Area: 34.443 square miles (89.206 sq. km), not including the west bank of Palestine, to which king Hussein renounced Jordan’s claim in 1988.

Population: 3.2 million not including the west bank. (1991 estimate: probably substantially raised by Gulf war refugees).

Capital City: Amman (Pop. almost 1 million).

Climate: Hot and dry in summer, but winter can be cold with moderate rain and occasional snow in the northwestern part of the country. The Jordan Valley and Aqapa area are warmer. The eastern and southern regions are desert.

Neighboring Countries: Syria (north), Iraq (northeast), Saudi Arabia (southeast), Palestine (west)

Time Zone: GMT + 2. When it is noon Pacific Standard Time in the U.S. it is 10.00 P.M. in Jordan.

Official Language: Arabic

Other Principal Tongues: English is widely used as a secondary language.

Ethnic Background: Physical appearance is of Mediterranean type, except for small Circassian communities of Amman district, nearly all are identified as Arab.

Principal Religion: Sunni Islam (about 91%) and Christianity.

Chief Commercial Products: Phosphate, olive oil, tomatoes, wheat, barley, figs, lentils, tobacco, sheepskins, hides, cement, salt and refined petroleum products.

Currency: Dinar (JD 1 = $ 1.47 U.S.).

Independence Day: May 25, 1946.

Chief of State: Abdullah Ibn Al-Hussein Al-Hashimi, King.

National Flag: Three horizontal stripes of black, white and a red triangle at the pole bearing a white seven pointed star.