Statistical information Oman 1989

Oman in the World
top of pageBackground: In 1970 QABOOS bin Said Al Said ousted his father and has ruled as sultan ever since. His extensive modernization program has opened the country to the outside world and has preserved a long-standing political and military relationship with Britain. Oman's moderate independent foreign policy has sought to maintain good relations with all Middle Eastern countries.
top of pageLocationGeographic coordinatesMap referenceAreaLand boundaries:
1,374 km total
Saudi Arabia 676 km, UAE 410 km, PDRY 288 km
Coastline: 2,092 km
Maritime claimsContinental shelf: 200 meters or to depth of exploitation
Extended economic zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: dry desert; hot, humid along coast; hot, dry interior; strong southwest summer monsoon (May to September) in far south
Terrain: vast central desert plain, rugged mountains in north and south
ElevationNatural resources: crude oil, copper, asbestos, some marble, limestone, chromium, gypsum, natural gas
Land use: NEGL% arable land; NEGL% permanent crops; 5% meadows and pastures; 0% forest and woodland; 95% other; includes NEGL% irrigated
Irrigated landMajor riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazardsGeographyNote: strategic location with small foothold on Musandam Peninsula controlling Strait of Hormuz (17% of world's oil production transits this point going from Persian Gulf to Arabian Sea)
top of pagePopulation: 1,304,882 (July 1989), growth rate 3.1% (1989)
Nationality: noun - Omani(s; adjective - Omani
Ethnic groups: almost entirely Arab, with small Baluchi, Zanzibari, and Indian groups
Languages: Arabic (official; English, Baluchi, Urdu, Indian dialects
Religions: 75% Ibadhi Muslim; remainder Sunni Muslim, Shia Muslim, some Hindu
Demographic profileAge structureDependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rateBirth rate: 43 births/1000 population (1989)
Death rate: 12 deaths/1000 population (1989)
Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1000 population (1989)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: summer winds often raise large sandstorms and duststorms in interior; sparse natural freshwater resources
Air pollutantsSex ratioMothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 107 deaths/1000 live births (1989)
Life expectancy at birth: 55 years male, 58 years female (1989)
Total fertility rate: 6.5 children born/woman (1989)
Contraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHiv/AidsMajor infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracy: 20%
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry name: conventional long form: Sultanate of Oman
Government type: absolute monarchy; independent, with residual UK influence
Capital: Muscat
Administrative divisions: none
Dependent areasIndependence: 1650, expulsion of the Portuguese
National holiday: National Day, 18 November
Constitution: none
Legal system: based on English common law and Islamic law; ultimate appeal to the sultan; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
International law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrage: none
Executive branch: Chief of State and Head of Government Sultan and Prime Minister QABOOS bin Said Al Said (since 23 July 1970)
Legislative branch: Army, Navy, Air Force, Royal Oman Police
Judicial branchPolitical parties and leadersInternational organization participation: Arab League, FAO, G-77, GCC, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB - Islamic Development Bank, IFAD, IFC, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, ITU, NAM, OIC, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representationIn the us: Ambassador Awadh Bader AL-SHANFARI; Chancery at 2,342 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20,008; telephone (202) 387-1980 through 1982; US - Ambassador G. Cranwell MONTGOMERY; Embassy at address NA, