History of Jordan in Timeline

Jordan, officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, is a country located in the Southern Levant region of West Asia. It shares borders with Syria, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Israel, and the occupied Palestinian territories. The Jordan River and the Dead Sea define its western border. Jordan possesses a small Red Sea coastline accessible via the Gulf of Aqaba, separating it from Egypt. Amman serves as the nation's capital and largest city, also holding the title of the most populous city within the Levant region.

1905: Shoubak Revolt

In 1905, the tribes of Transjordan revolted during the Shoubak revolt, which was brutally suppressed.

1908: Young Turk Revolution

Following the 1908 Young Turk Revolution, the Ottoman Empire adopted policies of Turkification and centralisation, contributing to the development of an Arab nationalist movement.

1908: Hejaz Railway Construction

In 1908, the construction of the Hejaz Railway, stretching across Transjordan, helped the population economically.

1910: Karak Revolts

In 1910, the tribes of Transjordan revolted during the Karak revolts, which were brutally suppressed.

1915: Armenian refugees

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

1915: McMahon–Hussein Correspondence

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

June 1916: Start of the Arab Revolt

The Arab Revolt, led by Sharif Hussein of Mecca, started on 5 June 1916 from Medina.

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 6 July 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 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, which Transjordan was a part of.

July 1920: Battle of Maysalun

On 24 July 1920, the Hashemite Kingdom over Syria was forced to surrender to French troops during the Battle of Maysalun.

August 1920: Herbert Samuel Visits As-Salt

On 21 August 1920, British High Commissioner Herbert Samuel declared in As-Salt 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: Abdullah Arrives in Ma'an

On 21 November 1920, Abdullah, son of Sharif Hussein, arrived in Ma'an in southern Transjordan to redeem the Greater Syrian Kingdom.

March 1921: Transjordan Added to Mandate for Palestine

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

April 1921: Establishment of Emirate of Transjordan

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

April 1921: Establishment 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 British help.

1921: Establishment of the Emirate of Transjordan

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

September 1922: League of Nations Recognises Transjordan

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

1923: Kura Rebellion

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

1924: Hashemite dynasty gains custodianship over holy sites in Jerusalem

In 1924, the ruling Hashemite dynasty has had custodianship over holy sites in Jerusalem, a position reinforced in the Israel–Jordan peace treaty.

1930: Christian population

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

March 1946: Treaty of London Signed

On 22 March 1946, the Treaty of London was signed, recognizing the independence of Transjordan.

May 1946: Transjordan Becomes Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan

On 25 May 1946, Transjordan became the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan with Abdullah as its first king.

1946: Growth of the Arab Legion

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

1946: Independence of Jordan

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

1946: Population of Amman

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

1946: British Mandate Ends

Transjordan remained a British mandate until 1946.

May 1948: Jordan Intervenes in 1948 Palestine War

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

1948: Acceptance of Refugees

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

1948: Capture of the West Bank

In 1948, Jordan's capture of the West Bank during the Arab–Israeli War demonstrated the effectiveness of the Arab Legion, known today as the Jordan Armed Forces.

1948: First wave of Palestinian refugees

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

1949: Name Change

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

April 1950: Jordan Annexes West Bank

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

June 1950: Arab League Response to 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 availability

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

1951: Assassination of King Abdullah

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

1952: Adoption of the Constitution

In 1952, Jordan adopted its constitution, which has been amended a number of times since. The constitution is the legal framework that governs the monarch, government, bicameral legislature and judiciary.

1952: Establishment of Modern Constitution

In 1952, King Talal established Jordan's modern constitution.

1953: Hussein Ascends to Throne

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

December 1955: Jordan Joins the United Nations

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

March 1956: Arabisation of Army Command

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

1956: Establishment of the Public Safety Directorate

In 1956, the Public Safety Directorate was established, taking over police duties from 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 a coup in Iraq.

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

In 1966, The Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature was established to protect and manage Jordan'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, and Jordan lost control of the West Bank to Israel.

1967: Occupation of the West Bank by Israel

In 1967, Israel occupied the West Bank, which had been annexed by Jordan.

