- Jordan is bordered by the middle Eastern Countries of Syria, Iraq and Saudi Arabia and is made up of 3 regions; the Jordan Valley, the East Bank Plateau and the desert, which contributes to 80% of this makeup. Its population amounts to 6,198,677 (July 2008 est.). Arabic is spoken and most speak English, the latter, to some, is considered to be a second language. And with regard to religion, Islam is the most predominant.
- The country is ruled by His Majesty King Abdullah II. He successfully continues his father’s, Hussein, peacemaking through diplomacy. The country’s constitution formed in 1951 is that of parliamentary government with a limited monarchy. The large Palestinian representation in government and in population has had Jordan on the fringes of civil war many times.
- The majority of Jordan’s population is of Bedouin origin. Some are nomads but most have settled and combine the two lifestyles to some degree. However, although government infrastructures and services are present and available to the Bedouin, some are happy to rely on the traditions that have served them well enough in the past.
- Jordan experiences a very rainy season from November to March and dry weather for the rest of the year. Unfortunately it suffers from serious desertification as a result of overgrazing and there are also water shortages as the main rivers (the Jordan and Yarmouk Rivers) have been over exploited for irrigation purposes.