Amman Governorate, officially known as Muhafazat al-Asima (, English translation: the Capital Governorate), is one of the governorates in Jordan. The governorate's capital is the city of Amman, which is also the country's capital. The administrative center of the governorate, as well as all government offices and parliament, is located in the Abdali district.

The Amman Governorate has the largest population of the 12 governorates of Jordan. It borders Zarqa Governorate to the north and northeast, the governorates of Balqa and Madaba to the west, Karak and Ma'an governorates to the south. It also shares an international border with Saudi Arabia from the east.

History The land covered by the Amman Governorate has been inhabited since the prehistoric age, ruins of civilizations as early as 7250 BC have been discovered at 'Ain Ghazal near Amman, the site itself is one of the largest prehistoric settlements in the Middle East.

Amman was the capital and stronghold of the Ammonites, which they called Rabbath Ammon, the Ammonites ruled almost the entire land of the Capital Governorate. After the Romans took control of the region, Amman was renamed as "Philadelphia", and was one of the ten Roman Decapolis cities. Following the Arab Muslim conquests, Philadelphia reclaimed the name Amman. The Byzantine site at Umm ar-Rasas was designated as a World Heritage Site in 2004.

Geography The climate of the Amman Governorate is that of the Eastern Mediterranean. However, since Amman is located on a hilly plateau, the average annual precipitation and temperature generally may vary significantly from one location to another, even within the city of Amman. For instance, it may be snowing in the Sweileh district which has an elevation of 1050 m above sea level, but cloudy with no rain in the Amman city center, which has an elevation of 780 m. The Amman Governorate is the third largest governorate in Jordan by area and the largest by population.

Demographics The Jordan national census of 2015 shows that the population of the Capital Governorate passed 4 millions, of whom more than 36% (1.45 million) were foreign nationals. This constitutes a sharp increase from the population of the 2004 census. One factor that contributed to the sharp increase in population is the high influx of refugees from neighboring countries.

The Jordan national census of 2004 indicated that the total population of the Capital Governorate at the time was 1,942,066, which grew from 1,576,238 in the 1994 census at an average annual growth of 2.1%.

Demographics of Amman Governorate Jordan National Census of 2004 Table 3-1 2004 Census 2015 CensusFemale to Male ratio48.58% to 51.42% 48.1% to 51.9%Jordanian citizens to foreign nationals88% to 12% 63.8% to 36.2%Urban population94%96%Rural population6%4%Total population1,942,0664,007,000

The population of districts according to census results:

District Population(Census 1994) Population(Census 2004) Population(Census 2015)Amman Governorate 1,576,238 1,942,066 4,007,526University (Al-Jami'ah) ... 279,359 743,980Al-Jīzah 32,446 42,051 118,004Al-Mūaqqar 18,239 30,017 84,370Al-Quwaysimah ... 257,260 582,659Mārkā ... 483,819 956,104Nā'ūr (Na'our) 37,281 66,220 129,650Qaṣabah 'Ammān ... 552,511 855,955Saḥāb 49,060 57,037 169,434Wādī as-Sīr 132,195 173,792 367,370Khilda 63,468 121,634 250,327

Administrative divisions Nahias

Article 4 of the administrative divisions system of the Jordanian Ministry of Interior states that the Amman Governorate is divided into nine districts, five of which include the districts of Greater Amman Municipality.

