2019 Edition

Background

The inhabitants of the area of Oman have long prospered from Indian Ocean trade. In the late 18th century, the nascent 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, although the sultanate never became a British colony. In 1970, QABOOS bin Said Al-Said overthrew his father, and has since ruled as sultan. Sultan QABOOS has no children and has not designated a successor publicly; the Basic Law of 1996 outlines Oman’s succession procedure. Sultan QABOOS’ extensive modernization program opened the country to the outside world, and the sultan has prioritized strategic ties with the UK and US. Oman's moderate, independent foreign policy has sought to maintain good relations with its neighbors and to avoid external entanglements. Inspired by the popular uprisings that swept the Middle East and North Africa beginning in January 2011, some Omanis staged demonstrations, calling 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 Oman’s bicameral legislative body more power and authorizing direct elections for its lower house, which took place in November 2011. Additionally, the Sultan increased unemployment benefits, and, in August 2012, issued a royal directive mandating the speedy implementation of a national job creation plan for thousands of public and private sector Omani 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 have the power to advise the Royal Court on the needs of local districts across Oman's 11 governorates.

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

Highest Point

Jabal Shams 3,004 m

Lowest Point

Arabian Sea 0 m

Mean Elevation

310 m

Environment Current Issues

limited natural freshwater resources; high levels of soil and water salinity in the coastal plains; beach pollution from oil spills; industrial effluents seeping into the water tables and aquifers; desertificaiton due to high winds driving desert sand into arable lands

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

Geographic Coordinates

21 00 N, 57 00 E

Geography Note

consists of Oman proper and two northern exclaves, Musandam and Al Madhah; the former is a peninsula that occupies a strategic location adjacent to the Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude oil

Irrigated Land

590 sq km (2012)

Land Boundaries

Border Countries

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

Total

1,561 km

Land Use

Agricultural Land

4.7% (2011 est.)

Agricultural Land Arable Land

0.1% (2011 est.)

Agricultural Land Permanent Crops

0.1% (2011 est.)

Agricultural Land Permanent Pasture

4.5% (2011 est.)

Forest

0% (2011 est.)

Other

95.3% (2011 est.)

Location

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

Population Distribution

the vast majority of the population is located in and around the Al Hagar Mountains in the north of the country; another smaller cluster is found around the city of Salalah in the far south; most of the country remains sparsely poplulated

Terrain

central desert plain, rugged mountains in north and south

Age Structure

0 14 Years

30.1% (male 539,202 /female 512,416)

15 24 Years

18.26% (male 334,784 /female 303,172)

25 54 Years

44.15% (male 886,080 /female 656,734)

55 64 Years

3.94% (male 73,233 /female 64,450)

65 Years And Over

3.55% (male 60,354 /female 63,691) (2018 est.)

Birth Rate

23.7 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Children Under The Age Of 5 Years Underweight

9.7% (2014)

Contraceptive Prevalence Rate

29.7% (2014)

Current Health Expenditure

4.3% (2016)

Death Rate

3.3 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Dependency Ratios

Elderly Dependency Ratio

3.1 (2015 est.)

Potential Support Ratio

32.6 (2015 est.)

Total Dependency Ratio

32.4 (2015 est.)

Youth Dependency Ratio

29.4 (2015 est.)

Drinking Water Source

Improved Rural

86.1% of population

Improved Total

93.4% of population

Improved Urban

95.5% of population

Unimproved Rural

13.9% of population

Unimproved Total

6.6% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Urban

4.5% of population

Education Expenditures

6.8% of GDP (2017)

Ethnic Groups

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

HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate

0.2% (2018)

HIV/AIDS Deaths

100 (2018)

HIV/AIDS People Living With HIV/AIDS

3,200 (2018)

Hospital Bed Density

1.6 beds/1,000 population (2014)

Infant Mortality Rate

Female

12.1 deaths/1,000 live births

Male

12.7 deaths/1,000 live births

Total

12.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

Languages

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

Life Expectancy at Birth

Female

78 years

Male

73.9 years

Total Population

75.9 years (2018 est.)

Literacy

Definition

age 15 and over can read and write

Female

93.2% (2017)

Male

97.4%

Total Population

96.1%

Major Urban Areas Population

1.502 million MUSCAT (capital) (2019)

Maternal Mortality Rate

19 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)

Median Age

Female

24.5 years

Male

26.8 years

Total

25.8 years (2018 est.)

