History of Jordan in Timeline

Jordan, officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, is a country in West Asia's Southern Levant. Bordered by Syria, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Israel/Palestinian territories, it features the Jordan River and a Red Sea coastline via the Gulf of Aqaba. Amman is its capital and largest city, also the most populous in the Levant.

1905: Shoubak Revolt

In 1905, Transjordan's tribes revolted during the Shoubak revolt, which was brutally suppressed by the Ottoman authorities.

1908: Construction of the Hejaz Railway

In 1908, the construction of the Hejaz Railway, stretching across the length of Transjordan and linking Damascus with Medina, helped the population economically.

1908: Young Turk Revolution

In the wake of the 1908 Young Turk Revolution, the Ottoman Empire adopted increasing policies of Turkification and centralisation.

1910: Karak Revolts

In 1910, Transjordan's tribes revolted during the Karak revolts, which were brutally suppressed by the Ottoman authorities.

1915: Armenian Genocide Refugees

Descendants of Armenians who sought refuge in the Levant during the 1915 Armenian genocide numbered approximately 5,000 persons, mainly residing in Amman.

1915: McMahon–Hussein Correspondence

In 1915, the McMahon–Hussein Correspondence occurred where the British stated their willingness to recognize the independence of a unified Arab state.

June 1916: Start of Arab Revolt

On June 5, 1916, the Arab Revolt started from Medina, led by Sharif Hussein of Mecca, and pushed northwards.

1916: Great Arab Revolt

In 1916, the Great Arab Revolt occurred during World War I, leading to the partitioning of former Ottoman Syria.

1916: Sykes–Picot Agreement

In 1916, the secret Sykes–Picot Agreement divided the region into French and British spheres of influence.

July 1917: Battle of Aqaba

On July 6, 1917, the fighting during the Arab Revolt reached Transjordan in the Battle of Aqaba.

1917: Balfour Declaration

In 1917, Britain announced the Balfour Declaration, expressing its support for the establishment of a "national home" for Jews in Palestine.

October 1918: Faisal Enters Damascus

In October 1918, Faisal entered Damascus and established an Arab-led military administration in OETA East, later declared as the Arab Kingdom of Syria, both of which Transjordan was part of.

July 1920: Battle of Maysalun

On July 24, 1920, the nascent Hashemite Kingdom over the region of Syria was forced to surrender to French troops during the Battle of Maysalun, leaving Transjordan in a period of interregnum.

August 1920: Herbert Samuel in Transjordan

On August 21, 1920, British High Commissioner Herbert Samuel traveled to Transjordan and declared that the British government would aid the establishment of local governments in Transjordan.

October 1920: Establishment of the Arab Legion

On October 22, 1920, the first organised army in Jordan was established, named the "Arab Legion".

November 1920: Arrival of Abdullah in Ma'an

On November 21, 1920, Abdullah arrived from Hejaz by train in Ma'an in southern Transjordan to redeem the Greater Syrian Kingdom.

March 1921: British Decision on Transjordan

In March 1921, the British decided to add Transjordan to their Mandate for Palestine.

April 1921: Establishment of the Emirate of Transjordan

On April 11, 1921, the Emirate of Transjordan was established with Abdullah as emir.

April 1921: Organization of the First Police Force

On April 11, 1921, the first police force was organised in Jordan after the fall of the Ottoman Empire.

1921: Kura Rebellion

In 1921, small local rebellions at Kura were suppressed by Abdullah's forces with the help of the British.

1921: Establishment of the Emirate of Transjordan

In 1921, the Emirate of Transjordan was established as a British protectorate.

September 1922: Recognition of Transjordan

In September 1922, the Council of the League of Nations recognised Transjordan as a state under the terms of the Transjordan memorandum.

1923: Suppression of rebellions

In 1923, small local rebellions were suppressed by Abdullah's forces with the help of the British.

1924: Hashemite Custodianship over Holy Sites

Since 1924, the ruling Hashemite dynasty has had custodianship over holy sites in Jerusalem.

