# Mafraq Governorate > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Mafraq_Governorate > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Mafraq_Governorate.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mafraq_Governorate > Source revision: 1349067966 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{short description|Governorate of Jordan}} {{Infobox settlement | name = Mafraq Governorate | native_name = {{lang|ar|محافظة المفرق}} | other_name = | settlement_type = [Governorate](/source/Governorates_of_Jordan) | image_skyline = Mafraq in Jordan.svg | image_caption = Mafraq Governorate | image_flag = | image_shield = | motto = | nickname = | etymology = |subdivision_type = Country |subdivision_name = {{JOR}} |subdivision_type1 = | subdivision_name1 = | subdivision_type2 = | subdivision_name2 = | subdivision_type3 = | subdivision_name3 = | subdivision_type4 = | subdivision_name4 = | image_map = | map_caption = | pushpin_map = | pushpin_relief = | pushpin_map_caption = | coordinates = | coordinates_footnotes = | leader_title1 = Governor | leader_name1 = Saleem Rawahneh | seat = [Mafraq](/source/Mafraq) | seat_type = Capital | established_title = | established_date = | area_footnotes = | area_total_km2 = 26551 | area_total_sq_mi = | area_land_sq_mi = | area_water_sq_mi = | elevation_footnotes = | elevation_m = | elevation_ft = | population_as_of = 2021 | population_footnotes = | population_total = 637,000 | population_density_km2 = auto | population_density_sq_mi= | population_demonym = | timezone1 = [GMT](/source/Greenwich_Mean_Time) +2 | utc_offset1 = | timezone1_DST = +3 | utc_offset1_DST = | postal_code_type = | postal_code = | area_code_type = | area_code = +(962)2 | geocode = | iso_code = | blank_name = Urban | blank_info = 69.7% | blank1_name = Rural | blank1_info = 30.2% | blank_name_sec2 = [HDI](/source/Human_Development_Index) (2021) | blank_info_sec2 = 0.666{{Cite web|url=https://hdi.globaldatalab.org/areadata/shdi/|title=Sub-national HDI – Area Database – Global Data Lab|website=hdi.globaldatalab.org|language=en|access-date=2018-09-13}}
{{color|#fc0|medium}} · [12th of 12](/source/List_of_Jordanian_governorates_by_Human_Development_Index) | website = | footnotes = }} '''Mafraq''' ({{langx|ar|محافظة المفرق}} ''Muhāfaẓat al-Mafraq'', local dialects ''Mafrag'' or ''Mafra' '') is one of the governorates of [Jordan](/source/Jordan), located to the north-east of [Amman](/source/Amman), capital of Jordan. It has a population of 637,000 (2021 estimate){{Cite web |title=Jordan: Governorates, Major Cities & Urban Localities - Population Statistics, Maps, Charts, Weather and Web Information |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/jordan/cities/ |access-date=2024-02-23 |website=www.citypopulation.de}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.dos.gov.jo/home_e.htm |title=DOS Jordan |access-date=2011-12-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110304001541/http://www.dos.gov.jo/home_e.htm |archive-date=2011-03-04 |url-status=dead }} making up 5.8% of Jordan's population. Its capital is [Mafraq](/source/Mafraq), which is known for its military bases. ==History== thumb|left|250px|The city hall of the town of Khalediyya thumb|right|250px|Nahiyahs of Mafraq Many Roman and Byzantine sites have been found throughout the governorate, most notably churches dating to the third century AD; believed to be two of the oldest purpose built churches in Christianity: and Roman water dams in [Jawa](/source/Jawa_Dam_(Jordan)), [Ruwaished](/source/Ruwaished), and the city of Mafraq. The [Jawa Dam](/source/Jawa_Dam_(Jordan)) is the oldest known dam in the world, dating back to 3000 B.C. Mafraq city also contains a Roman fort. During the British mandate period, Mafraq housed military facilities which are still in use today. The fifth division of the [Jordanian Army](/source/Jordanian_Army) is stationed in Mafraq. ==Geography== The province is located in the eastern part of the kingdom of Jordan. It is the only governorate in Jordan that has borders with three countries: [Iraq](/source/Iraq) to the east, [Syria](/source/Syria) to the north, and [Saudi Arabia](/source/Saudi_Arabia) to the south. It is bordered by [Irbid](/source/Irbid_Governorate) and [Jerash](/source/Jerash_Governorate) governorates to the west, and by [Zarqa governorate](/source/Zarqa_Governorate) to the south. Mafraq governorate covers the second largest area in the kingdom, but yet the second smallest population density (after Ma'an). The climate is dry most of the year. The western region of the province is part of the fertile [Houran](/source/Houran) plateaus, that extend through southern Syria, the Golan heights and northern Jordan. The eastern region is part of the barren [Syrian Desert](/source/Syrian_Desert). At the eastern edge of the region is the 940m high {{ill-WD|Jebel 'Aneiza|ar|عنزة (جبل)}} (or 'Unayzah), at the border [tripoint](/source/tripoint) between Jordan, Iraq and Saudi Arabia.{{cite book|last1=Wagner|first1=Wolfgang|title=Groundwater in the Arab Middle East|date=2011|publisher=Springer|location=New York|isbn=9783642193514|page=141|access-date=2 February 2017|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0dFttVkr2uwC}}{{cite web|title=Jebel 'Aneiza, Saudi Arabia|url=http://www.geographic.org/geographic_names/name.php?uni=-4361447&fid=5593&c=saudi_arabia|website=geographic.org|access-date=2 February 2017}}{{cite book|title=Philip's world atlas.|date=2003|publisher=George Philip|location=London|isbn=0540084085|pages=44|edition=New}} The Governorate is connected to Iraq through the [Karameh Border Crossing](/source/Karameh_Border_Crossing), and to Syria through the [Jabir Border Crossing](/source/Nasib_Border_Crossing). ==Demographics== The population of Mafraq Governorate according to the census of 2004 was 244,188 of whom 30% is considered urban and 70% is rural. Jordanian citizens made up about 94% of the population. The Jordanian Department of Statistics population estimate for the year 2010 is 287,300 with a female to male ratio of 48.17 to 51.83 and a population density of 10.8 persons per km2. In 2011 and 2012, the civil war in Syria resulted in the immigration of more than 180,000 Syrian refugees to Jordan, mostly settled in Mafraq and [Irbid Governorate](/source/Irbid_Governorate)s. In July 2012, the [Zaatari refugee camp](/source/Zaatari_refugee_camp) was opened in Mafraq Governorate for Syrian refugees. The World Bank 2018 estimate records the population now at 593,900 people. {| class="wikitable" style=" font-size:100%" !align=center style="background:#c0d0f0;" | Demographics of Mafraq Governorate ||align=center style="background:#c0d0f0;" |2004 Census[http://www.dos.gov.jo/dos_home/census2004/cen04_3.pdf/table_3_1.pdf Jordan National Census of 2004 Table 3-1] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722071314/http://www.dos.gov.jo/dos_home/census2004/cen04_3.pdf/table_3_1.pdf |date=2011-07-22 }}||align=center style="background:#c0d0f0;" |2015 Census{{Cite web |title=Al-Mafraq (Governorate, Jordan) - Population Statistics, Charts, Map and Location |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/jordan/admin/22__al_mafraq/ |access-date=2024-02-23 |website=www.citypopulation.de}} |- |Female to male ratio||align=center|48.0% to 52.0%||align=center|48.4% to 51.6% |- |Jordanian citizens to foreign nationals||align=center|93.9% to 6.1%|| align=center|57.1% to 42.9% |- |Urban population||align=center|30.0%||align=center|69.7% |- |Rural population||align=center|70.0%||align=center|30.3% |- |Total population||align=center|244,188||align=center|549,948 |- |} The population of districts according to [census](/source/census) results:{{cite web |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/php/jordan-admin.php |title=Jordan: Administrative Division, Governorates and Districts |publisher= citypopulation.de |access-date=25 December 2016 }} {| class="wikitable sortable" style="margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto" style="text-align:right;" |- bgcolor="#ececec" valign=top ! District !! Population
(Census 1994) !! Population
(Census 2004) !! Population
(Census 2015) |- bgcolor="#ececec" valign=top ! align="center"|Mafraq Governorate !! 178,914 !! 244,188 !! 549,948 |- |align="left"|[Badiah Shamaliyah District](/source/Badiah_Shamaliyah) (Al-Bādīah ash-Shamāliyah) || ... || 57,706 || 99,231 |- |align="left"|[Badiah Gharbiyah District](/source/Badiah_Gharbiyah) (Al-Bādīah al-Gharbiyah) || ... || 74,965 || 247,031 |- |align="left"|[Rwaished District](/source/Ruwaishid_District) (Ar-Rwaīshed) || 10,032 || 9,805 || 7,490 |- |align="left"|[Mafraq Qasabah District](/source/Mafraq_Qasabah) (Qaṣabah al-Mafraq) || ... || 101,712 || 196,196 |} ==Administrative divisions== Mafraq Governorate is divided into four districts (''liwa'')District subdivisions are in accord with article 10 of the 46th Administrative Divisions System of the Kingdom of Jordan promulgated by the Ministry of Interior and ratified in the year 2000. and fourteen sub-districts (''qda''):{{Cite web |title=Population of the Kingdom |year=2011 |url=http://www.dos.gov.jo/dos_home_a/main/cd_yb2011/pdf/Population.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170119195154/http://www.dos.gov.jo/dos_home_a/main/cd_yb2011/pdf/Population.pdf |archive-date=19 January 2017 |url-status=dead |df=dmy |access-date=19 January 2017 }} {| class="wikitable" |- ! !District !Arabic Name !Subdivisions !Towns/villages !Administrative Center !Population
Census 2004 !Population
census 2015 |- |1 |[Mafraq Capital (''Mafraq Casabah'') District](/source/Mafraq_Qasabah) |لواء قصبة المفرق |[Mafraq Sub-District](/source/Mafraq_Sub-District)
[Bal'ama Sub-District](/source/Bal'ama_Sub-District)
[Irhab Sub-District](/source/Rihab)
[Manshiyah Sub-District](/source/Manshiyah_Sub-District) |72 |[Mafraq](/source/Mafraq) city. |101,712 |196,196 |- |2 |[Ruwaishid District](/source/Ruwaishid_District) |لواء الرويشد |[Rwaished District](/source/Ruwaished) |12 |[Ruwaished](/source/Ruwaished) |9,805 |7,490 |- |3 |[North Badiya (Badiah Shamaliyah) District](/source/North_Badiya_District) |لواء البادية الشمالية |[Salhiya Sub-District](/source/Salhiya_Sub-District)
[Sabha Sub-District](/source/Sabha_Sub-District)
[Um Al-Jemal Sub-District](/source/Umm_el-Jimal)
[Dair Al Kahf Sub-District](/source/Dair_Al_Kahf_Sub-District)
[Om-Elqotain Sub-District](/source/Om-Elqotain_Sub-District) |67 |Sabha |57,706 |99,231 |- |4 |[West Badiya (Badiah Gharbiyah) District](/source/Badiah_Gharbiyah) |لواء البادية الشمالية الغربية |[Badiyah Gharbiyah Sub-District](/source/Badiyah_Gharbiyah_Sub-District)
[Serhan Sub-District](/source/Serhan_Sub-District)
[Hosha Sub-District](/source/Hosha_Sub-District)
