2003 Edition

Administrative divisions

6 regions (mintaqat, singular - mintaqah) and 2 governorates* (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah) Ad Dakhiliyah, Al Batinah, Al Wusta, Ash Sharqiyah, Az Zahirah, Masqat, Musandam*, Zufar*; note - the US Embassy in Oman reports that Masqat is a governorate, but this has not been confirmed by the US Board on Geographic Names (BGN)

Age structure

0-14 years: 42.2% (male 603,664; female 580,469) 15-64 years: 55.4% (male 934,621; female 620,158) 65 years and over: 2.4% (male 36,504; female 31,709) (2003 est.)

Agriculture - products

dates, limes, bananas, alfalfa, vegetables; camels, cattle; fish

Airports

139 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways

over 3,047 m

4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)

total

6

Airports - with unpaved runways

over 3,047 m

2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7

total

133 914 to 1,523 m: 37

under 914 m

32 (2002) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 55

Area

land

212,460 sq km

total

212,460 sq km

water

0 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Kansas

Background

In 1970, QABOOS bin Said Al Said ousted his father and has ruled as sultan ever since. His extensive modernization program has opened the country to the outside world and has preserved a long-standing political and military relationship with the UK. Oman's moderate, independent foreign policy has sought to maintain good relations with all Middle Eastern countries. Geography Oman

Birth rate

37.47 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$6.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.)

revenues

$9.2 billion

Capital

Muscat

Climate

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

Coastline

2,092 km

Constitution

none; note - on 6 November 1996, Sultan QABOOS issued a royal decree promulgating a new basic law 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

Country name

conventional long form

Sultanate of Oman

conventional short form

Oman

former

Muscat and Oman

local long form

Saltanat Uman

local short form

Uman

Currency

Omani rial (OMR)

Currency code

OMR

Death rate

3.97 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Debt - external

$5.7 billion (2002 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Richard Lewis BALTIMORE III

embassy

Jameat A'Duwal Al Arabiya Street, Al Khuwair area, Muscat

mailing address

P. O. Box 202, P.C. 115, Madinat Al-Sultan Qaboos, Muscat

telephone

[968] 698989, extension 203

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2535 Belmont Road, NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Muhammad bin Ali bin Thani AL-KHUSSAIBY

telephone

[1] (202) 387-1980 through 1981, 1988

Disputes - international

boundary agreement signed and ratified with UAE in 2003 for entire border, including Oman's Musandam Peninsula and Al Madhah enclaves This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

Economic aid - recipient

$76.4 million (1995)

Economy - overview

Oman's economic performance improved significantly in 2000 due largely to the upturn in oil prices. The government is moving ahead with privatization of its utilities, the development of a body of commercial law to facilitate foreign investment, and increased budgetary outlays. Oman continues to liberalize its markets and joined the World Trade Organization (WTrO) in November 2000. GDP growth improved in 2001 despite the global slowdown and then fell back to 2.2% in 2002. In order to reduce unemployment, the government is trying to replace expatriate workers with local workers. Another government objective is the development of the nation's gas resources.

Electricity - consumption

8.625 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - production

9.274 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

100%

hydro

0%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (2001)

Elevation extremes

highest point

Jabal Shams 2,980 m

lowest point

Arabian Sea 0 m

Environment - current issues

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

Environment - international agreements

party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

Ethnic groups

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

Exchange rates

Omani rials per US dollar - 0.38 (2002), 0.38 (2001), 0.38 (2000), 0.38 (1999), 0.38 (1998)

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the monarch

chief of state

Sultan and Prime Minister QABOOS bin Said Al Said (since 23 July 1970); note - the monarch is both the chief of state and head of government

elections

none; the monarch is hereditary

head of government

Sultan and Prime Minister QABOOS bin Said Al Said (since 23 July 1970); note - the monarch is both the chief of state and head of government

Exports

$10.6 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities

petroleum, reexports, fish, metals, textiles

Exports - partners

Japan 20.5%, South Korea 18.5%, China 14.1%, Thailand 11.7%, UAE 9.2%, Singapore 4.3%, US 4.1% (2002)

FAX

[1] (202) 745-4933

[968] 699771

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications Oman

Flag description

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

GDP

purchasing power parity - $22.4 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

3%

industry

55%

services

42% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $8,300 (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

2.2% (2002 est.)