1930: Christian Population Percentage

In 1930, Christians made up about 20% of Jordan's population.

March 1946: Treaty of London

On March 22, 1946, the Treaty of London was signed by the British government and the Emir of Transjordan, recognising the independence of the state.

May 1946: Establishment of Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan

On May 25, 1946, Transjordan was raised to the status of a kingdom under the name of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

1946: Independence of Jordan

In 1946, Jordan gained independence and became officially known as the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

1946: Growth of the Arab Legion

In 1946, the Arab Legion had grown from 150 men in 1920 to 8,000.

1946: Population of Amman

In 1946, the population of Amman was 65,754.

1946: End of British Mandate

Transjordan remained a British mandate until 1946.

May 1948: Intervention in Palestine War

On 15 May 1948, Jordan intervened in the 1948 Palestine war along with several other Arab states.

1948: Capture of the West Bank during the Arab-Israeli War

During the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, Jordan's capture of the West Bank proved that the Arab Legion, known today as the Jordan Armed Forces, was the most effective among the Arab troops involved.

1948: Acceptance of Refugees

From as early as 1948, Jordan has accepted refugees from multiple neighbouring countries in conflict.

1948: Annexation of the West Bank

In 1948, Jordan captured and annexed the West Bank during the Palestine war.

1948: Arrival of first wave of Palestinian refugees

The first wave of Palestinian refugees arrived in Jordan during the 1948 Arab–Israeli War.

1949: Official name in English

Until 1949, Jordan continued to be referred to as the Hashemite Kingdom of Transjordan in English.

April 1950: Annexation of West Bank

On 24 April 1950, Jordan formally annexed the West Bank territories after the Jericho Conference.

June 1950: Arab League Declaration on Annexation

On 12 June 1950, the Arab League declared that Jordan's annexation of the West Bank was a temporary measure.

1950: Water and Sanitation Access

In 1950, water and sanitation were available to only 10% of the population in Jordan.

1951: Assassination of King Abdullah

In 1951, King Abdullah was assassinated at the Al-Aqsa Mosque.

1952: Adoption of the Constitution

In 1952, Jordan adopted its constitution, which serves as the legal framework governing the monarch, government, legislature, and judiciary.

1952: Establishment of Modern Constitution

In 1952, Talal, who succeeded Abdullah, established the country's modern constitution.

1953: Ascension of King Hussein

In 1953, Hussein ascended to the throne at age 17 after Talal abdicated due to illness.

December 1955: Membership in the UN

On December 14, 1955, Jordan became a member of the United Nations.

March 1956: Arabisation of the Army

On 1 March 1956, King Hussein Arabised the command of the Army by dismissing a number of senior British officers.

1956: Establishment of the Public Safety Directorate

In 1956, the Public Safety Directorate was established, taking over police duties previously carried out by the Arab Legion and the Transjordan Frontier Force.

July 1958: Dissolution of the Arab Federation

On 14 July 1958, the Arab Federation between Jordan and Iraq was dissolved after Iraqi King Faisal II was deposed by a bloody military coup.

1966: Establishment of the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature

In 1966, the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature was established in Jordan to protect and manage the country's natural resources.

June 1967: Six-Day War

In June 1967, Jordan joined the Six-Day War after Israel launched a preemptive strike on Egypt. Jordan subsequently lost control of the West Bank to Israel.

1967: Occupation of the West Bank

In 1967, the West Bank, which was previously captured and annexed by Jordan, was occupied by Israel.

1967: Jordan River Cease-fire Line

In 1973, fighting occurred along the 1967 Jordan River cease-fire line during the Yom Kippur War.

1967: View of Palestinian State with 1967 Borders

Jordan views an independent Palestinian state with the 1967 borders as part of the two-state solution and of supreme national interest.

1967: Peak of Palestinian refugees after Six-Day War

The number of Palestinian refugees in Jordan peaked in the 1967 Six-Day War.

1968: Battle of Karameh

In 1968, the combined forces of the Jordanian Armed Forces and the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) repelled an Israeli attack on the Karameh camp.

September 1970: Black September

In September 1970, the Jordanian army targeted the fedayeen, leading to the expulsion of Palestinian fighters from various PLO groups into Lebanon in a conflict known as Black September.

1973: Yom Kippur War

In 1973, during the Yom Kippur War, Jordan sent a brigade to Syria to attack Israeli units on Syrian territory but did not engage Israeli forces from Jordanian territory.

1974: Rabat Summit Conference

At the Rabat summit conference in 1974, Jordan and the rest of the Arab League agreed that the PLO was the 'sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people'.

1979: Average persons per household

The census of 1979 showed 6.7 persons per household.

1987: Discovery of Natural Gas

In 1987, natural gas was discovered in Jordan, but the reserve size was small.

1988: Jordan Renounces Claim to West Bank

In 1988, Jordan renounced its claim to the West Bank in favor of the Palestinians.

1988: Renunciation of Claims to West Bank

Subsequently, Jordan renounced its claims to the West Bank in 1988.

1990: Damaged Relations during the First Gulf War

During the first Gulf War in 1990, Jordan's neutrality and its maintenance of relations with Iraq damaged its relations with the United States and the United Kingdom.

1990: Influx of Palestinian refugees

There was an influx of Palestinian refugees to Jordan during the 1990 Gulf War.

1991: Madrid Conference

In 1991, at the Madrid Conference, Jordan agreed to negotiate a peace treaty sponsored by the US and the Soviet Union.

October 1994: Signing of Israel–Jordan Peace Treaty

On 26 October 1994, the Israel–Jordan peace treaty was signed.

1994: Peace Treaty with Israel

In 1994, Jordan signed a peace treaty with Israel.

1997: Khaled Mashal Affair

In 1997, Israeli agents entered Jordan and poisoned Khaled Mashal, a senior Hamas leader living in Jordan.

February 1999: Abdullah II Ascends to the Throne

In February 1999, Abdullah II ascended to the throne of Jordan following the death of his father, King Hussein. He reaffirmed Jordan's commitment to the peace treaty with Israel and its relations with the United States.

1999: Improved Relations with Gulf Countries

After King Hussein's death in 1999, relations between Jordan and the Persian Gulf countries greatly improved.

1999: Establishment of Jordan Design and Development Bureau

In 1999, the Jordan Design and Development Bureau defence company was established by King Abdullah II.

2000: Joining the World Trade Organisation and Signing Free Trade Agreement with the US

In 2000, Jordan joined the World Trade Organisation and signed the Jordan–United States Free Trade Agreement, becoming the first Arab country to establish a free trade agreement with the United States.

2002: Childhood Immunization Rates

By 2002, childhood immunizations and vaccines reached more than 95% of children under five in Jordan.

2002: Labor force employed in industry

In 2002, more than 21% of the labor force in Jordan was employed in industry.

2003: Influx of Mandaeans from Iraq

After the 2003 invasion, it is estimated that 1,400 Mandaeans fleeing persecution came to Amman from Iraq.

2003: Influx of Iraqi Migrants

In 2003, up to 1,000,000 Iraqis moved to Jordan following the Iraq War.

2004: Average GDP Growth Rate

Between 2004 and 2008, Jordan's economy grew at an average rate of 8% per annum.

2004: AFC Asian Cup Quarter-Finals

In 2004, Jordan's national football team reached the quarter-finals of the AFC Asian Cup.

2004: Industrial sector accounted for 26% of GDP

In 2004, the industrial sector in Jordan accounted for approximately 26% of the GDP.

November 2005: Al-Qaeda Hotel Bombings in Amman

In November 2005, Al-Qaeda, under the leadership of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, launched coordinated explosions in three hotel lobbies in Amman, Jordan, resulting in 60 deaths and 115 injuries. These bombings, which targeted civilians, triggered widespread outrage among Jordanians.

2005: Establishment of the German Jordanian University

In 2005, German was introduced at a larger scale in Jordan with the establishment of the German Jordanian University.

