Located in the Middle East, Jordan has a landmass of 89,200 square kilometers (34,440 square miles). With Amman as its capital, it is bordered by Syria on the north, Iraq on the east, Saudi Arabia on the south, and the West Bank and Israel on the west, with only a small window on the Red Sea. Jordan's population number some 5.8 million in 2005 not including the many Palestinian refugees living there. The population is mostly concentrated in urban areas due to the harsh nature of the countryside: Most of Jordan (75 percent) is desert. Its peoples are 92 percent Muslim, 6 percent Christian, and 2 percent other religious minorities. These religions may be further divided into ethnic

(MAP BY MARYLAND CARTOGRAPHICS/THE GALE GROUP)

groups: Arabs account for 98 percent, Circassians 1 percent, and Armenians 1 percent. The country is rich in phosphate, potash, and shale oil. However, it is generally poor in natural resources and also lacks...