1967: Jordan River cease-fire line

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

1967: Importance of 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

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

1968: Battle of Karameh

In 1968, the Battle of Karameh occurred, where Jordanian and PLO forces repelled an Israeli attack.

September 1970: Black September

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

1973: Yom Kippur War

In 1973, Egypt and Syria waged the Yom Kippur War on Israel, and Jordan sent a brigade to Syria.

1974: Rabat Summit Conference

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

1979: Household Size in 1979

The census of 1979 recorded an average of 6.7 persons per household in Jordan.

1987: Discovery of natural gas

In 1987, natural gas was discovered in Jordan, with an estimated reserve size of about 230 billion cubic feet.

1988: Jordan Renounces Claim to West Bank

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

1990: Damage to 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: Arrival of Palestinian refugees during Gulf War

Palestinian refugees arrived in 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: 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 Poisoning

In 1997, Israeli agents poisoned Khaled Mashal in Jordan, leading to intense international pressure and the release of political prisoners.

February 1999: Abdullah II ascends to the throne

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

1999: Improvement of Relations after King Hussein's Death

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 to provide an indigenous capability for the supply of scientific and technical services to the Jordanian Armed Forces.

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: Over 21% of the labor force was employed in industry

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

2003: Mandaeans flee to Jordan

Following the 2003 invasion of Iraq, an estimated 1,400 Mandaeans fled to Amman seeking refuge from persecution.

2003: Iraqi migration to Jordan

Following the Iraq War in 2003, up to 1,000,000 Iraqis moved to Jordan.

2004: Economic Growth Rate

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

2004: AFC Asian Cup

In 2004, Jordan reached the quarter-finals of the AFC Asian Cup.

2004: Industrial sector accounted for approximately 26% of the GDP

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

November 2005: Al-Qaeda bombings in Amman

In November 2005, Al-Qaeda, under Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, launched coordinated explosions in three hotel lobbies in Amman, resulting in 60 deaths and 115 injuries. These bombings, which targeted civilians, sparked widespread outrage and led to improved internal security in Jordan.

2005: Establishment of the German Jordanian University

In 2005, the German Jordanian University was established, leading to an increased interest in the German language.

2006: Lebanese immigration

In 2006, about 15,000 Lebanese people immigrated to Jordan following the Lebanon War.

2006: Port of Aqaba: 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 the international accreditation JCAHO.

2007: 190,000 patients received treatment

In 2007, 190,000 patients received treatment in Jordan.

2007: Population of Assyrian Christians

In 2007, there were up to 150,000 Assyrian Christians in Jordan, most being Eastern Aramaic speaking refugees from Iraq.

2008: Economic 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: 35th best infrastructure

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

2010: Economic Growth Rate

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

2010: 250,000 patients received treatment

In 2010, 250,000 patients from 102 countries received treatment in Jordan, bringing over $1 billion in revenue.

2010: Arab Spring

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

2010: 8 million visitors

In 2010, there were 8 million visitors to Jordan, primarily 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.

2011: Road network data

According to data from the Ministry of Public Works and Housing, 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: Deposition of Ali Abdullah Saleh

In 2011, Ali Abdullah Saleh was deposed.

2011: Attempt to Join the Gulf Cooperation Council

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

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 changes to the constitution and laws governing public freedoms and elections. Jordan was largely spared from the violence affecting other nations, despite the influx of 1.4 million Syrian refugees.

2011: AFC Asian Cup

In 2011, Jordan reached the quarter-finals of the AFC Asian Cup.

2011: Foreign debt at $19 billion

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

2011: Renewable energy contributed to 3% of Jordan's electricity

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

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

Since 2011, tourist arrivals in Jordan have dropped sharply. Additionally, the natural gas pipeline in Sinai, supplying Jordan from Egypt, was attacked 32 times by Islamic State affiliates.

2012: Liquified natural gas port built in Aqaba

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

2012: Establishment of the Constitutional Court

In 2012, the constitutional court was set up in Jordan in order to hear cases regarding the constitutionality of laws.

2012: Fuel Subsidies Cut and Protests

In 2012, the government cut subsidies on fuel in Jordan, increasing its price. The decision, which was later revoked, caused large scale protests to break out across the country.