+ Districts of the Amman Governorate by population (2004)2004 Census DistrictArabic NameSubdivisionsPopulation (2004)Administrative center1Capital (Al-Qasaba)لواء قصبة عمانincludes six of Amman metropolitan districts552,511Abdali 2Markaلواء ماركاincludes four of Amman metropolitan districts483,819Marka3Al-Qwesmehلواء القويسمةincludes three of Amman metropolitan districts257,260Al Juwayyidah4University(al-Jāmiʻah)لواء الجامعةincludes six of Amman metropolitan districts279,359Al Jubayhah5Wadi Al Seerلواء وادي السيرincludes three of Amman metropolitan districts and 12 other towns and villages173,792Wadi Al Seer6Naourلواء ناعورincludes 25 towns and villages66,220Naour7Sahab Nahiaلواء سحابincludes 7 towns and villages57,037Sahab8Al Jizahلواء الجيزة Includes 62 towns and villages42,051Al Jizah9Muwaqqarلواء الموقر includes 26 towns and villages30,017Al Mushaqqar

Towns and villages

Abdoun, Abu Alandah, Adh Dhuhaybah, Al Al, Al Amiriyah, Al Arid, Al Arudah, Al Bahhath, Al Bassah, Al Bunayyat al Janubiyah, Al Bunayyat ash Shamaliyah, Al Hawwasiyah, Al Hummar, Al Jizah, Al Jubayhah, Al Judayyidah, Al Jumayyil, Al Juwayyidah, Al Lubban, Al Mabrak, Al Mahattah, Al Manakhir, Al Mathluthah, Al Muqabalayn, Al Mushaqqar, Al Mushayrifah, Al Mushayrifah, Al Muwaqqar, Al Qartu'iyah, Al Qastal, Al Qunaytirah, Al Qurayyat, Al Quwayjiyah, Al Quwaysimah, Al Yadudah, 'Ammuriya, An Naqubah, An Nuwayjis, 'Ara'ir, Ar Rabahiyah, Ar Rajib, Ar Riwaq, Ash Shufatah, Ash Shumaysani, Ash Shuqayq, As Samik, As Saqrah, Ath Thughrah, 'Atruz, At Tunayb, Barazin, Barzah, Barzah, Bayt Zir'ah, Biddin, Bilal, Buqa'i al-Qababiyah, Dab'ah, Dhiban, Dhuhaybah, Dulaylat al Hama'idah, Dulaylat al Mutayrat, Halaq ash Shuqayq, Hawwarah, Hisban, Iraq al Amir, Jalul, Jawa, Juraynah, Khilda, Khirbat 'Assaf, Khirbat as Sahilah, Khirbat Badran, Khirbat Khaww, Khirbat Siran, Khuraybat as Suq, Kufayr Abu Sarbut, Kufayr al Wakhyan, Kufayrat Abu Khinan, Madaba, Ma'in, Manja, Marka, Mukawir, Mulayh, Murayjimat Ibn Hamid, Natl, Na'our, Qasr al Hallabat, Qubur 'Abd Allah, Qurayyat Falhah, Qurayyat Nafi', Qurayyat Salim, Rujaym Salim, Rujm ash Shami, Rujm ash Shara'irah, Sahab, Shunat Ibn 'Adwan, Sufah, Sumiya, Suwaylih, Tabarbour, Tila' al 'Ali, Umm al 'Amad, Umm al Birak, Umm al Hanafish, Umm al Kundum, Umm al Qanafidh, Umm ar Rasas, Umm as Summaq, Umm Juraysat, Umm Nuwarah, Umm Qusayr, Umm Qusayr, Umm Rummanah, Umm Shujayrah al Gharbiyah, Umm Zuwaytinah, 'Urjan al Gharbiyah, 'Urjan ash Sharqiyah, 'Uyun adh Dhi'b, Wadi as Sir, Yajouz, Zaba'ir 'Udwan, Zuwayza.

Education As of 2010, there were 24 universities and community colleges in the Amman Governorate. The University of Jordan is the oldest university established in the governorate, and is Jordan's first university.University of Jordan The Arab Open University is owned and run by the Arab League. Princess Sumaya University for Technology was named after Princess Sumaya of Jordan.Princess Sumaya University for Technology Petra University was ranked 20th in the Arab World by Webometrics.University of Petra, Jordan Philadelphia University (Jordan) is the largest private university in the Amman Governorate.Philadelphia University

References

External links Maplandia.com Photos of El-Mushaggar at the American Center of Research