Nationality

Adjective

Omani

Noun

Omani(s)

Net Migration Rate

-0.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate

27% (2016)

Physicians Density

1.97 physicians/1,000 population (2017)

Population

4,613,241 (July 2017 est. est.)

Population Growth Rate

2% (2018 est.)

Religions

Muslim 85.9%, Christian 6.5%, Hindu 5.5%, Buddhist 0.8%, Jewish <0.1%, other 1%, unaffiliated 0.2% (2010 est.)

Sanitation Facility Access

Improved Rural

94.7% of population (2015 est.)

Improved Total

96.7% of population (2015 est.)

Improved Urban

97.3% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Rural

5.3% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Total

3.3% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Urban

2.7% of population (2015 est.)

School Life Expectancy Primary To Tertiary Education

Female

15 years (2016)

Male

14 years

Total

15 years

Sex Ratio

0 14 Years

1.05 male(s)/female

15 24 Years

1.1 male(s)/female

25 54 Years

1.35 male(s)/female

55 64 Years

1.14 male(s)/female

65 Years And Over

0.95 male(s)/female

At Birth

1.05 male(s)/female

Total Population

1.18 male(s)/female (2018 est.)

Total Fertility Rate

2.8 children born/woman (2018 est.)

Unemployment Youth Ages 15 24

Female

33.9% (2016)

Male

10.3%

Total

13.7%

Urbanization

Rate Of Urbanization

5.25% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

Urban Population

85.4% of total population (2019)

Administrative Divisions

11 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafaza); 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

Amendments

promulgated by the sultan or proposed by the Council of Oman and drafted by a technical committee as stipulated by royal decree and then promulgated through royal decree; amended by royal decree in 2011 (2016)

History

promulgated by royal decree 6 November 1996 (the Basic Law of the Sultanate of Oman serves as the constitution)amended by royal decree in 2011

Country Name

Conventional Long Form

Sultanate of Oman

Conventional Short Form

Oman

Etymology

the origin of the name is uncertain, but it apparently dates back at least 2,000 years since an "Omana" is mentioned by Pliny the Elder (1st century A.D.) and an "Omanon" by Ptolemy (2nd century A.D.)

Former

Sultanate of Muscat and Oman

Local Long Form

Saltanat Uman

Local Short Form

Uman

Diplomatic Representation From The Us

Chief Of Mission

Ambassador Marc J. SIEVERS (since 15 December 2016)

Embassy

P.C. 115, Madinat Al Sultan Qaboos, Muscat

Fax

[968] 24-643-740

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 2 December 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

members of the Ruling Family Council determine 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 (top), 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 al Akhdar (Green Mountains) and fertility

Government Type

absolute 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 Courts

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; judges appointed for life

Subordinate Courts

Courts of Appeal; Administrative Court; Courts of First Instance; sharia courts; magistrates' courts; military 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: Council of State or Majlis al-Dawla (85 seats including the chairman; members appointed by the sultan from among former government officials and prominent educators, businessmen, and citizens) Consultative Council or Majlis al-Shura (84 seats; members directly elected in single- and 2-seat constituencies by simple majority popular vote to serve renewable 4-year terms); note - since political reforms in 2011, legislation from the Consultative Council is submitted to the Council of State for review by the Royal Court

Election Results

Council of State - composition - men 72, women 13, percent of women 15.3% Consultative Council percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA (organized political parties in Oman are legally banned); composition men 83, women 2, percent of women 2.4%; note - total Council of Oman percent of women 8.8%

Elections

Council of State - last appointments on 7 November 2015 (next - NA) Consultative Assembly - last held on 27 October 2019 (next to be held in October 2023)

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)

National Holiday

National Day, 18 November; note - coincides with the 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

none; note - organized political parties are legally banned in Oman, and loyalties tend to form around tribal affiliations

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

31.92 billion (2017 est.)

Revenues

22.14 billion (2017 est.)

