This article is about the demographic features of the population of Jordan, including population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population. According to the OECD/World Bank, the Jordanian population increased from 1990 to 2008 by 2.7 million – an 86% growth in population, compared to 39% growth in Lebanon, 56% growth in Israel, 67% growth in Syria and according to the U.S. Census 106% growth in the Palestinian territories. Native Jordanians are mostly descended from village-dwellers and Bedouins originating in the Arabian Peninsula. Half of Jordan’s population are of Palestinian origin. In addition, there are minorities such as Circassians, Chechens, Armenians and refugees such as Iraqis, Syrians, Assyrians. There is also hundreds of thousands of guest workers from Egypt, Syria, Indonesia, and South Asia work as domestic and construction employees. The official language is Arabic. English is used widely in commerce and government. About 70% of Jordan’s population is urban; less than 6% of the rural population is nomadic or semi-nomadic. Most people live where the rainfall supports agriculture.
