative sessions and even dissolves the parliament. The King directly chooses the 65 members of the upper Senate and is opposed by the 130 members of the Lower House of Representatives, who are democratically elected by the people. There are minimum quotas to fill, including women and religious minorities.

After their independence, Jordan intervened in the creation of the state of Israel together with Palestine and other Arab states. In 1950, it annexed various lands situated on the West banks that were previously under the control of other Arab countries. In response to this, Jordan experienced a lot of political hate from its Arabic allies and was put up for expulsion from the rest of the Arab league. Years of hostilities would follow in the years to come, mainly against the newly formed state of Israel. This finally ended in 1991 at the Madrid Conference, where a peace treaty was negotiated and sponsored by the Soviet Union and the United States.

Turmoil would not end there as undercover Israeli residents would infiltrate Jordan and poison the Monarch. Abdullah II, who is still king of Jordan today, ascended to the throne in 1999 after the death of his father, Abdullah I. The ripple of protests from the formation of the Arab springs has since attempted to destabilize the country's monarchy.