1996 Edition

Description

three horizontal bands of white (top, double width), red, and green (double 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 at the top of the vertical band

Location

21 00 N, 57 00 E -- Middle East, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, and Persian Gulf, between Yemen and UAE Flag ----

Area

comparative area

slightly smaller than Kansas

land area

212,460 sq km

total area

212,460 sq km

Climate

dry desert; hot, humid along coast; hot, dry interior; strong southwest summer monsoon (May to September) in far south

Coastline

2,092 km

Environment

current issues

rising soil salinity; beach pollution from oil spills; very limited natural fresh water resources

international agreements

party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ship Pollution; signed, but not ratified - Hazardous Wastes

natural hazards

summer winds often raise large sandstorms and dust storms in interior; periodic droughts

Geographic coordinates

21 00 N, 57 00 E

Geographic note

strategic location with small foothold on Musandam Peninsula controlling Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude oil

International disputes

no defined boundary with most of UAE, but Administrative Line in far north

Irrigated land

410 sq km (1989 est.)

Land boundaries

border countries

Saudi Arabia 676 km, UAE 410 km, Yemen 288 km

total

1,374 km

Land use

arable land

2%

forest and woodland

0%

meadows and pastures

5%

other

93%

permanent crops

0%

Location

Middle East, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, and Persian Gulf, between Yemen and UAE

Map references

Middle East

Maritime claims

contiguous zone

24 nm

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural resources

petroleum, copper, asbestos, some marble, limestone, chromium, gypsum, natural gas

Terrain

vast central desert plain, rugged mountains in north and south

highest point

Jabal ash Sham 2,980 m

lowest point

Arabian Sea 0 m

Age structure

0-14 years: 46% (male 511,664; female 493,369) 15-64 years: 51% (male 609,423; female 513,042) 65 years and over: 3% (male 26,623; female 32,427) (July 1996 est.)

Birth rate

37.86 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate

4.44 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions

Arab, Baluchi, South Asian (Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan, Bangladeshi), African

Infant mortality rate

27.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Languages

Arabic (official), English, Baluchi, Urdu, Indian dialects

Life expectancy at birth

female

72.57 years (1996 est.)

male

68.59 years

total population

70.53 years

Literacy

NA

Nationality

adjective

Omani

noun

Omani(s)

Net migration rate

1.84 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Population

2,186,548 (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate

3.53% (1996 est.)

Religions

Ibadhi Muslim 75%, Sunni Muslim, Shi'a Muslim, Hindu

Sex ratio

all ages

1.1 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years

1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.19 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

6.09 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Administrative divisions

6 regions (mintaqah, singular - mintaqat) and 2 governorates* (muhafazah, singular - muhafazat) Ad Dakhiliyah, Al Batinah, Al Wusta, Ash Sharqiyah, Az Zahirah, Masqat, Musandam*, Zufar*

Capital

Muscat

Constitution

none

Consultative Council (Majlis ash Shura)

a 60-member body with advisory powers only

Data code

MU

Diplomatic representation in US

chancery

2535 Belmont Road, NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Abdallah bin Muhammad bin Aqil al-DHAHAB

telephone

[1] (202) 387-1980 through 1982

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet was appointed by the sultan

chief of state and head of government

Sultan and Prime Minister QABOOS bin Said Al Said (since 23 July 1970) is a hereditary monarch;

FAX

[1] (202) 745-4933

[968] 699779

Flag

three horizontal bands of white (top, double width), red, and green (double 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 at the top of the vertical band

Independence

1650 (expulsion of the Portuguese)

International organization participation

ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OIC, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO

Judicial branch

none; traditional Islamic judges and a nascent civil court system, administered by region

Legal system

based on English common law and Islamic law; ultimate appeal to the sultan; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch

unicameral

Name of country

conventional long form

Sultanate of Oman

conventional short form

Oman

local long form

Saltanat Uman

local short form

Uman

National holiday

National Day, 18 November (1940)

Other political or pressure groups

NA

Political parties and leaders

none

Suffrage

none

Type of government

monarchy

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission

Ambassador Frances D. COOK

embassy

address NA, Muscat

mailing address

P. O. Box 202, Code No. 115, Medinat Qaboos, Muscat

telephone

[968] 698989

Agriculture

dates, limes, bananas, alfalfa, vegetables; camels, cattle; annual fish catch averages 100,000 metric tons

Budget

expenditures

$5.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1995 est.)

revenues

$4.7 billion

Currency

1 Omani rial (RO) = 1,000 baiza

Economic aid

recipient

ODA, $82 million (1993)

Economic overview

Economic performance is closely tied to the fortunes of the oil industry. Petroleum accounts for nearly 90% of export earnings, about 75% of government revenues, and roughly 40% of GDP. Oman has proved oil reserves of 4 billion barrels, equivalent to about 20 years' supply at the current rate of extraction. Agriculture is carried on at a subsistence level and the general population depends on imported food. The government is encouraging private investment, both domestic and foreign, as a prime force for further economic development.

Electricity

capacity

1,540,000 kW

consumption per capita

3,407 kWh (1993)

production

6 billion kWh

Exchange rates

Omani rials (RO) per US$1 - 0.3845 (fixed rate since 1986)

Exports

$4.8 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)

commodities

petroleum 87%, reexports, fish, processed copper, textiles

partners

Japan 35%, South Korea 15.8%, US 9%, China 8%, Thailand 5% (1994)

External debt

$3 billion (1993)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $19.1 billion (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector

agriculture

3%

industry

60%

services

37%

GDP per capita

$10,800 (1995 est.)

GDP real growth rate

3.5% (1995 est.)

Imports

$4 billion (c.i.f., 1994 est.)

commodities

machinery, transportation equipment, manufactured goods, food, livestock, lubricants

partners

UAE 27% (largely reexports), Japan 20%, UK 15%, US 5%, Germany 4% (1993)

Industrial production growth rate

3% (1994 est.)

Industries

crude oil production and refining, natural gas production, construction, cement, copper

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

-0.7% (1994 est.)

Labor force

454,000

by occupation

agriculture 37% (1993 est.)

Unemployment rate

NA%

Branches

Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary (includes Royal Oman Police)

Defense expenditures

exchange rate conversion - $1.82 billion, 13.7% of GDP (1996)

Manpower availability

males age 15-49

532,113

males fit for military service

301,747 (1996 est.)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 2, FM 4, shortwave 1

Radios

1.043 million (1992 est.)

Telephone system

modern system consisting of open wire, microwave, and radiotelephone communication stations; limited coaxial cable

domestic

open wire, microwave, radiotelephone communications, and a domestic satellite system with 8 earth stations

international

satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat

Telephones

150,000 (1994 est.)

Television broadcast stations

9

Televisions

1.195 million (1992 est.) Defense

Airports

total

129

with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m

1

with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m

1

with paved runways over 3 047 m

4

with paved runways under 914 m

34

with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m

57

with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m

3

with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m

26 (1995 est.)

with unpaved runways over 3 047 m

3

Heliports

1 (1995 est.)

Highways

paved

4,930 km (including 413 km of expressways)

total

25,948 km

unpaved

21,018 km (1992 est.)

Merchant marine

ships by type

cargo 1, passenger 1, passenger-cargo 1 (1995 est.)

total

3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 16,306 GRT/8,210 DWT

Pipelines

crude oil 1,300 km; natural gas 1,030 km

Ports

Matrah, Mina' al Fahl, Mina' Raysut

Railways

0 km