2006: Influx of Lebanese Migrants

In 2006, approximately 15,000 Lebanese immigrants arrived in Jordan following the Lebanon War.

2006: Port of Aqaba Ranked "Best Container Terminal"

In 2006, the Port of Aqaba was ranked as being the "Best Container Terminal" in the Middle East by Lloyd's List.

June 2007: Jordan Hospital Accreditation

On June 1, 2007, Jordan Hospital became the first general specialty hospital to gain international accreditation JCAHO.

2007: Population of Assyrian Christians

In 2007, Jordan had up to 150,000 Assyrian Christians, many of whom were Eastern Aramaic-speaking refugees from Iraq.

2007: Jordan as a medical tourism destination

In 2007, a study found that 190,000 patients received treatment in Jordan.

2008: Economic Boom Ends

Abdullah's economic reforms led to an economic boom which continued until 2008.

2008: Average GDP Growth Rate

Between 2004 and 2008, Jordan's economy grew at an average rate of 8% per annum.

2009: Net Official Development Assistance

In 2009, net official development assistance to Jordan totalled US$761 million, with approximately two-thirds allocated as grants, half of which was direct budget support.

2010: Jordan ranked 35th in infrastructure

According to the 2010 World Economic Forum's Index of Economic Competitiveness, Jordan was ranked as having the 35th best infrastructure in the world.

2010: GDP Growth Rate Onwards

From 2010 onwards, Jordan's economy grew at an average rate of around 2.6%.

2010: Arab Spring

In 2010, Jordan was mostly unscathed by the violence that swept the region following the Arab Spring.

2010: Jordan as a top medical tourism destination

In 2010, a study found that 250,000 patients received treatment in Jordan, bringing over $1 billion in revenue.

2010: 8 million visitors to Jordan

In 2010, there were 8 million visitors to Jordan, mainly from European and Arab countries.

2010: FIBA World Basketball Cup Qualification

Jordan qualified for the FIBA 2010 World Basketball Cup.

2010: Influx of Syrian Refugees

Since 2010, over 1.4 million Syrian refugees have fled to Jordan to escape violence in Syria, with the largest population residing in the Zaatari refugee camp.

2011: Road network composition

As of 2011, Jordan's road network consisted of 2,878 km of main roads, 2,592 km of rural roads, and 1,733 km of side roads.

2011: Jordan and Morocco seek to join Gulf Cooperation Council

In 2011, Jordan and Morocco tried to join the Gulf Cooperation Council. Instead, the Gulf countries offered a five-year development aid programme.

2011: Arab Spring Protests and Reforms

In 2011, Jordan experienced domestic unrest as part of the broader Arab Spring. In response, King Abdullah replaced his prime minister and introduced reforms, including constitutional amendments and laws governing public freedoms and elections. Additionally, an influx of 1.4 million Syrian refugees occurred in 2011.

2011: Foreign debt at $19 billion

In 2011, Jordan's foreign debt was $19 billion, representing 60% of its GDP.

2011: AFC Asian Cup Quarter-Finals

In 2011, Jordan's national football team reached the quarter-finals of the AFC Asian Cup.

2011: Deposition of Ali Abdullah Saleh

In 2011, President Ali Abdullah Saleh was deposed in the uprising.

2011: Renewable energy contribution

In 2011, renewable energy contributed to 3% of Jordan's electricity.

2011: Drop in Tourist Arrivals and Attacks on Natural Gas Pipeline

Since 2011, Jordan has experienced a sharp drop in tourist arrivals and the natural gas pipeline in Sinai supplying Jordan from Egypt has been attacked 32 times by Islamic State affiliates.

2012: Building of a liquified natural gas port

In 2012, Jordan built a liquified natural gas port in Aqaba to temporarily substitute the supply of natural gas.

2012: Establishment of the Constitutional Court

In 2012, Jordan established the constitutional court to hear cases regarding the constitutionality of laws.

