2020 Edition

Background

The inhabitants of the area of present-day 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 ruled as sultan for the next five decades. His extensive modernization program opened the country to the outside world. He prioritized strategic ties to the UK and US, and his moderate, independent foreign policy allowed Oman to maintain good relations with its neighbors and avoid external entanglements. In 2011, the popular uprisings that swept the Middle East and North Africa inspired demonstrations in Oman that called for more jobs and economic benefits and an end to corruption. In response, QABOOS implemented economic and political reforms such as granting Oman’s legislative body more power and authorizing direct elections for its lower house. Additionally, the sultan increased unemployment benefits and issued a royal directive mandating a national public- and private-sector job creation plan. 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 2012. QABOOS, Oman's longest reigning monarch, died in 2020. His cousin, HAYTHAM bin Tariq Al Said, former Minister of Heritage and Culture, was sworn in as Oman's new sultan the same day.

Area

land

309,500 sq km

total

309,500 sq km

water

0 sq km

Area - comparative

twice the size of Georgia

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

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

Irrigated land

1,162 sq km (2022)

Land boundaries

border countries

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

total

1,561 km

Land use

agricultural land

4.8% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 0.3% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0.1% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 4.4% (2023 est.)

forest

0% (2023 est.)

other

95.2% (2023 est.)

Location

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

Major aquifers

Arabian Aquifer System

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; another smaller cluster is found around the city of Salalah in the far south; most of the country remains sparsely populated

Terrain

central desert plain, rugged mountains in north and south

Age structure

0-14 years

29.8% (male 594,909/female 566,682)

15-64 years

66.2% (male 1,428,141/female 1,155,438)

65 years and over

4% (2024 est.) (male 73,076/female 83,746)

Alcohol consumption per capita

beer

0.17 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols

0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits

0.29 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

total

0.47 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine

0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Birth rate

20.65 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

11.2% (2017 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

55.8% (2020 est.)

Death rate

3.17 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

6.2 (2025 est.)

potential support ratio

16.2 (2025 est.)

total dependency ratio

50.8 (2025 est.)

youth dependency ratio

44.6 (2025 est.)

Drinking water source

improved: rural

rural: 76.3% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

total: 92.4% of population (2022 est.)

improved: urban

urban: 94.7% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

rural: 23.7% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 7.6% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 5.3% of population (2022 est.)

Education expenditure

Education expenditure (% GDP)

4.3% of GDP (2022 est.)

Education expenditure (% national budget)

14.2% national budget (2022 est.)

Ethnic groups

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

Gross reproduction rate

1.27 (2025 est.)

Health expenditure

Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

4.4% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

8.3% of national budget (2022 est.)

Hospital bed density

1.2 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

12.6 deaths/1,000 live births

male

15.1 deaths/1,000 live births

total

13.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

Languages

Languages

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

major-language sample(s)

كتاب حقائق العالم، المصدر الذي لا يمكن الاستغناء عنه للمعلومات الأساسية (Arabic) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Life expectancy at birth

female

79.4 years

male

75.5 years

total population

77.4 years (2024 est.)

Literacy

female

94.9% (2022 est.)

male

98.6% (2022 est.)

total population

97.3% (2022 est.)

Major urban areas - population

1.650 million MUSCAT (capital) (2023)

Maternal mortality ratio

13 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Median age

female

26.3 years

male

28.1 years

total

27.5 years (2025 est.)

Nationality

adjective

Omani

noun

Omani(s)

Net migration rate

-0.49 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

27% (2016)

Physician density

1.99 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Population

female

1,839,744

male

2,130,080

total

3,969,824 (2025 est.)

Population growth rate

1.7% (2025 est.)

Religions

Muslim 85.9%, Christian 6.4%, Hindu 5.7%, other and unaffiliated 2% (2020 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: rural

rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

total: 100% of population (2022 est.)

improved: urban

urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

14 years (2021 est.)

male

13 years (2021 est.)

total

13 years (2021 est.)

