Mining by country

Mining in Jordan

What Jordan mines: phosphate rock (4.8% of world output, #5), potash (3.7% of world output, #8).

Mineral rents0%of GDP, 2021. Higher than 0% of countries.
Ores and metals8.5%of merchandise exports, 2024.
Biggest world rolePhosphate rock4.8% of world mine output, #5, 2025.
World top-3 producer of0minerals we track.
Governance, World Bank WGI 2025
  • Rule of law+0.19above 56% of countries
  • Political stability-0.32above 34% of countries
  • Regulatory quality+0.33above 66% of countries
  • Control of corruption+0.30above 63% of countries
Estimates from −2.5 to +2.5; the bar sits at the country's score.

Mining in Jordan at a glance

Mining in GDP7.6%2019. Mining and quarrying plus minerals manufacturing, per USGS.Source: USGS
Minerals in exports19.7%2019. Share of total export value, per USGS.Source: USGS
First recorded mining
Wadi Faynan copper. Copper mining and smelting at Faynan date from the Chalcolithic, 4500 to 3100 BC, with fairly continuous use until the 4th century AD. Source: World Archaeology
Mining law
Natural Resources Law of 2018 (Royal Decree No. 19). Replaced Law No. 12 of 1968; the ministry develops policy, and the regulatory commission issues permits. Source: USGS
Main mines
Faynan (Wadi Faynan) Source: PLOS ONE

Official sitesMining ministry

Mining employment from the ILO usually counts all of mining and quarrying, often with oil and gas; national shares of GDP and exports are as each source defines them.

Share of world mine production

MineralWorld shareWorld rankYear
Phosphate rock4.8%52025
Potash3.7%82025

Phosphate rock mining in Jordan

Jordan mined 4.8% of the world's phosphate rock in 2025, ranking #5 (USGS). Every phosphate rock mine and project in Jordan.

Potash mining in Jordan

Jordan mined 3.7% of the world's potash in 2025, ranking #8 (USGS). Every potash mine and project in Jordan.

History of mining in Jordan

What the ground holds. phosphate, potash, bromine, kaolin, marble, limestone, basalt, zeolites, salt and silica sand. Source: USGS

Did you know

Wadi Faynan

Copper was mined and smelted at Wadi Faynan from the Chalcolithic, 4500 to 3100 BC, until the 4th century AD. Up to 200,000 t of slag remains.

Source: World Archaeology

Famous mines in Jordan

How prospectors changed the worldThe full mining timeline

By mineral

Phosphate rock minesPotash mines

Mining elsewhere in Asia

ChinaIndonesiaJapanKazakhstanSouth KoreaIndiaTurkeyMongoliaPhilippinesVietnam

World shares: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries, latest year per mineral. Mineral rents, exports and governance: World Bank WDI and WGI. Trade: CEPII BACI. Projects: listed companies' announcements.

Keep exploring

Stories from Jordan and its minerals

History of miningThe first miners: ochre, flint, copper and silver25000 BC-AD 400The world runs on rockThe BatteryInside a lithium-ion cellThe Big Hole at Kimberley, South Africa, seen from above, with water at the bottomMining historyThe Big Hole, KimberleyDiamonds · South AfricaThe world runs on rockThe ChipThe minerals inside every computer chip

All mining storiesThe world runs on rockAll mineralsMining by country

Cover photos from Wikimedia Commons: The Big Hole by Rudolph Botha, CC BY-SA 3.0. Pictures: Timna in de Negevwoestijn; rotspartij "de zuilen van Salomo", Poll, Willem van de / Europeana (Public Domain Mark 1.0).