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This page was last updated on 18 December 2008


Map of Oman



Legend: DefinitionDefinition Field ListingField Listing Rank OrderRank Order
   Introduction    Oman Top of Page
Background:
Definition Field Listing
The inhabitants of the area of Oman have long prospered on Indian Ocean trade. In the late 18th century, a newly established sultanate in Muscat signed the first in a series of friendship treaties with Britain. Over time, Oman's dependence on British political and military advisors increased, but it never became a British colony. In 1970, QABOOS bin Said al-Said overthrew the restrictive rule of his father; he has ruled as sultan ever since. His extensive modernization program has opened the country to the outside world while preserving the longstanding close ties with the UK. Oman's moderate, independent foreign policy has sought to maintain good relations with all Middle Eastern countries.
   Geography    Oman Top of Page
Location:
Definition Field Listing
Middle East, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, and Persian Gulf, between Yemen and UAE
Geographic coordinates:
Definition Field Listing
21 00 N, 57 00 E
Map references:
Definition Field Listing
Middle East
Area:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 212,460 sq km
land: 212,460 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
Definition Field Listing
slightly smaller than Kansas
Land boundaries:
Definition Field Listing
total: 1,374 km
border countries: Saudi Arabia 676 km, UAE 410 km, Yemen 288 km
Coastline:
Definition Field Listing
2,092 km
Maritime claims:
Definition Field Listing
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
Definition Field Listing
dry desert; hot, humid along coast; hot, dry interior; strong southwest summer monsoon (May to September) in far south
Terrain:
Definition Field Listing
central desert plain, rugged mountains in north and south
Elevation extremes:
Definition Field Listing
lowest point: Arabian Sea 0 m
highest point: Jabal Shams 2,980 m
Natural resources:
Definition Field Listing
petroleum, copper, asbestos, some marble, limestone, chromium, gypsum, natural gas
Land use:
Definition Field Listing
arable land: 0.12%
permanent crops: 0.14%
other: 99.74% (2005)
Irrigated land:
Definition Field Listing
720 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
Definition Field Listing
1 cu km (1997)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
Definition Field Listing
total: 1.36 cu km/yr (7%/2%/90%)
per capita: 529 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
Definition Field Listing
summer winds often raise large sandstorms and dust storms in interior; periodic droughts
Environment - current issues:
Definition Field Listing
rising soil salinity; beach pollution from oil spills; limited natural fresh water resources
Environment - international agreements:
Definition Field Listing
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
Definition Field Listing
strategic location on Musandam Peninsula adjacent to Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude oil
   People    Oman Top of Page
Population:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
3,311,640
note: includes 577,293 non-nationals (July 2008 est.)
Age structure:
Definition Field Listing
0-14 years: 42.7% (male 721,796/female 692,699)
15-64 years: 54.5% (male 1,053,040/female 752,962)
65 years and over: 2.8% (male 51,290/female 39,853) (2008 est.)
Median age:
Definition Field Listing
total: 18.9 years
male: 21.3 years
female: 16.6 years (2008 est.)
Population growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
3.19% (2008 est.)
Birth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
35.26 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
3.68 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Net migration rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0.33 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Sex ratio:
Definition Field Listing
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.4 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.29 male(s)/female
total population: 1.23 male(s)/female (2008 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 17.45 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 19.95 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 14.83 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total population: 73.91 years
male: 71.64 years
female: 76.29 years (2008 est.)
Total fertility rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
5.62 children born/woman (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1,300 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
fewer than 200 (2003 est.)
