This study evaluates the types and distribution of oral and maxillofacial tumours in north Jordanian children and adolescents. The records of the Department of Pathology at Jordan University of Science & Technology, during the period 1991-2000, were reviewed for patients younger than 19 years with oral and maxillofacial tumours. The tumours were analysed for age, sex, site and type. Out of all maxillofacial tumours, 23% occurred in children and adolescents, of these 10% were malignant and 90% were benign. 73% of the latter were soft tissue tumours and 17% were jaw tumours (58% odontogenic and 42% non-odontogenic). The most common benign soft tissue and jaw tumours were haemangioma and odontoma, respectively. 58% of malignant tumours were sarcomas and 42% were carcinomas. The mean age was 11 years with a female to male ratio of 1:1.2. The intraoral and extraoral sites most commonly affected by benign soft tissue tumours were the lower lip and face, respectively. While the total number of benign jaw tumours was slightly larger in the maxilla than the mandible, odontogenic tumours were more in the maxilla, and nonodontogenic tumours were more in the mandible. Differences found in this study between Jordanian children and adolescents and those from other countries may be attributable to genetic and geographic differences. The majority of benign tumours in the young are probably developmental rather than true neoplasms.