[Khaldiyah Sub-District](/source/Khaldiyah_Sub-District) |45 |Sama as-Sarhan |74,965 |247,031 |} ==Economy== Agriculture forms a central element of the economy for Mafraq Governorate, especially in the [Houran Plateau](/source/Hauran) in the western part of the province. The total area of fruit farms in the province in 2008 was 48.676 km2, with a total production of 101874 tons of fruits mainly apples and peaches, according to the ministry of Agriculture.{{Cite web |url=http://www.moa.gov.jo/Agriculturerinformation/Agriculturenumbers/taqresanoe/tabid/219/Default.aspx |title=Ministry of Agriculture Total area of trees by province report of 2008 |access-date=2010-02-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120303014308/http://www.moa.gov.jo/Agriculturerinformation/Agriculturenumbers/taqresanoe/tabid/219/Default.aspx |archive-date=2012-03-03 |url-status=dead }} The total area of vegetable farms in the province for 2008 was 8.295 km2 with a total production of 15540 tons, with cabbage, onions, garlic, and lettuce being the main products.{{Cite web |url=http://www.moa.gov.jo/Agriculturerinformation/Agriculturenumbers/taqresanoe/tabid/219/Default.aspx |title=Ministry of Agriculture, Table of the total area of vegetables by province report of 2008 |access-date=2010-02-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120303014308/http://www.moa.gov.jo/Agriculturerinformation/Agriculturenumbers/taqresanoe/tabid/219/Default.aspx |archive-date=2012-03-03 |url-status=dead }} There is one natural gas production field at Al-Reeshah, it is run by the Jordanian National Petroleum Company. In 2008, [British Petroleum](/source/BP) purchased the rights to produce natural gas in the field, and is expected to increase its capacity from {{convert|21|cuft|m3}} to 300 million cubic feet per day in the next five years. The natural gas produced at Al-Reeshah is used entirely for producing electricity at a nearby electricity generating station with a capacity of 120 Megawatts, covering 12% of the total needs of the kingdom for the year 2008.{{citeweb|url=http://www.aawsat.com/details.asp?section=6&article=534675&issueno=11239 |title=اتفاق أردني بريطاني لتطوير حقل الريشة للغاز |date=September 5, 2009 |website=[Asharq Al-Awsat](/source/Asharq_Al-Awsat) |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120219194735/http://www.aawsat.com/details.asp?section=6&article=534675&issueno=11239 |archive-date=2012-02-19 |access-date=2024-12-17}} The city of Mafraq hosts [Al al-Bayt University](/source/Al_al-Bayt_University), which is the only university in the governorate.[http://www.aabu.edu.jo/ Al al-Bayt University] ==See also== *[Safawi, Jordan](/source/Safawi%2C_Jordan), a town *[Umm el-Jimal](/source/Umm_el-Jimal), village with ancient ruins ==References== {{reflist}} {{Geographic location |Centre = Mafraq Governorate |North = {{flagicon|Syria}}[Rif Dimashq Governorate](/source/Rif_Dimashq_Governorate) |Northeast = {{flagicon|Syria}}[Homs Governorate](/source/Homs_Governorate) |East = {{flagicon|Iraq}} [Al Anbar Governorate](/source/Al_Anbar_Governorate) |Southeast = {{flagicon|Saudi Arabia}} [Northern Borders Province](/source/Northern_Borders_Province) |South = |Southwest = [Zarqa Governorate](/source/Zarqa_Governorate) |West = [Irbid Governorate](/source/Irbid_Governorate)
[Jerash Governorate](/source/Jerash_Governorate) |Northwest = {{flagicon|Syria}}[As-Suwayda](/source/As-Suwayda_Governorate) and [Daraa Governorate](/source/Daraa_Governorate)s }} {{Governorates of Jordan}} {{Ottoman Hajj Routes}} {{Authority control}} Category:Mafraq Governorate Category:Governorates of Jordan --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Mafraq Governorate](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mafraq_Governorate) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mafraq_Governorate?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.