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.05 male(s)/female

15-64 years

1.24 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.87 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

1.16 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Tobacco use

female

0.4% (2025 est.)

male

17.9% (2025 est.)

total

11.6% (2025 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.61 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

2.32% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

88.4% of total population (2023)

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

etymology

the name derives from the Arabic name for the city, Masqat, which is said to mean "hidden" and refers to the range of hills that isolate the port city from the rest of the country

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

amendment process

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

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 may date back at least 2,000 years, with an "Omana" mentioned by Pliny the Elder (1st century A.D.) and an "Omanon" by Ptolemy (2nd century A.D.); it is said to derive from Oman ben Ibrahim al Khalil (Oman ben Kahtan), who founded the state

former

Sultanate of Muscat and Oman

local long form

Saltanat Uman

local short form

Uman

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Ana ESCROGIMA (since 4 December 2023)

email address and website

ConsularMuscat@state.gov https://om.usembassy.gov/

embassy

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

FAX

[968] 2464-3740

mailing address

6220 Muscat Place, Washington DC 20521

telephone

[968] 2464-3400

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2535 Belmont Road, NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Talal Sulaiman AL-RAHBI (since 24 July 2025)

email address and website

washington@fm.gov.om Embassy of the Sultanate of Oman, Washington, USA - FM.gov.om

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 HAITHAM bin Tarik Al Said (since 11 January 2020)

head of government

Sultan and Prime Minister HAITHAM bin Tarik Al Said (since 11 January 2020)

Flag

description: three equal horizontal bands of white (top), red, and green, with a vertical red band on the left side; the national emblem (a khanjar dagger in its sheath on top of crossed swords in scabbards) in white is centered near the top of the vertical band meaning: white stands for peace and prosperity, red for battles against foreign invaders, and green for 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, UNOOSA, 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; judges appointed for life

subordinate courts

Courts of Appeal; Administrative Court; Courts of First Instance; sharia courts; magistrates' courts; military courts

Legal system

mixed system of Anglo-Saxon law and Islamic law

Legislative branch

legislative structure

bicameral

legislature name

Majles

Legislative branch - lower chamber

chamber name

Shura Council (Majles A'Shura)

electoral system

other systems

expected date of next election

October 2027

most recent election date

11/1/2023

number of seats

90 (all directly elected)

percentage of women in chamber

0%

scope of elections

full renewal

term in office

4 years

Legislative branch - upper chamber

chamber name

State Council (Majles Addawla)

expected date of next election

November 2027

most recent election date

10/29/2023

number of seats

87 (all appointed)

percentage of women in chamber

20.9%

scope of elections

full renewal

term in office

4 years

National anthem(s)

history

adopted 1932; new lyrics written after QABOOS bin Said al Said came to power in 1970; first performed by the band of the HMS Hawkins as a salute to the Sultan during a 1932 visit to Muscat; the ship's bandmaster did the arrangement

lyrics/music

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

title

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

National color(s)

red, white, green

National heritage

selected World Heritage Site locales

Bahla Fort; Archaeological Sites of Bat; Land of Frankincense; Aflaj Irrigation Systems of Oman; Ancient Qalhat

total World Heritage Sites

5 (all cultural)

National holiday

National Day, 18 November

National symbol(s)

khanjar dagger on top of two crossed swords

Political parties

note: organized political parties are banned in Oman, and loyalties tend to form around tribal affiliations

Suffrage

21 years of age; universal

Agricultural products

vegetables, dates, milk, tomatoes, sorghum, chillies/peppers, goat milk, cucumbers/gherkins, cantaloupes/melons, cabbages (2023)

Average household expenditures

on alcohol and tobacco

0.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

on food

18.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$35.984 billion (2018 est.)

revenues

$29.334 billion (2018 est.)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2021

-$4.836 billion (2021 est.)

Current account balance 2022

$4.362 billion (2022 est.)

Current account balance 2023

$2.638 billion (2023 est.)

Economic overview

high-income, oil-based economy; large welfare system; growing government debt; citizenship-based labor force growth policy; US free trade agreement; diversifying portfolio; high female labor force participation

Exchange rates

Currency

Omani rials (OMR) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2020

0.384 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

0.384 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

0.384 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

0.384 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2024

0.384 (2024 est.)

Exports

Exports 2021

$46.572 billion (2021 est.)

Exports 2022

$69.483 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$64.749 billion (2023 est.)

Exports - commodities

crude petroleum, refined petroleum, natural gas, semi-finished iron, fertilizers (2023)

Exports - partners

China 43%, India 6%, Saudi Arabia 5%, UAE 5%, South Africa 4% (2023)

GDP - composition, by end use

exports of goods and services

61.1% (2023 est.)

government consumption

19.1% (2023 est.)

household consumption

37.8% (2023 est.)

imports of goods and services

-44.8% (2023 est.)

investment in fixed capital

24.3% (2023 est.)

investment in inventories

2.4% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

2.6% (2024 est.)

industry

54.2% (2024 est.)

services

46.5% (2024 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$106.943 billion (2024 est.)

Imports

Imports 2021

$37.216 billion (2021 est.)

