2015 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 his father, and has since ruled as sultan, but he has never designated a successor. 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. Inspired by the popular uprisings that swept the Middle East and North Africa beginning in January 2011, some Omanis began staging marches, demonstrations, and sit-ins calling mostly for more jobs and economic benefits and an end to corruption. In response to those protester demands, QABOOS in 2011 pledged to implement economic and political reforms, such as granting legislative and regulatory powers to the Majlis al-Shura and introducing unemployment benefits. Additionally, in August 2012, the Sultan announced a royal directive mandating the speedy implementation of a national job creation plan for thousands of public and private sector jobs. As part of the government's efforts to decentralize authority and allow greater citizen participation in local governance, Oman successfully conducted its first municipal council elections in December 2012. Announced by the Sultan in 2011, the municipal councils will have the power to advise the Royal Court on the needs of local districts across Oman's 11 governorates. The Sultan returned to Oman in March 2015 after eight months in Germany, where he received medical treatment. He has since appeared publicly on several occasions.

Area

land

309,500 sq km

total

309,500 sq km

water

0 sq km

Area - comparative

twice the size of Georgia; 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

highest point

Jabal Shams 2,980 m

lowest point

Arabian Sea 0 m

Environment - current issues

rising soil salinity; beach pollution from oil spills; limited natural freshwater 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)

per capita

515.8 cu m/yr (2003)

total

1.32 cu km/yr (10%/1%/88%)

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

588.5 sq km (2004)

Land boundaries

border countries (3)

Saudi Arabia 658 km, UAE 609 km, Yemen 294 km

total

1,561 km

Land use

arable land 0.1%; permanent crops 0.1%; permanent pasture 4.5%

agricultural land

4.7%

forest

0%

other

95.3% (2011 est.)

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 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

1.4 cu km (2011)

Age structure

0-14 years

30.23% (male 509,465/female 484,068)

15-24 years

19.51% (male 336,286/female 304,994)

25-54 years

43% (male 822,302/female 590,937)

55-64 years

3.9% (male 68,460/female 59,756)

65 years and over

3.37% (male 55,081/female 55,587) (2015 est.)

Birth rate

24.44 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

8.6% (2009)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

24.4% (2007/08)

Death rate

3.36 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

3.4%

potential support ratio

29.8% (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

30%

youth dependency ratio

26.7%

Drinking water source

urban: 95.5% of population

rural: 86.1% of population

total: 93.4% of population

urban: 4.5% of population

rural: 13.9% of population

total: 6.6% of population (2015 est.)

Education expenditures

4.2% of GDP (2009)

Ethnic groups

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

Health expenditures

2.6% of GDP (2013)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.16% (2014 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

less than 100 (2014 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

2,400 (2014 est.)

Hospital bed density

1.7 beds/1,000 population (2012)

Infant mortality rate

female

13.23 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)

male

13.85 deaths/1,000 live births

total

13.55 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

female

77.23 years (2015 est.)

male

73.29 years

total population

75.21 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

85.6% (2015 est.)

male

93.6%

total population

91.1%

Major urban areas - population

MUSCAT (capital) 838,000 (2015)

Maternal mortality rate

17 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

Median age

female

23.7 years (2015 est.)

male

26.3 years

total

25.1 years

Nationality

adjective

Omani

noun

Omani(s)

Net migration rate

-0.43 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

26.5% (2014)

Physicians density

2.43 physicians/1,000 population (2012)

Population

3,286,936

note

immigrants make up just over 30% of the total population, according to UN data (2013) (July 2015 est.)

Population growth rate

2.07% (2015 est.)

Religions

Muslim (official; majority are Ibadhi, lesser numbers of Sunni and Shia)) 85.9%, Christian 6.5%, Hindu 5.5%, Buddhist 0.8%, Jewish

note

approximately 75% of Omani citizens, who compose almost 70% of the country's total population, are Ibadhi Muslims; the Omani government does not keep statistics on religious affiliation (2013) (2010 est.)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 97.3% of population

rural: 94.7% of population

total: 96.7% of population

urban: 2.7% of population

rural: 5.3% of population

total: 3.3% of population (2015 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

14 years (2011)

male

14 years

total

14 years

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.05 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1.1 male(s)/female

25-54 years

1.39 male(s)/female

55-64 years

1.15 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.99 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

1.2 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.86 children born/woman (2015 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

8.54% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

77.6% of total population (2015)

Administrative divisions

11 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazat); Ad Dakhiliyah, Al Buraymi, Al Wusta, Az Zahirah, Janub al Batinah (Al Batinah South), Janub ash Sharqiyah (Ash Sharqiyah South), Masqat (Muscat), Musandam, Shamal al Batinah (Al Batinah North), Shamal ash Sharqiyah (Ash Sharqiyah North), Zufar (Dhofar)

