Geography
Jordan
Area
land
88,802 sq km
water
540 sq km
total
89,342 sq km
Climate
predominantly arid desert; the western region experiences a rainy season from November to April
Terrain
largely arid desert plateau; a significant geological rift running north-south along the western part of the nation features the Jordan River Valley, the Dead Sea, and the Jordanian Highlands
Land use
other
87.7% (2023 est.)
forest
0.8% (2023 est.)
agricultural land
11.5% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 2.3% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0.9% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 8.4% (2023 est.)
Location
located in the Middle East, northwest of Saudi Arabia, bordered by Israel to the west and Iraq
Coastline
26 km
Elevation
lowest point
Dead Sea -431 m
highest point
Jabal Umm ad Dami 1,854 m
mean elevation
812 m
Irrigated land
875 sq km (2022)
Major aquifers
Arabian Aquifer System
Map references
Middle East
Land boundaries
total
1,744 km
border countries
Iraq 179 km; Israel 307 km; Saudi Arabia 731 km; Syria 379 km; West Bank 148 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea
3 nm
Natural hazards
drought conditions; occasional earthquakes; sudden flash floods
Geography - note
strategically positioned at the northern tip of the Gulf of Aqaba; this Arab nation has the longest border with Israel and the West Bank; the Dead Sea, recognized as the lowest point in Asia and the second saltiest water body globally (after Lac Assal in Djibouti), is situated along Jordan's western edge with Israel and the West Bank; while Jordan is nearly landlocked, it possesses a 26 km coastline in the southwest featuring a single port, Al 'Aqabah (Aqaba)
Natural resources
phosphates, potash, shale oil
Area - comparative
approximately three-quarters the area of Pennsylvania; slightly smaller than Indiana
Geographic coordinates
31 00 N, 36 00 E
Population distribution
population primarily concentrated in the western region, especially in the northwest around the capital city of Amman; a notable but smaller population resides in the southwest near the Gulf of Aqaba
Major lakes (area sq km)
salt water lake(s)
Dead Sea (jointly held with Israel and the West Bank) - 1,020 sq km
note - an endorheic hypersaline lake; 9.6 times saltier than the ocean; the lake's shoreline is 431 meters below sea level
Major watersheds (area sq km)
Indian Ocean drainage
(Persian Gulf) Tigris and Euphrates (918,044 sq km)