Budget Surplus Or Deficit

-13.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Central Bank Discount Rate

31 December 2009

0.05%

31 December 2010

2%

Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate

31 December 2016

5.08%

31 December 2017

5.2%

Current Account Balance

2016

-$12.32 billion

2017

-$10.76 billion

Debt External

31 December 2016

$27.05 billion

31 December 2017

$46.27 billion

Economy Overview

Oman is heavily dependent on oil and gas resources, which can generate between and 68% and 85% of government revenue, depending on fluctuations in commodity prices. In 2016, low global oil prices drove Oman’s budget deficit to $13.8 billion, or approximately 20% of GDP, but the budget deficit is estimated to have reduced to 12% of GDP in 2017 as Oman reduced government subsidies. As of January 2018, Oman has sufficient foreign assets to support its currency’s fixed exchange rates. It is issuing debt to cover its deficit.Oman is using enhanced oil recovery techniques to boost production, but it has simultaneously pursued a development plan that focuses on diversification, industrialization, and privatization, with the objective of reducing the oil sector's contribution to GDP. The key components of the government's diversification strategy are tourism, shipping and logistics, mining, manufacturing, and aquaculture.Muscat also has notably focused on creating more Omani jobs to employ the rising number of nationals entering the workforce. However, high social welfare benefits - that had increased in the wake of the 2011 Arab Spring - have made it impossible for the government to balance its budget in light of current oil prices. In response, Omani officials imposed austerity measures on its gasoline and diesel subsidies in 2016. These spending cuts have had only a moderate effect on the government’s budget, which is projected to again face a deficit of $7.8 billion in 2018.

Exchange Rates

2013

0.3845

2014

0.3845

2015

0.3845

2016

0.3845

2017

0.3845

Currency

Omani rials (OMR) per US dollar -

Exports

2016

$27.54 billion

2017

$103.3 billion

Exports Commodities

petroleum, reexports, fish, metals, textiles

Exports Partners

China 43.7%, UAE 11%, South Korea 7.9%, Saudi Arabia 4.2% (2017)

Fiscal Year

calendar year

GDP Composition By End Use

Exports Of Goods And Services

51.5% (2017 est.)

Government Consumption

26.2% (2017 est.)

Household Consumption

36.8% (2017 est.)

Imports Of Goods And Services

-46.6% (2017 est.)

Investment In Fixed Capital

27.8% (2017 est.)

Investment In Inventories

3% (2017 est.)

GDP Composition By Sector Of Origin

Agriculture

1.8% (2017 est.)

Industry

46.4% (2017 est.)

Services

51.8% (2017 est.)

GDP Official Exchange Rate

$70.78 billion (2017 est.)

GDP Per Capita Ppp

2015

$48,400

2016

$47,900

2017

$46,000

GDP Purchasing Power Parity

2015

$182.8 billion

2016

$191.9 billion

2017

$190.1 billion

GDP Real Growth Rate

2015

4.7%

2016

5%

2017

-0.9%

Gross National Saving

2015

14.3% of GDP

2016

10.5% of GDP

2017

16.1% of GDP

Imports

2016

$21.29 billion

2017

$24.12 billion

Imports Commodities

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

Imports Partners

UAE 35.5%, US 27.8%, Brazil 4% (2017)

Industrial Production Growth Rate

-3% (2017 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation Rate Consumer Prices

2016

1.1%

2017

1.6%

Labor Force

2.255 million (2016 est.)

Labor Force By Occupation

Agriculture

4.7% NA

Industry

49.6% NA

Services

45% NA (2016 est.)

Market Value Of Publicly Traded Shares

31 December 2013

$36.77 billion

31 December 2014

$37.83 billion

31 December 2015

$41.12 billion

Public Debt

2016

32.5% of GDP

2017

46.9% of GDP

Reserves Of Foreign Exchange And Gold

31 December 2016

$20.26 billion

31 December 2017

$16.09 billion

Stock Of Broad Money

31 December 2016

$12.95 billion

31 December 2017

$12.85 billion

Stock Of Direct Foreign Investment Abroad

NA

Stock Of Direct Foreign Investment at Home

NA

Stock Of Domestic Credit

31 December 2016

$46.47 billion

31 December 2017

$48.47 billion

Stock Of Narrow Money

31 December 2016

$12.95 billion

31 December 2017

$12.85 billion

Taxes And Other Revenues

31.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment Rate

NA

Carbon Dioxide Emissions From Consumption Of Energy

68.94 million Mt (2017 est.)

Crude Oil Exports

844,100 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude Oil Imports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude Oil Production

979,000 bbl/day (2018 est.)

Crude Oil Proved Reserves

5.373 billion bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

Electricity Access

Electrification Rural Areas

93% (2016)

Electrification Total Population

99% (2016)

Electrification Urban Areas

100% (2016)

Electricity Consumption

28.92 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity Exports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity From Fossil Fuels

100% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity From Hydroelectric Plants

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity From Nuclear Fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity From Other Renewable Sources

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity Imports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity Installed Generating Capacity

8.167 million kW (2016 est.)