Capital

geographic coordinates

23 37 N, 58 35 E

name

Muscat

time difference

UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Citizenship

citizenship by birth

no

citizenship by descent only

the father must be a citizen of Oman

dual citizenship recognized

no

residency requirement for naturalization

unknown

Constitution

1996 (The Basic Law of the Sultanate of Oman serves as the constitution); amended by royal decree in 2011 (2015)

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Greta C. HOLTZ (since 27 September 2012)

embassy

Jamait Ad Duwal Al Arabiyya Street, Al Khuwair area, Muscat

FAX

[968] 24-64-37-40

mailing address

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

telephone

[968] 24-643-400

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2535 Belmont Road, NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Hunaina bint Sultan bin Ahmad al-MUGHAIRI (since 9 November 2005)

FAX

[1] (202) 745-4933

telephone

[1] (202) 387-1980

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the monarch

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 chief of state and head of government

elections/appointments

the Ruling Family Council determines a successor from the sultan's extended family; if the Council cannot form a consensus within 3 days of the sultan's death or incapacitation, the Defense Council will relay a predetermined heir as chosen by the sultan

head of government

Sultan and Prime Minister QABOOS bin Said Al-Said (sultan since 23 July 1970 and prime minister since 23 July 1972)

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; white represents peace and prosperity, red recalls battles against foreign invaders, and green symbolizes the Jebel Akhdar (Green Mountains) and fertility

Government type

monarchy

Independence

1650 (expulsion of the Portuguese)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

International organization participation

ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, CAEU, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), 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 (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

highest court(s)

Supreme Court (consists of 5 judges)

judge selection and term of office

judges nominated by the 9-member Supreme Judicial Council (chaired by the monarch) and appointed by the monarch; judge tenure NA

subordinate courts

Courts of Appeal; Courts of First Instance; sharia courts; magistrates' courts

Legal system

mixed legal system of Anglo-Saxon law and Islamic law

Legislative branch

description

bicameral Council of Oman or Majlis Oman consists of the Council of State or Majlis al-Dawla (83 seats; members appointed by the sultan from among former government officials and prominent educators, businessmen, and citizens) and the Consultative Council or Majlis al-Shura (84 seats; members directly elected in single- and two-seat constituencies by simple majority popular vote to serve 4-year terms); note - following political reforms in 2011, legislation from the Consultative Council is submitted to the Council of State for passage and amendments

election results

percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; note - three prominent figures from the Arab Spring 2011 protests won seats; one woman also won a seat

elections

Consultative Assembly - last held on 25 October 2015 (next to be held in October 2019)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Rashid bin Uzayyiz al KHUSAIDI/James Frederick MILLS, arranged by Bernard EBBINGHAUS

name

"Nashid as-Salaam as-Sultani" (The Sultan's Anthem)

note

adopted 1932; new lyrics written after QABOOS bin Said al Said gained power in 1970; first performed by the band of a British ship as a salute to the Sultan during a 1932 visit to Muscat; the bandmaster of the HMS Hawkins was asked to write a salutation to the Sultan on the occasion of his ship visit

National holiday

Birthday of Sultan QABOOS, 18 November (1940)

National symbol(s)

khanjar dagger superimposed on two crossed swords; national colors: red, white, green

Political parties and leaders

political parties are illegal

Political pressure groups and leaders

none

Suffrage

21 years of age; universal; note - members of the military and security forces by law cannot vote

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

expenditures

$37.65 billion (2014 est.)

revenues

$40.09 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

3.1% of GDP (2014 est.)

Central bank discount rate

2% (31 December 2010)

0.05% (31 December 2009)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

5.08% (31 December 2014 est.)

5.41% (31 December 2013 est.)

Current account balance

$7.978 billion (2014 est.)

$9.184 billion (2013 est.)

Debt - external

$10.18 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$11.33 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Economy - overview

Oman is heavily dependent on dwindling oil resources, which generates 77% of government revenue. It is using enhanced oil recovery techniques to boost production. Muscat has actively pursued a development plan that focuses on diversification, industrialization, and privatization, with the objective of reducing the oil sector's contribution to GDP from 46% to 9% by 2020. Muscat also is focused on creating more jobs to employ the rising numbers of Omanis entering the workforce. Tourism and gas-based industries are key components of the government's diversification strategy. However, increases in social welfare benefits, particularly since the Arab Spring, have challenged the government's ability to effectively balance its budget as oil prices decline. Despite government acknowledgement that Oman’s expansive social welfare benefits are unsustainable, Oman authorities are comfortable with short-term budget deficits and have approved an expansionary 2015 budget. Concurrently, Oman has expanded efforts to support the development of small and medium-size enterprises and entrepreneurship. Government agencies and large oligarchic group companies have announced new initiatives to spin off non-essential functions to entrepreneurs, incubate new businesses, train and mentor up and coming business people, and provide financing for start-ups.

Exchange rates

Omani rials (OMR) per US dollar -

0.3845 (2014 est.)

