2008 Edition

Background

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.

Area

total: 212,460 sq km land: 212,460 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Kansas

Climate

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

Coastline

2,092 km

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Arabian Sea 0 m highest point: Jabal Shams 2,980 m

Environment - current issues

rising soil salinity; beach pollution from oil spills; 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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 1.36 cu km/yr (7%/2%/90%) per capita: 529 cu m/yr (2000)

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

Irrigated land

720 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

total: 1,374 km border countries: Saudi Arabia 676 km, UAE 410 km, Yemen 288 km

Land use

arable land: 0.12% permanent crops: 0.14% other: 99.74% (2005)

Location

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

Map references

Middle East

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

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

Terrain

central desert plain, rugged mountains in north and south

Total renewable water resources

1 cu km (1997)

Age structure

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.)

Birth rate

35.26 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate

3.68 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Education expenditures

4% of GDP (2006)

Ethnic groups

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

fewer than 200 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

1,300 (2001 est.)

Infant mortality rate

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.)

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 73.91 years male: 71.64 years female: 76.29 years (2008 est.)

Literacy

definition: NA total population: 81.4% male: 86.8% female: 73.5% (2003 census)

Median age

total: 18.9 years male: 21.3 years female: 16.6 years (2008 est.)

Nationality

noun: Omani(s) adjective: Omani

Net migration rate

0.33 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Population

3,311,640 note: includes 577,293 non-nationals (July 2008 est.)

Population growth rate

3.19% (2008 est.)

Religions

Ibadhi Muslim 75%, other (includes Sunni Muslim, Shi'a Muslim, Hindu) 25%

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 12 years male: 12 years female: 11 years (2006)

Sex ratio

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.)

Total fertility rate

5.62 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Administrative divisions

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)*

Capital

name: Muscat geographic coordinates: 23 37 N, 58 35 E time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

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 local long form: Saltanat Uman local short form: Uman former: Muscat and Oman

Diplomatic representation from the US

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Hunaina bint Sultan bin Ahmad al-MUGHAIRI chancery: 2535 Belmont Road, NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 387-1980

Executive branch

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

FAX

[1] (202) 745-4933

[968] 24-699771

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

Government type

monarchy

Independence

1650 (expulsion of the Portuguese)

International organization participation

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

Judicial branch

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

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 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

National holiday

Birthday of Sultan QABOOS, 18 November (1940)

Political parties and leaders

none

Political pressure groups and leaders

none

Suffrage

21 years of age; universal; note - members of the military and security forces are not allowed to vote

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $14.02 billion expenditures: $13.68 billion (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate

1.98% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

7.29% (31 December 2007)

Currency (code)

Omani rial (OMR)

Currency code

OMR

Current account balance

$4.866 billion (2007 est.)

Debt - external

$5.297 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Economic aid - recipient

$30.68 million (2005)

Economy - overview

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.

Electricity - consumption

10.53 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production

13.58 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Exchange rates

Omani rials (OMR) per US dollar - 0.3845 (2007), 0.3845 (2006), 0.3845 (2005), 0.3845 (2004), 0.3845 (2003)

Exports

$23.1 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities

petroleum, reexports, fish, metals, textiles

Exports - partners

China 26.8%, South Korea 15.2%, Japan 14.3%, Thailand 10.4%, UAE 7.6%, US 4.3%, Iran 4.1% (2007)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 2.2% industry: 38.2% services: 59.6% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$19,000 (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

5.6% (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$40.06 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$60.89 billion (2007 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports

$11 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

UAE 19.3%, Japan 17.6%, US 7.4%, Germany 5.2%, India 4.1% (2007)

Industrial production growth rate

3.2% (2007 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

5.9% (2007 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

20% of GDP (2007 est.)

Labor force

920,000 (2002 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

Market value of publicly traded shares

$16.16 billion (2006)

Natural gas - consumption

11 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports

13.1 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - production

24.1 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

849.5 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Oil - consumption

69,100 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports

722,000 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports

15,440 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - production

714,300 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

5.5 billion bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Public debt

3.7% of GDP (2007 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$9.524 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$NA

Stock of domestic credit

$13.88 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of money

$5.044 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money

$11.04 billion (31 December 2007)

Unemployment rate

15% (2004 est.)

Internet country code

.om

Internet hosts

4,785 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

1 (2000)

Internet users

340,000 (2007)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 3, FM 9, shortwave 2 (1999)

Radios

1.4 million (1997)

Telephone system

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)

Telephones - main lines in use

268,100 (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular

2.5 million (2007)

Television broadcast stations

13 (plus 25 repeaters) (1999)

Televisions

1.6 million (1997)

Airports

137 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways

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

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

2 (2007)

Merchant marine

total: 3 by type: chemical tanker 1, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 1 registered in other countries: 2 (Panama 2) (2008)

Pipelines

gas 4,126 km; oil 3,558 km (2007)

Ports and terminals

Mina' Qabus, Salalah

Roadways

total: 42,300 km paved: 16,500 km (includes 550 km of expressways) unpaved: 25,800 km (2005)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 802,455 females age 16-49: 626,841 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 663,881 females age 16-49: 543,410 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 34,238 female: 33,139 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures

11.4% of GDP (2005 est.)

Military service age and obligation

18-30 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2008)

Sultan's Armed Forces (SAF)

Royal Army of Oman, Royal Navy of Oman, Royal Air Force of Oman (2008)

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 of the alignment have not been made public

Trafficking in persons

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