2023 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 ruled as sultan for the next five decades. His extensive modernization program opened the country to the outside world. He prioritized strategic ties with the UK and US, and his moderate, independent foreign policy allowed Oman 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. Sultan QABOOS, Oman's longest reigning monarch, died on 11 January 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, a vital transit point for world crude oil

Irrigated land

1,079 sq km (2020)

Land boundaries

border countries

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

total

1,561 km

Land use

agricultural land

4.7% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 0.1% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0.1% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 4.5% (2018 est.)

forest

0% (2018 est.)

other

95.3% (2018 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 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

29.88% (male 586,608/female 558,770)

15-64 years

66.17% (male 1,404,289/female 1,132,250)

65 years and over

3.95% (2023 est.) (male 70,976/female 80,572)

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

21.6 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

11.2% (2016/17)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

29.7% (2014)

Current health expenditure

5.3% of GDP (2020)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

56.4% (2023 est.)

Death rate

3.2 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

4

potential support ratio

25.2 (2021 est.)

total dependency ratio

42

youth dependency ratio

38

Drinking water source

improved: rural

rural: 97.9% of population

improved: total

total: 99.7% of population

improved: urban

urban: 100% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 2.1% of population

unimproved: total

total: 0.3% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0% of population

Education expenditures

5.4% of GDP (2019 est.)

Ethnic groups

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

Gross reproduction rate

1.3 (2023 est.)

Hospital bed density

1.5 beds/1,000 population (2017)

Infant mortality rate

female

12.9 deaths/1,000 live births

male

15.4 deaths/1,000 live births

total

14.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2023 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

79.2 years

male

75.2 years

total population

77.2 years (2023 est.)

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

92.7% (2018)

male

97%

total population

95.7%

Major urban areas - population

1.650 million MUSCAT (capital) (2023)

Maternal mortality ratio

17 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

Median age

female

26 years

male

27.9 years

total

27.1 years (2023 est.)

Nationality

adjective

Omani

noun

Omani(s)

Net migration rate

-0.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

27% (2016)

Physicians density

1.77 physicians/1,000 population (2020)

Population

3,833,465 (2023 est.)

note

note: immigrants make up approximately 46% of the total population (2019)

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

Population growth rate

1.8% (2023 est.)

Religions

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

note

note: Omani citizens represent approximately 56.4% of the population and are overwhelming Muslim (Ibadhi and Sunni sects each constitute about 45% and Shia about 5%); Christians, Hindus, and Buddhists account for roughly 5% of Omani citizens

Sanitation facility access

improved: rural

rural: 100% of population

improved: total

total: 100% of population

improved: urban

urban: 100% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 0% of population

unimproved: total

total: 0% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

15 years (2021)

male

15 years

total

15 years

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.05 male(s)/female

15-64 years

1.24 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.88 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

1.16 male(s)/female (2023 est.)

Tobacco use

female

0.4% (2020 est.)

male

15.5% (2020 est.)

total

8% (2020 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.67 children born/woman (2023 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

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

urban population

88.4% of total population (2023)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

29.6%

male

11.6%

total

14.6% (2021 est.)

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, whose meaning is uncertain, traces back almost two millennia; two 2nd century A.D. scholars, the geographer PTOLEMY and the historian ARRIAN, both mention an Arabian Sea coastal town of Moscha, which most likely referred to Muscat

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 2011, 2021

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 (vacant); Charge D'Affaires Leslie ORDEMAN (since August 2023)

email address and website

ConsularMuscat@state.govhttps://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 Moosa Hamdan Moosa AL TAI (since 17 February 2021)

email address and website

washington@fm.gov.omhttps://www.culturaloffice.info/aboutomaniembassy

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 HAYTHAM bin Tariq Al Said (since 11 January 2020); note - the monarch is both chief of state and head of government

head of government

Sultan and Prime Minister HAYTHAM bin Tariq Al Said (since 11 January 2020)