2012: Fuel Subsidy Cuts and Protests

In 2012, the government cut subsidies on fuel, increasing its price, which led to large-scale protests across the country. This decision was later revoked.

2012: Olympics Qualification Loss

Jordan came within a point of reaching the 2012 Olympics after losing the final of the 2010 Asian Cup to China, 70–69, and settling for silver instead.

2013: Queen Alia International Airport Expansion Completed

In 2013, the expansion of Queen Alia International Airport was completed with new terminals costing $700 million.

2014: Christian Population Estimate

According to a 2014 estimate by the Orthodox Church, Christians in Jordan numbered around 250,000, all of whom are Arabic-speaking. This study excluded minority Christian groups and Western, Iraqi and Syrian Christians residing in Jordan.

2014: Influx of Iraqi Christian Refugees

Around 12,000 Iraqi Christians sought refuge in Jordan after the Islamic State took the city of Mosul in 2014.

2014: Joining the International Coalition Against ISIS

In 2014, Jordan joined an aerial bombardment campaign by an international coalition led by the United States against the Islamic State as part of its intervention in the Syrian Civil War.

2014: Queen Alia International Airport Awarded 'Best Airport'

In 2014, Queen Alia International Airport was awarded 'the best airport by region: Middle East' by Airport Service Quality survey.

2014: Remittances reached over $3.66 billion

In 2014, Remittances to Jordan reached over $3.66 billion, making Jordan the fourth-largest recipient in the region.

2014: Industry accounted for 6% of GDP

In 2014, industry accounted for 6% of Jordan's GDP.

2014: ICT sector accounted for more than 84,000 jobs

In 2014, the ICT sector in Jordan accounted for more than 84,000 jobs and contributed to 12% of the GDP.

2014: Opening of 7Hills Skatepark

In 2014, the NGO Make Life Skate Life completed construction of the 7Hills Skatepark, the first skatepark in Jordan, located in Downtown Amman.

2014: FIFA World Cup Play-off

In 2014, the national football team of Jordan reached the play-off of reaching the FIFA World Cup in Brazil but lost the two-legged tie against Uruguay.

2015: Literacy Rate

According to UNESCO, the literacy rate in Jordan in 2015 was 98.01%, the highest in the Middle East and Arab world. UNESCO ranked Jordan's educational system 18th out of 94 nations for providing gender equality in education.

2015: Refugee Influx

As of 2015, Jordan was hosting an estimated 2.1 million Palestinian refugees and 1.4 million Syrian refugees, which has placed substantial strain on national resources and infrastructure.

2015: Iraqi Migrant Population Count

By 2015, the number of Iraqis in Jordan was 130,911, after most of those who arrived following the 2003 Iraq War had returned.

2015: Water and Sanitation Access

In 2015, 98% of Jordanians had access to water and sanitation.

2015: Participation in the Saudi Arabian-Led Military Intervention in Yemen

In 2015, Jordan participated in the Saudi Arabian-led military intervention in Yemen against the Houthis and forces loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh.

2015: Queen Alia International Airport Awarded 'Best Airport'

In 2015, Queen Alia International Airport was awarded 'the best airport by region: Middle East' for the second year in a row by Airport Service Quality survey.

2015: Remittances reach $3.8 billion

In 2015, remittances to Jordan reached $3.8 billion, a notable rise compared to the previous year.

2015: Company exported $72 million worth of industries

In 2015, the Jordan Design and Development Bureau company exported $72 million worth of industries to over 42 countries.

2015: Establishment of the Jordan Trail

In 2015, the Jordan Trail, a 650 km hiking trail stretching the entire country from north to south, was established.

2015: Census of Foreign Nationalities

The 2015 census recorded 1,265,000 Syrians, 636,270 Egyptians, 634,182 Palestinians, 130,911 Iraqis, 31,163 Yemenis, 22,700 Libyans, and 197,385 individuals from other nationalities residing in Jordan.

2015: Population Census

The 2015 census showed Jordan had a population of 9,531,712, with 30% being non-citizens.

