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Jordan / People

The modern history of Jordan has given the country a population derived from many ethnic backgrounds. The "native" Jordanians are the bedou and the inhabitants of the settled villages and towns that have existed in the land of Jordan for millennia.

The Bedou, or Bedouin as they are called in English, are the inhabitants of the semi-arid, steppe-like desert, called the Badia in Arabic. Originally nomadic or semi-nomadic desert dwellers, the bedou migrate seasonably along fixed routes defined by their sources of pasturage and water. In the winter, the bedou migrate to the rich lands of the Jordan Rift Valley to escape the harsh desert conditions.

Traditionally herders, the bedou would take their animals, families, tents and few belongings with them. Today, most Bedou have become urbanized or semi-nomadic.

During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, periodic waves of people from the Caucasus region of Asia, Armenia, Palestine, the Hijaz (western Saudi Arabia), Syria and Iraq settled in Jordan, adding to the ethnic mix of the indigenous population.

The Circassians came from the Caucasus region in the late 19th century. The Circassians' loyalty to King Abdullah and their expertise in farming prompted the King to allocate large tracts of land to them. Circassians also hold key positions in the army and serve as the King's ceremonial bodyguards. Although fiercely loyal to Jordan and devout Muslims, the Circassians retain their own customs and habits, and still speak their own language alongside Arabic. Also from the Caucasus region are the Chechen, who retain their own customs and language.

Another ethnic group that migrated to Jordan is the Armenians. Unlike the Circassians and Chechen, the Armenians are Christian, and have also retained their language, customs and habits. Traditionally skilled at manual crafts, the Armenians long excelled in fields such as jewelry making, photography and maintenance of machinery. Today they are integrated in all economic sectors of society.

The expatriate workers in Jordan also add diversity to the ethnic mix of the population. Jordan hosts approximately 200,000 Egyptian workers, and perhaps another 80,000 Filipinos, Sri Lankans, Indians, Pakistanis, Syrians, Lebanese, Europeans, and North Americans.