First Jordanian census

This commemorative stamp was issued by the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to mark the successful execution of the country's first comprehensive national population and housing census, conducted in late 1961. This monumental administrative undertaking represented a crucial milestone in Jordan's modern state-building era under King Hussein bin Talal. Prior to this initiative, the young kingdom relied largely on outdated estimates and regional counts, making a standardized, scientific enumeration essential for establishing a reliable demographic foundation for the rapidly growing nation.

The 1961 census played a transformative role in Jordan's socio-economic development, as it systematically recorded populations across diverse communities, including urban centers, agricultural villages, and nomadic Bedouin encampments on both the East and West Banks. By collecting accurate demographic data, the Jordanian government obtained the foundational statistics necessary to plan vital national infrastructure, public education networks, health services, and long-term economic development strategies. This commemorative release celebrated the successful completion of this complex civic operation, projecting the image of a modernizing, highly organized state to both its citizens and the international community.