2012: Olympics

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, designed to handle over 16 million passengers annually.

2014: Christian population

According to a 2014 estimate by the Orthodox Church, Christians number around 250,000 in Jordan.

2014: Iraqi Christians seek refuge

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

2014: Remittances reached over $3.66 billion

In 2014 remittances to Jordan reached over $3.66 billion.

2014: Participation in Aerial Bombardment Campaign Against Islamic State

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 award

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

2014: 7Hills Skatepark construction

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

2014: Industry accounted for 6% of the GDP

In 2014, industry in Jordan accounted for 6% of the GDP.

2014: ICT sector accounted for over 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: FIFA World Cup qualification

In 2014, the national football team of Jordan came within a play-off of reaching the FIFA World Cup in Brazil but lost against Uruguay.

2015: Literacy rate

According to UNESCO, the literacy rate in Jordan was 98.01% in 2015.

2015: Refugee population in Jordan

As of 2015, Jordan was hosting an estimated 2.1 million Palestinian refugees and 1.4 million Syrian refugees.

2015: Participation in 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, who was deposed in the 2011 uprising.

2015: Queen Alia International Airport award

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

2015: Media Restrictions and Internet Penetration

In 2015, a report noted that "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.

2015: Water and sanitation availability

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

2015: Remittances at $3.8 billion

In 2015, remittances to Jordan were $3.8 billion, a notable rise compared to 2014.

2015: $72 million worth of industries exported

In 2015, the Jordan Design and Development Bureau 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 to revive the tourism sector.

2015: Census showed a population of 9,531,712

The 2015 census in Jordan showed a population of 9,531,712.

January 2016: Academy Award nomination

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

Loading Video...

March 2016: FIFA ranking of women's football team

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

December 2016: Palestinian refugees number

As of December 2016, Jordan was home to 2,175,491 Palestinian refugees.

2016: GDP Figures

As of 2016, Jordan's economy had a GDP of $39.453 billion.

2016: Tourism decrease

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

2016: Debt reaches $35.1 billion

In 2016, Jordan's debt reached $35.1 billion, representing 93% of its GDP, due to regional instability, decreased tourism and foreign investments, and increased military spending.

2016: Law Enforcement Ranking

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

2016: Re-introduction of Proportional Representation

In 2016, proportional representation was reintroduced to the Jordanian parliament, a move King Abdullah said would eventually lead to establishing parliamentary governments.

2016: Parliamentary Election with Quotas

In 2016, the 130 members of the lower House of Representatives were elected through party-list proportional representation in 23 constituencies for a 4-year term. Minimum quotas existed in the House of Representatives for women, Christians and Circassians and Chechens.

2016: Jordan Research and Training Reactor commissioned

In 2016, the Jordan Research and Training Reactor, a 5 MW training reactor, was commissioned at the Jordan University of Science and Technology.

2016: Political Parties Contest Seats in Elections

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

2017: Life expectancy

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

2017: Tourism recovery

In 2017, tourist numbers in Jordan started to recover after a sharp decline.

2017: SESAME facility opened

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

2018: Poverty Rate

As of 2018, approximately 15.7% of Jordan's population lived below the national poverty line, while almost a third fell below the national poverty line during some time of the year, known as transient poverty.

2018: Talks with companies to build first commercial nuclear plant

In 2018, the Atomic Energy Commission announced that Jordan was in talks with multiple companies to build its first commercial nuclear plant, a helium-cooled reactor that is scheduled for completion by 2025.

2018: Target for renewable energy generation

In 2018, the Jordanian government announced it sought to beat the initial target for renewable energy generation by 2020 and aim for 20%.

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: Over 1090 MW of renewable energy projects completed

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

2019: World Basketball Cup qualification

Jordan qualified for the 2019 World Basketball Cup in China.

2020: Renewable energy generation target

By 2020, Jordan initially aimed to generate 10% of its electricity from renewable energy sources.

April 2021: Arrests related to destabilization plot

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

2021: Austerity Program Target

By 2021, an austerity program adopted by the Jordanian government aimed to reduce the 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.