Electricity Production

32.16 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Natural Gas Consumption

21.94 billion cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Exports

11.16 billion cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Imports

1.982 billion cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Production

31.23 billion cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Proved Reserves

651.3 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Consumption

188,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Exports

33,700 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Imports

6,041 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Production

229,600 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Broadband Fixed Subscriptions

Subscriptions Per 100 Inhabitants

8 (2017 est.)

Total

348,926

Broadcast Media

1 state-run TV broadcaster; TV stations transmitting from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Iran, and Yemen available via satellite TV; state-run radio operates multiple stations; first private radio station began operating in 2007 and several additional stations now operating (2019)

Internet Country Code

.om

Internet Users

Percent Of Population

69.8% (July 2016 est.)

Total

2,342,483

Telephone System

Domestic

fixed-line 11 per 100 and mobile-cellular 151 per 100, subscribership both increasing with fixed-line phone service gradually being introduced to remote villages using wireless local loop systems (2018)

General Assessment

modern system consisting of open-wire, microwave, and radiotelephone communication stations; coaxial cable; domestic satellite system with 8 earth stations; both 3G and 4G LTE networks; exploring 5G options; competition among mobile network operators (MNO) (2018)

International

country code - 968; landing points for GSA, AAE-1, SeaMeWe-5, Tata TGN-Gulf, FALCON, GBICS/MENA, MENA/Guld Bridge International, TW1, BBG, EIG, OMRAN/EPEG, and POI submarine cables providing connectivity to Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Southeast Asia and Europe; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) (2019)

Telephones Fixed Lines

Subscriptions Per 100 Inhabitants

11 (2017 est.)

Total Subscriptions

497,716

Telephones Mobile Cellular

Subscriptions Per 100 Inhabitants

151 (2017 est.)

Total Subscriptions

6,943,910

Airports

132 (2013)

Airports With Paved Runways

2 438 To 3 047 M

5 (2017)

914 To 1 523 M

1 (2017)

Over 3 047 M

7 (2017)

Total

13 (2017)

Airports With Unpaved Runways

1 524 To 2 437 M

51 (2013)

2 438 To 3 047 M

7 (2013)

914 To 1 523 M

33 (2013)

Over 3 047 M

2 (2013)

Total

119 (2013)

Under 914 M

26 (2013)

Civil Aircraft Registration Country Code Prefix

A4O (2016)

Heliports

3 (2013)

Merchant Marine

By Type

general cargo 9, other 42 (2018)

Total

51

National Air Transport System

Annual Freight Traffic On Registered Air Carriers

412,234,008 mt-km (2015)

Annual Passenger Traffic On Registered Air Carriers

6,365,784 (2015)

Inventory Of Registered Aircraft Operated By Air Carriers

45 (2015)

Number Of Registered Air Carriers

1 (2015)

Pipelines

106 km condensate, 4224 km gas, 3558 km oil, 33 km oil/gas/water, 264 km refined products (2013)

Ports And Terminals

Container Port's Teus

Salalah (3,946,421) (2017)

Lng Terminal's Export

Qalhat

Major Seaport S

Mina' Qabus, Salalah, Suhar

Roadways

Paved

29,685 km (includes 1,943 km of expressways) (2012)

Total

60,230 km (2012)

Unpaved

30,545 km (2012)

Maritime Threats

the Maritime Administration of the US Department of Transportation has issued a Maritime Advisory (2019-012-Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, Gulf of Oman, Arabian Sea, Red Sea-Threats to US and International Shipping from Iran) effective 7 August 2019, which states in part that "heightened military activities and increased political tensions in this region continue to present risk to commercial shipping...there is a continued possibility that Iran and/or its regional proxies could take actions against US and partner interests in the region;" at present, Iran has seized two foreign-flagged tankers in the Persian Gulf; the US and UK navies have established Operation Sentinel to provide escorts for commercial shipping transiting the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, and Gulf of Oman

Military And Security Forces

Sultan's Armed Forces (SAF): Royal Army of Oman (RAO), Royal Navy of Oman (RNO), Royal Air Force of Oman (RAFO), Royal Guard of Oman (RGO) (2019)

Military Expenditures

2014

10.14% of GDP

2015

10.79% of GDP

2016

11.97% of GDP

2017

9.56% of GDP

2018

8.17% of GDP

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

5,000 (Yemen) (2017)