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, 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 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 (87 seats including the chairman; members appointed by the sultan from among former government officials and prominent educators, businessmen, and citizens; members serve 4-year term)Consultative Assembly or Majlis al-Shura (90 seats; members directly elected in single- and 2-seat constituencies by simple majority popular vote to serve renewable 4-year terms)

election results

Council of State - 87 nonpartisan members were appointed by the sultan; composition - men 59, women 18, percent of women 20.7%Consultative Assembly percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; 90 nonpartisan members were elected (organized political parties in Oman are legally banned); composition - 90 men, 0 women; note - total Council of Oman percent of women 20.7%

elections

Council of State - last appointments on 8 November 2023 (next appointments in November 2027)Consultative Assembly - last held on 29 October 2023 (next to be held in October 2027)

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

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 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; note - celebrates Oman's independence from Portugal in 1650 and the birthday of Sultan QABOOS bin Said al Said, who reigned from 1970 to 2020

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

Agricultural products

dates, tomatoes, vegetables, goat milk, milk, cucumbers, green chillies/peppers, watermelons, sorghum, melons

Average household expenditures

on alcohol and tobacco

0.1% of household expenditures (2018 est.)

on food

22.7% of household expenditures (2018 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$35.984 billion (2018 est.)

revenues

$29.334 billion (2018 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

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

Credit ratings

Fitch rating

BB- (2020)

Moody's rating

Ba3 (2020)

note

note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.

Standard & Poors rating

B+ (2020)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2019

-$4.02 billion (2019 est.)

Current account balance 2020

-$12.307 billion (2020 est.)

Current account balance 2021

-$4.288 billion (2021 est.)

Debt - external

Debt - external 31 December 2016

$27.05 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Debt - external 31 December 2017

$46.27 billion (31 December 2017 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 2017

0.385 (2017 est.)

Exchange rates 2018

0.385 (2018 est.)

Exchange rates 2019

0.385 (2019 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

0.385 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

0.385 (2021 est.)

Exports

Exports 2019

$43.584 billion (2019 est.)

Exports 2020

$35.72 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Exports 2021

$46.324 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Exports - commodities

crude petroleum, natural gas, refined petroleum, fertilizers, iron  (2021)

Exports - partners

China 46%, India 8%, Japan 6%, South Korea 6%, United Arab Emirates 6%, Saudi Arabia 5% (2019)

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)

$76.883 billion (2019 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

NA

lowest 10%

NA

Imports

Imports 2019

$32.569 billion (2019 est.)

Imports 2020

$34.022 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Imports 2021

$36.502 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Imports - commodities

cars, refined petroleum, broadcasting equipment, gold, iron (2019)

Imports - partners

United Arab Emirates 36%, China 10%, Japan 7%, India 7%, United States 5% (2019)

Industrial production growth rate

1.05% (2021 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) 2019

0.13% (2019 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020

-0.9% (2020 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021

1.55% (2021 est.)

Labor force

2.259 million (2021 est.)

note

note: about 60% of the labor force is non-national

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

4.7% NA

industry

49.6% NA

services

45% (2016 est.) NA

Population below poverty line

NA

Public debt

note

note: excludes indebtedness of state-owned enterprises

Public debt 2016

32.5% of GDP (2016 est.)

Public debt 2017

46.9% of GDP (2017 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

note

note: data are in 2017 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019

$155.639 billion (2019 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020

$150.378 billion (2020 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021

$155.028 billion (2021 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2019

-1.13% (2019 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2020

-3.38% (2020 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2021

3.09% (2021 est.)

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2019

$33,800 (2019 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2020

$33,100 (2020 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2021

$34,300 (2021 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2019

$16.662 billion (31 December 2019 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2020

$15.007 billion (31 December 2020 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2021

$19.731 billion (31 December 2021 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

31.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment rate

note

NA

Unemployment rate 2019

1.85% (2019 est.)

