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Jerash, known as the "Pompeii of Asia" is considered to be the second most visited site in Jordan after Petra.

Demographics
According to the Jordan national census of 2004, the population of Jerash City was 31,650 and was ranked as the 14th largest municipality in Jordan. The estimated population in 2010 is about 42,000. The National census of 2004 showed that the population of the province of Jerash Governorate was 153,650. 78,440 (51%) of the population was urban and 75,162 was rural. Jordanian citizens made up 87.1% of the population of Jerash Governorate. The male to female ratio was 51.48 to 48.51. Jerash Governorate has the second highest density in Jordan (after Irbid Governorate).

"Jarash Governorate is located in the northern region of Jordan. Its population is currently around 153,650 persons constituting 25,801 households, with an average household size of 5.96 members. The Governorate counts for around 3% of the population of Jordan, which is currently standing at 5.1 million."

Jerash has an ethnically diverse population, with the majority being Arabs. Circassians and Armenians also exist in a slightly larger percentage compared to other cities in Jordan. The majority of Jerash population are Muslims, however the percentage of Christians (Orthodox and Catholics) in Jerash city is also among the highest in Jordan..

Economy
Jerash economy depends largely on the tourists who visit the ancient city. It is also an agricultural city with more than 1.25 million olive trees in Jerash Governorate. However, the location of Jerash, just half an hour ride from two of the largest cities in Jordan, Amman and Irbid, contributed to slowing down its development, as investments tend to go to the larger cities. Jerash Private University is the only university in Jerash and is located on the highway that connects Jerash to Amman, in the south eastern suburbs of the town.

Income Distribution "According to DoS, the average annual household income in Jarash Governorate and in Jarash Sub-district is estimated to be JD 4,810, almost JD 400 per month. Around 43% of this income is generated from employment, 24% from current transfers - mostly in the form of pensions, subsidy transfers from Government and transfers from expatriates -, 17% from own business, and 14% from rents (it must be noticed that this includes the amount in lieu of occupying one’s own building or if living free of charge)."

Main key issues Jerash faces

"Jerash faces a number of key issues affecting its social and economic development, including: (1) low social cohesion due to rapid growth and continuous immigration of new population; (2) physical and functional disconnection between the archaeological site and the city, estranging the local population, which perceives the constant tourist flow as a nuisance and the Jerash festival a source of yearly discomfort; (3) physical decay of the urban environment, exacerbated by traffic and parking congestion, and by the visual clutter (particularly along King Abdullah Street and the surrounding commercial area). The Wadi area, a significant potential environmental asset for the city, is affected by fragmented land use, encroachment and pollution. (4) Threats to cultural heritage, mostly due to lack of maintenance, neglect and encroachments, the latter even endangering the archaeological site itself; and (5) economic stagnation, despite the existence of an outstanding economic asset like the archaeological site, whose economic advantages are not shared by the local population, as the tourists are not attracted to visit the historic core." (The World Bank 2007, 41)