Nationality:
Definition Field Listing
noun: Omani(s)
adjective: Omani
Ethnic groups:
Definition Field Listing
Arab, Baluchi, South Asian (Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan, Bangladeshi), African
Religions:
Definition Field Listing
Ibadhi Muslim 75%, other (includes Sunni Muslim, Shi'a Muslim, Hindu) 25%
Languages:
Definition Field Listing
Arabic (official), English, Baluchi, Urdu, Indian dialects
Literacy:
Definition Field Listing
definition: NA
total population: 81.4%
male: 86.8%
female: 73.5% (2003 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
Definition Field Listing
total: 12 years
male: 12 years
female: 11 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
4% of GDP (2006)
   Government    Oman Top of Page
Country name:
Definition Field Listing
conventional long form: Sultanate of Oman
conventional short form: Oman
local long form: Saltanat Uman
local short form: Uman
former: Muscat and Oman
Government type:
Definition Field Listing
monarchy
Capital:
Definition Field Listing
name: Muscat
geographic coordinates: 23 37 N, 58 35 E
time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
Definition Field Listing
5 regions (manatiq, singular - mintaqat) and 4 governorates* (muhafazat, singular - muhafazat) Ad Dakhiliyah, Al Batinah, Al Buraymi*, Al Wusta, Ash Sharqiyah, Az Zahirah, Masqat (Muscat)*, Musandam*, Zufar (Dhofar)*
Independence:
Definition Field Listing
1650 (expulsion of the Portuguese)
National holiday:
Definition Field Listing
Birthday of Sultan QABOOS, 18 November (1940)
Constitution:
Definition Field Listing
none; note - on 6 November 1996, Sultan QABOOS issued a royal decree promulgating a basic law considered by the government to be a constitution which, among other things, clarifies the royal succession, provides for a prime minister, bars ministers from holding interests in companies doing business with the government, establishes a bicameral legislature, and guarantees basic civil liberties for Omani citizens
Legal system:
Definition Field Listing
based on English common law and Islamic law; ultimate appeal to the monarch; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
Definition Field Listing
21 years of age; universal; note - members of the military and security forces are not allowed to vote
Executive branch:
Definition Field Listing
chief of state: Sultan and Prime Minister QABOOS bin Said al-Said (sultan since 23 July 1970 and prime minister since 23 July 1972); note - the monarch is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: Sultan and Prime Minister QABOOS bin Said al-Said (sultan since 23 July 1970 and prime minister since 23 July 1972)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarch
elections: the monarch is hereditary
Legislative branch:
Definition Field Listing
bicameral Majlis Oman consists of Majlis al-Dawla or upper chamber (70 seats; members appointed by the monarch; has advisory powers only) and Majlis al-Shura or lower chamber (84 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms; body has some limited power to propose legislation, but otherwise has only advisory powers)
elections: last held 27 October 2007 (next to be held in 2011)
election results: new candidates won 46 seats and 38 members of the outgoing Majlis kept their positions; none of the 20 female candidates were elected
Judicial branch:
Definition Field Listing
Supreme Court
note: the nascent civil court system, administered by region, has judges who practice secular and Sharia law
Political parties and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
none
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
none
International organization participation:
Definition Field Listing
ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, FAO, G-77, GCC, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Definition Field Listing
chief of mission: Ambassador Hunaina bint Sultan bin Ahmad al-MUGHAIRI
chancery: 2535 Belmont Road, NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 387-1980
FAX: [1] (202) 745-4933
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Definition Field Listing
chief of mission: Ambassador Gary A. GRAPPO
embassy: Jameat A'Duwal Al Arabiya Street, Al Khuwair area, Muscat
mailing address: P. O. Box 202, P.C. 115, Madinat Sultan Qaboos, Muscat
telephone: [968] 24-643-400
FAX: [968] 24-699771
Flag description:
Definition Field Listing
three horizontal bands of white, red, and green of equal width with a broad, vertical, red band on the hoist side; the national emblem (a khanjar dagger in its sheath superimposed on two crossed swords in scabbards) in white is centered near the top of the vertical band
   Economy    Oman Top of Page
Economy - overview:
Definition Field Listing
Oman is a middle-income economy that is heavily dependent on dwindling oil resources, but sustained high oil prices in recent years have helped build Oman's budget and trade surpluses and foreign reserves. Oman joined the World Trade Organization in November 2000 and continues to liberalize its markets. It ratified a free trade agreement with the US in September 2006, and, through the Gulf Cooperation Council, seeks similar agreements with the EU, China and Japan. As a result of its dwindling oil resources, Oman is actively pursuing a development plan that focuses on diversification, industrialization, and privatization, with the objective of reducing the oil sector's contribution to GDP to 9 percent by 2020. Muscat is attempting to "Omanize" the labor force by replacing foreign expatriate workers with local workers. Oman actively seeks private foreign investors, especially in the industrial, information technology, tourism, and higher education fields. Industrial development plans focus on gas resources, metal manufacturing, petrochemicals, and international transshipment ports.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$60.89 billion (2007 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
Definition Field Listing
$40.06 billion (2007 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
5.6% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$19,000 (2007 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: 2.2%
industry: 38.2%
services: 59.6% (2007 est.)
Labor force:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
920,000 (2002 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Unemployment rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
15% (2004 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Definition Field Listing
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Investment (gross fixed):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
20% of GDP (2007 est.)
Budget:
Definition Field Listing
revenues: $14.02 billion
expenditures: $13.68 billion (2007 est.)
Public debt:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
3.7% of GDP (2007 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
5.9% (2007 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.98% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
7.29% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$5.044 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$11.04 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$13.88 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
Definition Field Listing
dates, limes, bananas, alfalfa, vegetables; camels, cattle; fish
Industries:
Definition Field Listing
crude oil production and refining, natural and liquefied natural gas (LNG) production; construction, cement, copper, steel, chemicals, optic fiber
Industrial production growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
3.2% (2007 est.)
