Jordan vs Palestine

Why people mix them up

Jordan and Palestine have flags that are almost identical: horizontal black, white and green stripes with a red triangle at the hoist. They are neighbours across the Jordan River and the Dead Sea, both are Arabic-speaking, and they share a great deal of history, family ties and culture. Palestine's recognition is disputed, so it appears differently on different maps, and people often search how to tell the two flags and territories apart.

How to tell them apart

• Jordan's flag has a small white seven-pointed star in the red triangle; Palestine's flag has no star.
• Jordan is a single continuous country east of the Jordan River; Palestine refers to two separate areas, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
• Jordan is much larger, about 89,000 km², while the West Bank and Gaza together cover only around 6,000 km².
• Jordan's capital is Amman. Palestine designates Jerusalem as its capital, a status that is disputed, and its administrative offices are based in Ramallah.
• Jordan has a short coastline on the Gulf of Aqaba; the Gaza Strip lies on the Mediterranean, while the West Bank is landlocked.
• Jordan is a kingdom; Palestine does not have a monarchy.

Memory hook

Look for the star: Jordan's triangle wears one, Palestine's does not. Jordan is the big country on the east bank of the river; the West Bank is, as its name says, on the west.

On the map

Find the Dead Sea and the Jordan River flowing into it from the north. The large country to the east, stretching into desert towards Iraq and Saudi Arabia, is Jordan. The West Bank is the area directly west of the river and the Dead Sea. The Gaza Strip is a separate small strip on the Mediterranean coast, next to Egypt's Sinai Peninsula. If the area you are tapping touches Iraq or Saudi Arabia, it is Jordan.