Geographic coordinates

21 00 N, 57 00 E

Geography - note

strategic location on Musandam Peninsula adjacent to Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude oil People Oman

Government type

monarchy

Heliports

1 (2002) Military Oman

Highways

paved

9,673 km (including 550 km of expressways)

total

34,965 km

unpaved

25,292 km (2001)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

1,300 (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Imports

$5.5 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, livestock, lubricants

Imports - partners

UAE 27.5%, Japan 16.7%, UK 7.4%, US 6.9%, Germany 5% (2002)

Independence

1650 (expulsion of the Portuguese)

Industrial production growth rate

4% (2000 est.)

Industries

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

Infant mortality rate

female

17.85 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)

male

24.03 deaths/1,000 live births

total

21.01 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

-0.5% (2002 est.)

International organization participation

ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Internet country code

.om

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

1 (2000)

Internet users

120,000 (2002) Transportation Oman

Irrigated land

620 sq km (1998 est.)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court

note

the nascent civil court system, administered by region, has non-Islamic judges as well as traditional Islamic judges

Labor force

920,000 (2002 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%

Land boundaries

border countries

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

total

1,374 km

Land use

arable land

0.08%

other

99.7% (1998 est.)

permanent crops

0.22%

Languages

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

Legal system

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

Legislative branch

bicameral Majlis Oman consists of an upper chamber or Majlis al-Dawla (48 seats; members appointed by the monarch; has advisory powers only) and a lower chamber or Majlis al-Shura (83 seats; members elected by limited suffrage for three-year term, however, the monarch makes final selections and can negate election results; body has some limited power to propose legislation, but otherwise has only advisory powers)

election results

NA

elections

last held 4 October 2003 (next to be held NA 2006)

Life expectancy at birth

female

74.86 years (2003 est.)

male

70.4 years

total population

72.58 years

Literacy

definition

NA

female

67.2% (2003 est.) Government Oman

male

83.1%

total population

75.8%

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

Median age

female

16.5 years (2002)

male

22.3 years

total

19.4 years

Merchant marine

convenience

Singapore 1 (2002 est.)

note

includes a foreign-owned ship registered here as a flag of

ships by type

container 1, passenger 2

total

3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 17,291 GRT/9,457 DWT

Military branches

Royal Omani Armed Forces (Army, Navy, Air Force), Royal Omani Police

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$2.424 billion (FY01)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

12.2% (FY01) Transnational Issues Oman

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49

788,429 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49

438,326 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - military age

14 years of age (2003 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males

29,485 (2003 est.)

National holiday

Birthday of Sultan QABOOS, 18 November (1940)

Nationality

adjective

Omani

noun

Omani(s)

Natural gas - consumption

6.34 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports

7.43 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - production

13.77 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

846.4 billion cu m (37257)

Natural hazards

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

Natural resources

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

Net migration rate

0.29 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption

53,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA (2001)

Oil - imports

NA (2001)

Oil - production

963,800 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

5.703 billion bbl (37257)

Pipelines

gas 3,599 km; oil 3,187 km (2003)

Political parties and leaders

none

Political pressure groups and leaders

none

Population

2,807,125

note

includes 577,293 non-nationals (July 2003 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Population growth rate

3.38% (2003 est.)

Ports and harbors

Matrah, Mina' al Fahl, Mina' Raysut

Radio broadcast stations

AM 3, FM 9, shortwave 2 (1999)

Radios

1.4 million (1997)

Railways

0 km

Religions

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

Sex ratio

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

1.28 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

under 15 years

1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.51 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.15 male(s)/female

Suffrage

in Oman's most recent elections in 2000, limited to approximately 175,000 Omanis chosen by the government to vote in elections for the Majlis al-Shura

Telephone system

domestic

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

general assessment

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

international

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

Telephones - main lines in use

201,000 (1997)

Telephones - mobile cellular

59,822 (1997)

Television broadcast stations

13 (plus 25 low-power repeaters) (1999)

Televisions

1.6 million (1997)

Terrain

central desert plain, rugged mountains in north and south

Total fertility rate

5.94 children born/woman (2003 est.)

Unemployment rate

NA%

Waterways

none