Imports 2022

$46.682 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$47.412 billion (2023 est.)

Imports - commodities

refined petroleum, cars, crude petroleum, iron ore, iron pipes (2023)

Imports - partners

UAE 25%, Saudi Arabia 12%, India 8%, China 7%, Qatar 5% (2023)

Industrial production growth rate

0.2% (2024 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021

1.7% (2021 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

2.5% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

1% (2023 est.)

Labor force

2.696 million (2024 est.)

Public debt

Public debt 2017

46.9% of GDP (2017 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$188.169 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$190.403 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

$193.591 billion (2024 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2022

8% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

1.2% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2024

1.7% (2024 est.)

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2022

$39,800 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$37,700 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2024

$36,700 (2024 est.)

Remittances

Remittances 2021

0% of GDP (2021 est.)

Remittances 2022

0% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

0% of GDP (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$17.606 billion (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$17.455 billion (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024

$18.287 billion (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2022

3.3% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

3.2% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2024

3.2% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

30.9% (2024 est.)

male

11% (2024 est.)

total

13.9% (2024 est.)

Coal

consumption

82,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

exports

70,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

imports

323,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Electricity

consumption

40.738 billion kWh (2023 est.)

installed generating capacity

11.589 million kW (2023 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

4.267 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels

96% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

solar

3.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

wind

0.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2023

296.586 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Natural gas

consumption

28.646 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

exports

15.536 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

imports

1.924 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

production

41.726 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

proven reserves

651.287 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Petroleum

crude oil estimated reserves

5.373 billion barrels (2021 est.)

refined petroleum consumption

218,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

total petroleum production

1.056 million bbl/day (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

11 (2023 est.)

total

562,000 (2023 est.)

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

95% (2024 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

11 (2023 est.)

total subscriptions

579,000 (2023 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

121 (2024 est.)

total subscriptions

6.35 million (2024 est.)

Airports

37 (2025)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

A4O

Heliports

20 (2025)

Merchant marine

by type

general cargo 11, other 46

total

57 (2023)

Ports

key ports

Duqm, Khawr Khasab, Mina Al Fahl, Mina Raysut, Sohar

large

0

medium

1

ports with oil terminals

6

small

4

total ports

7 (2024)

very small

2

Military - note

the Sultan's Armed Forces (SAF) are responsible for defending the country, ensuring internal security, and protecting the monarchy; it trains with foreign partners such as the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, the UK, and the US; the SAF has a security relationship with the British military going back to the 18th century; today, the SAF and the British maintain a joint training base in Oman, and the British military uses the facilities at Al Duqm Port; in 2019, the US obtained access to the port, expanding on previous military cooperation agreements in 2014, 2010, and 1980; Oman also allows other nations to use some of its maritime facilities, including China; the SAF is part of the Peninsula Shield Forces, a joint military force established by the GCC countries with the aim of maintaining security and stability in the region Oman's naval forces conduct maritime security operations along the country’s long coastline, including patrolling, ensuring freedom of navigation in the key naval chokepoint of the Strait of Hormuz, and countering piracy and smuggling; Oman participates in the US-led, multinational Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), which operates multinational task forces conducting maritime security in regional waters (2025)

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), Sultan's Special Forces Royal Oman Police (ROP): Civil Defense, Immigration, Infrastructure Security Police, Coast Guard Police, Special Security Police, Special Task Force (2024)

Military and security service personnel strengths

approximately 40,000 active Sultan's Armed Forces (2025)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the SAF's inventory includes a mix of older and some more modern weapons systems from a variety of suppliers, particularly the UK and the US; other suppliers have included China, EU countries, South Africa, and Türkiye (2025)

Military expenditures

Military Expenditures 2020

11% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military Expenditures 2021

8% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military Expenditures 2022

5.5% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military Expenditures 2023

5.5% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military Expenditures 2024

6% of GDP (2024 est.)

Military service age and obligation

18-25 for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription (2025)

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees

714 (2024 est.)

Terrorist group(s)

Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)

Carbon dioxide emissions

from coal and metallurgical coke

661,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from consumed natural gas

54.8 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

28.611 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

total emissions

84.073 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Environmental issues

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

International environmental agreements

party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

Methane emissions

agriculture

36.8 kt (2019-2021 est.)

energy

673.6 kt (2022-2024 est.)

other

9.9 kt (2019-2021 est.)

waste

62.4 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Particulate matter emissions

34.9 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Total renewable water resources

1.4 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal

agricultural

1.547 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

industrial

238 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

municipal

130 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

3.308 million tons (2024 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled

13.9% (2022 est.)