2015: Media Restrictions

The 2015 report noted "the Arab Spring and the Syrian conflict have led the authorities to tighten their grip on the media and, in particular, the Internet, despite an outcry from civil society". Internet penetration in Jordan reached 76% in 2015.

January 2016: Academy Awards Nomination for Jordanian Film

In January 2016, the Jordanian film "Theeb" was nominated for the Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film for the first time.

March 2016: Women's Football Team Ranking

In March 2016, the Jordan women's football team ranked 58th in the world.

December 2016: Palestinian Refugees

As of December 2016, Jordan was home to 2,175,491 Palestinian refugees, with most having Jordanian citizenship.

2016: GDP of Jordan

As of 2016, Jordan has a GDP of $39.453 billion.

2016: Jordan's First Olympic Medal

At the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, Ahmad Abughaush won Jordan's first-ever medal of any color at the games by taking gold in the −67 kg weight taekwondo.

2016: 70% decrease in tourists

From 2010 to 2016, Jordan experienced a 70% decrease in the number of tourists due to regional turbulence.

2016: Foreign debt reaches $35.1 billion

In 2016, Jordan's debt reached $35.1 billion, representing 93% of its GDP, attributed to regional instability and other factors.

2016: House of Representatives Elections

In 2016, elections for the lower House of Representatives were held using party-list proportional representation. Minimum quotas existed in the House of Representatives for women, Christians and Circassians and Chechens.

2016: Re-introduction of Proportional Representation

In 2016, proportional representation was reintroduced to the Jordanian parliament during the general election, a move King Abdullah stated would eventually lead to the establishment of parliamentary governments.

2016: Jordan Research and Training Reactor Commissioned

In 2016, the Jordan Research and Training Reactor was commissioned at the Jordan University of Science and Technology.

2016: Political Parties Contested Elections

In the 2016 elections, political parties contested one-fifth of the seats in parliament. The remainder belonging to independent politicians.

2016: Law Enforcement Ranking

Jordan's law enforcement was ranked 37th in the world and 3rd in the Middle East, in terms of police services' performance, by the 2016 World Internal Security and Police Index.

2017: SESAME Facility Opened

In 2017, the Synchrotron-Light for Experimental Science and Applications in the Middle East (SESAME) facility was opened in Jordan.

2017: Life Expectancy

In 2017, the life expectancy in Jordan was around 74.8 years.

2017: Tourist numbers start to recover

In 2017, tourist numbers started to recover in Jordan.

2018: Population Below the National Poverty Line

As of 2018, approximately 15.7% of Jordan's population lives below the national poverty line.

2018: Talks to build first commercial nuclear plant

In 2018, Jordan was in talks with multiple companies to build its first commercial nuclear plant.

2018: Government sought to generate 20% of electricity by renewable energy

In 2018, the Jordanian government announced that it sought to generate 20% of electricity by renewable energy.

2018: Debt prevented from rising above 95%

In 2018, the austerity program succeeded in preventing Jordan's debt from rising above 95% of GDP.

2019: Renewable energy projects completed

By early 2019, more than 1090 MW of renewable energy projects had been completed in Jordan, contributing to 8% of its electricity.

2019: FIBA World Basketball Cup Qualification

Jordan reached the 2019 World Basketball Cup in China.

2020: Jordan aimed to generate 10% of electricity by renewable energy

Jordan initially aimed to generate 10% of electricity by renewable energy by 2020.

April 2021: Arrest of Prince Hamzeh

On April 4, 2021, Prince Hamzeh, the former crown prince of Jordan, was placed under house arrest along with 19 other people arrested after being accused of working to "destabilize" the kingdom.

2021: Austerity program aims for debt reduction

By 2021, an austerity program aimed to reduce Jordan's debt-to-GDP ratio to 77 percent.

2021: Human Freedom Index and Corruption Perceptions Index Rankings

In 2021, Jordan ranked 94th globally in the Cato Institute's Human Freedom Index and 58th in the Corruption Perceptions Index issued by Transparency International.