Where We Are

The ethnic groups of Jordan are composed of an Arab majority and small communities of Circassians, Armenians and Kurds. The religious groups represented in Jordan are Sunni Muslims (97.2 percent) and Christians (2.2 percent). The population of Jordan is estimated to be 11.7 million. Amman, the capital and largest city in Jordan, has an estimated population of around 4 million.

Arabic is the official language, but English is commonly used in education, government and business. Jordan is classified by the World Bank as a “lower middle income country.” With literacy rates at 95.9 percent, however, Jordan ranks highly against other countries with similar incomes.

The climate in Jordan is generally that of a desert environment, with little rain, cool nights and moderate winters. Amman and Madaba typically receive rain and snowfall between November and March. Spring and autumn are the most pleasant seasons in Jordan, with clear skies and comfortable temperatures. The summer is usually characterized by dry, hot conditions.

Visit Jordan

Visit Madaba

MIT blog: Marhaba Jordan

Lonely Planet: Jordan