Unemployment rate 2020

2.94% (2020 est.)

Unemployment rate 2021

3.12% (2021 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

29.6%

male

11.6%

total

14.6% (2021 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

from coal and metallurgical coke

191,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

from consumed natural gas

46.447 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

29.682 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

total emissions

76.321 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

Coal

consumption

115,000 metric tons (2020 est.)

exports

0 metric tons (2020 est.)

imports

115,000 metric tons (2020 est.)

production

0 metric tons (2020 est.)

proven reserves

0 metric tons (2019 est.)

Electricity

consumption

32,320,020,000 kWh (2019 est.)

exports

0 kWh (2019 est.)

imports

0 kWh (2019 est.)

installed generating capacity

8.601 million kW (2020 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

3.717 billion kWh (2019 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population

100% (2021)

Electricity generation sources

biomass and waste

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

fossil fuels

100% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

geothermal

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

hydroelectricity

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

nuclear

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

solar

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

tide and wave

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

wind

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2019

292.022 million Btu/person (2019 est.)

Natural gas

consumption

24,279,419,000 cubic meters (2019 est.)

exports

13,798,040,000 cubic meters (2019 est.)

imports

1,605,959,000 cubic meters (2019 est.)

production

36,596,746,000 cubic meters (2019 est.)

proven reserves

651.286 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Petroleum

crude oil and lease condensate exports

779,000 bbl/day (2018 est.)

crude oil and lease condensate imports

0 bbl/day (2018 est.)

crude oil estimated reserves

5.373 billion barrels (2021 est.)

refined petroleum consumption

234,200 bbl/day (2019 est.)

total petroleum production

978,800 bbl/day (2021 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

11 (2020 est.)

total

508,949 (2020 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

96% (2021 est.)

total

4.32 million (2021 est.)

Telecommunication systems

domestic

fixed-line is 13 per 100 and mobile-cellular is 135 per 100 (2021)

general assessment

Oman has a modern mobile sector which comprises substantial coverage of both 3G and LTE networks; in February 2021 commercial 5G services were launched; the Covid-19 pandemic has caused a spike in mobile data traffic; while Oman’s fixed broadband infrastructure penetration is considered low, it is being improved with the building of fiber-based networks as part of Oman’s Vision 2040 program; Oman has also established itself as an important communications hub in the Middle East, with access to numerous submarine cables including the 2Africa submarine cable, which should become available during 2023-2024; the 9,800km Oman Australia Cable running from Muscat to Perth, with the potential for a branch line to Djibouti, is making progress and is expected to be completed in December 2021; this additional infrastructure will provide considerable additional bandwidth (2021)

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

13 (2021 est.)

total subscriptions

572,166 (2021 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

135 (2021 est.)

total subscriptions

6,115,537 (2021 est.)

Airports

132 (2021)

Airports - with paved runways

13

note

note: paved runways have a concrete or asphalt surface but not all have facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control; the length of a runway required for aircraft to safely operate depends on a number of factors including the type of aircraft, the takeoff weight (including passengers, cargo, and fuel), engine types, flap settings, landing speed, elevation of the airport, and average maximum daily air temperature; paved runways can reach a length of 5,000 m (16,000 ft.), but the “typical” length of a commercial airline runway is between 2,500-4,000 m (8,000-13,000 ft.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

119

note

note: unpaved runways have a surface composition such as grass or packed earth and are most suited to the operation of light aircraft; unpaved runways are usually short, often less than 1,000 m (3,280 ft.) in length; airports with unpaved runways often lack facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

A4O

Heliports

3 (2021)

Merchant marine

by type

general cargo 11, other 46

total

57 (2022)

National air transport system

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers

510.43 million (2018) mt-km

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers

10,438,241 (2018)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

57

number of registered air carriers

2 (2020)

Pipelines

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

Ports and terminals

container port(s) (TEUs)

Salalah (4,510,000) (2021)