Electricity - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
13.58 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
10.53 billion kWh (2006 est.)
Electricity - exports:
Definition Field Listing
0 kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
Definition Field Listing
0 kWh (2007 est.)
Oil - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
714,300 bbl/day (2007 est.)
Oil - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
69,100 bbl/day (2006 est.)
Oil - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
722,000 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
15,440 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - proved reserves:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
5.5 billion bbl (1 January 2008 est.)
Natural gas - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
24.1 billion cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
11 billion cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
13.1 billion cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
849.5 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)
Current account balance:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$4.866 billion (2007 est.)
Exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$23.1 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
petroleum, reexports, fish, metals, textiles
Exports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
China 26.8%, South Korea 15.2%, Japan 14.3%, Thailand 10.4%, UAE 7.6%, US 4.3%, Iran 4.1% (2007)
Imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$11 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, livestock, lubricants
Imports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
UAE 19.3%, Japan 17.6%, US 7.4%, Germany 5.2%, India 4.1% (2007)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$9.524 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$5.297 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$NA
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$NA
Market value of publicly traded shares:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$16.16 billion (2006)
Currency (code):
Definition Field Listing
Omani rial (OMR)
Exchange rates:
Definition Field Listing
Omani rials (OMR) per US dollar - 0.3845 (2007), 0.3845 (2006), 0.3845 (2005), 0.3845 (2004), 0.3845 (2003)
   Communications    Oman Top of Page
Telephones - main lines in use:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
268,100 (2007)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2.5 million (2007)
Telephone system:
Definition Field Listing
general assessment: modern system consisting of open-wire, microwave, and radiotelephone communication stations; limited coaxial cable
domestic: fixed-line phone service gradually being introduced to remote villages using wireless local loop systems; fixed-line and mobile-cellular subscribership both increasing; open-wire, microwave, radiotelephone communications, and a domestic satellite system with 8 earth stations
international: country code - 968; the Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG) and the SEA-ME-WE-3 submarine cable provide connectivity to Asia, the Middle East, and Europe; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Indian Ocean), 1 Arabsat (2007)
Radio broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
AM 3, FM 9, shortwave 2 (1999)
Television broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
13 (plus 25 repeaters) (1999)
Internet country code:
Definition Field Listing
.om
Internet hosts:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
4,785 (2008)
Internet users:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
340,000 (2007)
   Transportation    Oman Top of Page
Airports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
137 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 7
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 130
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 8
1,524 to 2,437 m: 51
914 to 1,523 m: 35
under 914 m: 34 (2007)
Heliports:
Definition Field Listing
2 (2007)
Pipelines:
Definition Field Listing
gas 4,126 km; oil 3,558 km (2007)
Roadways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 42,300 km
paved: 16,500 km (includes 550 km of expressways)
unpaved: 25,800 km (2005)
Merchant marine:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 3
by type: chemical tanker 1, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 1
registered in other countries: 2 (Panama 2) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Definition Field Listing
Mina' Qabus, Salalah
   Military    Oman Top of Page
Military branches:
Definition Field Listing
Sultan's Armed Forces (SAF): Royal Army of Oman, Royal Navy of Oman, Royal Air Force of Oman (2008)
Military service age and obligation:
Definition Field Listing
18-30 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2008)
Manpower available for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 16-49: 802,455
females age 16-49: 626,841 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 16-49: 663,881
females age 16-49: 543,410 (2008 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
Definition Field Listing
male: 34,238
female: 33,139 (2008 est.)
Military expenditures:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
11.4% of GDP (2005 est.)
   Transnational Issues    Oman Top of Page
Disputes - international:
Definition Field Listing
boundary agreement reportedly signed and ratified with UAE in 2003 for entire border, including Oman's Musandam Peninsula and Al Madhah exclave, but details of the alignment have not been made public
Trafficking in persons:
Definition Field Listing
current situation: Oman is a destination country for men and women primarily from Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan who migrate willingly, but some of whom become victims of trafficking when subjected to conditions of involuntary servitude as domestic workers and laborers; mistreatment includes non-payment of wages, restrictions on movement and withholding of passports, threats, and physical or sexual abuse; Oman may also be a destination country for women from Asia, Eastern Europe, and North Africa for commercial sexual exploitation
tier rating: Tier 3 - Oman was rated as Tier 3 for the second consecutive year because it did not report any law enforcement efforts to prosecute and punish trafficking offenses in 2007 and continues to lack victim protection services or a systematic procedure to identify victims of trafficking (2008)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008


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