Jordan is a country that has been at the crossroads of major empires and three great religions for millenia, leaving it with an historical legacy that belies its small size. One of the most popular travel destinations in the region, its jewel is the ancient rock-carved city of Petra, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Exploring this mythical lost city is an exhilerating experience, with its spectacular structures and mysterious location hidden in the mountains of southern Jordan. The country also contains some excellent Roman ruins, particularly at Jerash, one of the best preserved provincial Roman towns in the world, and numerous medieval castles recalling the centuries long struggle between the Crusaders and Muslim forces. Jordan also has some unique and breathtaking natural features. At Wadi Rum, you can follow in the footsteps of Lawrence of Arabia amidst stunning desert and mountain scenery while floating in the Dead Sea, one of the lowest points on earth, provides a truly memorable travel experience. Explore in depth highlights of Jordan.
| Tours | Unesco WHS | Guidebooks |
|---|---|---|
| groups tours with set departures |
World Heritage Sites | country, regions and cities |
| Time zone: | GMT +2 (Jordan standard time) |
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| Daylight savings: | GMT +1hr, begins last Thursday in March; ends last Friday in September |
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| Main languages: | Arabic |
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| Currency: |
Jordanian dinars (JOD) €1 = JOD0.79, $1 = JOD0.71, £1 = JOD0.00 (rates as of Sep 2016) |
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| Internet Domain: | .jo | International Dialling Code: 962 |
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For help planning your trip to Jordan including visas, vaccinations, currency exchange, flights, accomodation and insurance, see our Jordan trip planning page.
Further information on Jordan
Discover more about Jordan - the country's geogrpahy and natural features, an assessment of its status on freedom and rights and data on the country's population and economy.
Geography & Natural Features
Total area: 92,300 sq km (329 sq km under water)
Coastline: 26 km (Red Sea)
Neighbours (border lengths): Iraq (181km), Israel (238km), Saudi Arabia (744km), Syria (375km), West Bank (97km)
Climate: Most of Jordan is covered by desert making for hot, dry summers and warm winters. The north-west has a Mediterranean climate with warm summers and mild, wet winters. September to June are the best months to visit, though winter nights can be cold.
Highest mountain: Jabal Ram (1,734m)
Freedom & Rights
Summary status and rankings for Jordan from classifications of different organisations measuring political and economic freedom, democracy and civil rights. See more details of these rankings.
| Index | Status | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Freedom in the World | Not Free | - |
 | Democracy Index | Authoritarian regime | 121/167 |
 | Economic Freedom | Moderately Free | 38/179 |
 | Press Freedom | Difficult situation | 141/179 |
 | ILGA LGBT rights | Limited rights | - |
 | Corruption Perceptions | Medium corruption | 55/174 |
| Overall Ranking: | 124/195 | ||
Other Data & Links
Full name: Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan Status: Independent Country
Population: 7,930,491 (rank: 97/196) Density: 85.9 people/sq km (rank: 92/196)
Ethnic groups: Arab 98%, Circassian 1%, Armenian 1%
Religions: Sunni Muslim 92%, Christian 6% (majority Greek Orthodox, but some Greek and Roman Catholics, Syrian Orthodox, Coptic Orthodox, Armenian Orthodox, and Protestant denominations), other 2% (several small Shia Muslim and Druze populations) (2001 est.)
GDP (PPP): $40.02 billion GDP per capita: $6,100 (rank: 122/195)
Information derived from the CIA World Factbook. Other country profiles: BBC News.