LNG terminal(s) (export)

Qalhat

major seaport(s)

Mina' Qabus, Salalah, Suhar

Roadways

paved

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

total

60,230 km (2012)

unpaved

30,545 km (2012)

Military - note

the SAF’s primary responsibility is external security; it is a small, but professional and well-equipped military that trains regularly, including with foreign partners such as the UK, US, and Gulf Cooperation Council countries; the SAF has a longstanding security relationship with the British military going back to the 18th century; the relationship was notable during the Dhofar Rebellion (1963-1976), when the British military provided considerable assistance to the SAF in their eventually successful counterinsurgency campaign; today, the SAF and the British maintain a joint training base in Oman and exercise together regularly; in 2017, Oman and the UK signed an agreement allowing the British military the use of 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 Chinathe Omani Navy conducts 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; while Oman is not a member of the US-led, 34-member nation Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), which operates task forces to counter piracy and smuggling, the Omani Navy has at times participated in CMF-led joint exercises; the Navy is a small but relatively modern force; its principal warships include nine corvettes and offshore patrol vessels, which are supported by a number of small patrol and fast attack craftthe Royal Army was formed as the Muscat Garrison in 1907; today, it has an armored brigade equipped with American and British tanks, 2 brigades of infantry, and a border guard brigade, as well as an airborne regiment; the Royal Guard is comprised of an infantry brigade and 2 special forces regiments; the Air Force has about three dozen modern European- and US-made multipurpose fighter aircraft (2023)

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 ForcesRoyal Oman Police (ROP): Civil Defense, Immigration, Customs, Royal Oman Police Coast Guard, Special Task Force (2023)

note

note 1: the Sultan’s Special Forces and the ROP Special Task Force are Oman’s primary tactical counterterrorism response forcesnote 2: in addition to its policing duties, the ROP conducts many administrative functions similar to the responsibilities of a Ministry of Interior in other countries

Military and security service personnel strengths

approximately 40,000 active-duty troops (25,000 Army, 5,000 Navy; 5,000 Air Force; 5,000 Royal Guard) (2023)

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 Europe and the US; in recent years, the UK has been the leading supplier of arms to Oman (2023)

Military expenditures

Military Expenditures 2018

11.2% of GDP (2018 est.)

Military Expenditures 2019

11.8% of GDP (2019 est.)

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 service age and obligation

18 for voluntary military service for men and women (women have been allowed to serve since 2011); no conscription (2022)

Disputes - international

Oman-Saudi Arabia: none identified Oman-UAE: 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; Oman and UAE signed the final demarcation of their land border in 2008 Oman-Yemen: Oman and Yemen signed a border agreement in 1992; demarcation of their border was completed in 1995  

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin)

5,000 (Yemen) (2017)

Space agency/agencies

no government agency; the Government of Oman has established a limited liability company with the mission of spearheading a national satellite program initiative and building a national satellite communications infrastructure  (2023)

Space program overview

has a nascent space program focused on the acquisition of satellites and satellite ground support infrastructure; contracts with foreign commercial companies for development of space capabilities, such as satellites and telecommunications infrastructure (2023)

note

note: further details about the key activities, programs, and milestones of the country’s space program, as well as government spending estimates on the space sector, appear in Appendix S

Air pollutants

carbon dioxide emissions

63.46 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions

5.6 megatons (2020 est.)

particulate matter emissions

34.88 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Climate

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

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, 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

Land use

agricultural land

4.7% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 0.1% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0.1% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 4.5% (2018 est.)

forest

0% (2018 est.)

other

95.3% (2018 est.)

Major aquifers

Arabian Aquifer System

Revenue from coal

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Revenue from forest resources

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Total renewable water resources

1.4 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

Total water withdrawal

agricultural

1.55 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

industrial

240 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

municipal

130 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

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

urban population

88.4% of total population (2023)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

1,734,885 tons (2014 est.)