0.3845 (2013 est.)

0.3845 (2012 est.)

0.3845 (2011 est.)

0.3845 (2010 est.)

Exports

$53.22 billion (2014 est.)

$56.43 billion (2013 est.)

Exports - commodities

petroleum, reexports, fish, metals, textiles

Exports - partners

China 43%, UAE 10.3%, South Korea 8.2% (2014)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by end use

(2014 est.)

exports of goods and services

68.9%

government consumption

21.5%

household consumption

30.6%

imports of goods and services

-44.8%

investment in fixed capital

29.2%

investment in inventories

-5.4%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

1.2%

industry

65.1%

services

39.1% (2014 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$43,800 (2014 est.)

$42,600 (2013 est.)

$40,700 (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

2.9% (2014 est.)

4.7% (2013 est.)

5.8% (2012 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$77.78 billion (2014 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$163 billion (2014 est.)

$158.3 billion (2013 est.)

$151.2 billion (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

Gross national saving

30.4% of GDP (2014 est.)

34.6% of GDP (2013 est.)

35.6% of GDP (2012 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Imports

$27.18 billion (2014 est.)

$31.84 billion (2013 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

UAE 32.5%, Japan 12.2%, China 4.8%, India 4.3%, US 4.3%, Saudi Arabia 4.1% (2014)

Industrial production growth rate

0.3% (2014 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)

1% (2014 est.)

1.2% (2013 est.)

Labor force

968,800

note

about 60% of the labor force is non-national (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

NA%

industry

NA%

services

NA%

Market value of publicly traded shares

$20.19 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$19.07 billion (31 December 2013)

$20.27 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Public debt

4.9% of GDP (2014 est.)

4.9% of GDP (2013 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$15.72 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$16.32 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

Stock of broad money

$35.8 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$30.79 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$NA

Stock of domestic credit

$33.69 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$28.8 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$12.5 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$10.28 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

51.5% of GDP (2014 est.)

Unemployment rate

15% (2004 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

62.85 million Mt (2012 est.)

Crude oil - exports

833,400 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Crude oil - production

943,500 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

5.151 billion bbl (1 January 2015 est.)

Electricity - consumption

20.36 billion kWh (2012 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

100% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

5.809 million kW (2012 est.)

Electricity - production

23.77 billion kWh (2012 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

21.92 billion cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - exports

11.5 billion cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - imports

1.95 billion cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - production

31.92 billion cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

849.5 billion cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

172,000 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

44,300 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

6,529 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

216,900 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Broadcast media

1 state-run TV broadcaster; TV stations transmitting from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Yemen available via satellite TV; state-run radio operates multiple stations; first private radio station began operating in 2007 and 2 additional stations now operating (2007)

Internet country code

.om

Internet users

percent of population

65.8% (2014 est.)

total

2.1 million

Radio broadcast stations

AM 3, FM 9, shortwave 2 (1999)

Telephone system

domestic

fixed-line and mobile-cellular subscribership both increasing with fixed-line phone service gradually being introduced to remote villages using wireless local loop systems

general assessment

modern system consisting of open-wire, microwave, and radiotelephone communication stations; limited coaxial cable; 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 (2008)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

12 (2014 est.)

total subscriptions

380,000

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

192 (2014 est.)

total

6.2 million

Television broadcast stations

13 (plus 25 repeaters) (1999)

Airports

132 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

2,438 to 3,047 m

5

914 to 1,523 m

1 (2013)

over 3,047 m

7

total

13

Airports - with unpaved runways

26 (2013)

1,524 to 2,437 m

51

2,438 to 3,047 m

7

914 to 1,523 m

33

over 3,047 m

2

total

119

Heliports

3 (2013)

Merchant marine

by type

chemical tanker 1, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 3

registered in other countries

15 (Malta 5, Panama 10) (2010)

total

5

Pipelines

condensate 106 km; gas 4,224 km; oil 3,558 km; oil/gas/water 33 km; refined products 264 km (2013)

Ports and terminals

container port(s) (TEUs)

Salalah (3,200,000)

LNG terminal(s) (export)

Qalhat

major seaport(s)

Mina' Qabus, Salalah, Suhar

Roadways

paved

29,685 km (includes 1,943 km of expressways)

total

60,230 km

unpaved

30,545 km (2012)

Manpower available for military service

females age 16-49

737,812 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

985,957

Manpower fit for military service

females age 16-49

642,427 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

837,886

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

30,264 (2010 est.)

male

31,959

Military branches

Sultan's Armed Forces (SAF): Royal Army of Oman, Royal Navy of Oman, Royal Air Force of Oman (al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Sultanat Oman) (2013)

Military expenditures

8.61% of GDP (2012)

6.13% of GDP (2011)

8.61% of GDP (2010)

Military service age and obligation

18-30 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2012)

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

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin)

5,000 (Yemen) (2015)