2005 Edition

Administrative divisions

5 regions (manaatiq, singular - mintaqat) and 3 governorates* (muhaafazaat, singular - muhaafaza) Ad Dakhiliyah, Al Batinah, Al Wusta, Ash Sharqiyah, Az Zahirah, Masqat*, Musandam*, Zufar*

Age structure

0-14 years: 42.6% (male 652,028/female 626,698) 15-64 years: 54.9% (male 978,183/female 668,814) 65 years and over: 2.5% (male 41,366/female 34,494) (2005 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Airports

136 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total

6 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

130 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 52 914 to 1,523 m: 34 under 914 m: 35 (2004 est.)

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

36.73 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$8.747 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

revenues

$9.291 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 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

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 (code)

Omani rial (OMR)

Currency code

OMR

Current account balance

$2.674 billion (2004 est.)

Death rate

3.86 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Debt - external

$4.814 billion (2004 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

FAX

[968] 24-699771

mailing address

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

telephone

[968] 24-698989

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2535 Belmont Road, NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Muhammad bin Ali bin Thani al-KHUSSAIBY

FAX

[1] (202) 745-4933

telephone

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

Disputes - international

boundary agreement reportedly signed and ratified with UAE in 2003 for entire border, including Oman's Musandam Peninsula and Al Madhah exclave, but details have not been made public This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005 ======================================================================

Economic aid - recipient

$76.4 million (1995)

Economy - overview

Oman is a middle-income economy in the Middle East with notable oil and gas resources, a substantial trade surplus, and low inflation. The government is privatizing its utilities and diversifying its economy to attract foreign investment. Oman continues to liberalize its markets and joined the World Trade Organization (WTO) in November 2000. To reduce unemployment and limit dependence on foreign countries, the government is encouraging the replacement of expatriate workers with local people, i.e., Omanization. Training in information technology, business management, and English support this objective. Industrial development plans focus on gas resources, metal manufacturing, petrochemicals, and international transshipment ports.

Electricity - consumption

9.792 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - production

9.896 billion kWh (2003)

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, 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

Ethnic groups

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

Exchange rates

Omani rials per US dollar - 0.3845 (2004), 0.3845 (2003), 0.3845 (2002), 0.3845 (2001), 0.3845 (2000)

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

$13.14 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities

petroleum, reexports, fish, metals, textiles

Exports - partners

China 29.5%, South Korea 17.5%, Japan 11.5%, Thailand 10.6%, UAE 7.2% (2004)

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 - composition by sector

agriculture

3.1%

industry

41.1%

services

55.8% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $13,100 (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

1.2% (2004 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$38.09 billion (2004 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 (2004 est.) 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

less than 200 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

1,300 (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA

Imports

$6.373 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

UAE 21.2%, Japan 16.6%, UK 8.4%, Italy 6%, Germany 5.1%, US 4.7% (2004)

Independence

1650 (expulsion of the Portuguese)

Industrial production growth rate

-1.2% (2004 est.)

Industries

crude oil production and refining, natural and liquefied natural gas (LNG) production, construction, cement, copper, steel, chemicals, optic fiber

Infant mortality rate

female

16.53 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

male

22.35 deaths/1,000 live births

total

19.51 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

0.2% (2004 est.)

International organization participation

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

Internet country code

.om

Internet hosts

726 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

1 (2000)

Internet users

180,000 (2002) Transportation Oman

Investment (gross fixed)

13.5% of GDP (2004 est.)

Irrigated land

620 sq km (1998 est.)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court note: the nascent civil court system, administered by region, has judges who practice secular and Sharia (Islamic) law

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

0.12%

other

99.74% (2001)

permanent crops

0.14%

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 (58 seats; members appointed by the monarch; has advisory powers only) and a lower chamber or Majlis al-Shura (83 seats; members elected by universal suffrage for four-year term; 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 2007)

Life expectancy at birth

female

75.46 years (2005 est.)

male

70.92 years

total population

73.13 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

Manpower available for military service

males age 18-49: 719,871 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 18-49: 581,444 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually

males

26,391 (2005 est.)

Map references

Middle East

Maritime claims

contiguous zone

24 nm

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Median age

female

16.45 years (2005 est.)

male

21.88 years

total

19.13 years

Merchant marine

by type

passenger 1 (2005)

total

1 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 15,430 GRT/6,360 DWT

Military branches

Royal Omani Armed Forces

Royal Army of Oman, Royal Navy of Oman, Royal Air Force of Oman (2005)

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$252.99 million (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

11.4% (2003) Transnational Issues Oman

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)

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

829.7 billion cu m (2003)

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

0.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption

54,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - exports

721,000 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - imports

NA

Oil - production

775,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

5.5 billion bbl (2003 est.)

Pipelines

gas 3,754 km; oil 3,212 km (2004)

Political parties and leaders

none

Political pressure groups and leaders

none

Population

3,001,583 note: includes 577,293 non-nationals (July 2005 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA

Population growth rate

3.32% (2005 est.)

Ports and harbors

Mina' Qabus, Salalah

Public debt

10.3% of GDP (2004 est.)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 3, FM 9, shortwave 2 (1999)

Radios

1.4 million (1997)

Religions

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

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$4.144 billion (2004 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.46 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.2 male(s)/female

total population

1.26 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Suffrage

in Oman's most recent Majlis al-Shura elections in 2003, suffrage was universal for all Omanis over age 21 except for members of the military and security forces; the next Majlis al-Shura elections are scheduled for 2007

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

country code - 968; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat

Telephones - main lines in use

233,900 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular

464,900 (2002)

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

5.84 children born/woman (2005 est.)

Unemployment rate

15% (2004 est.)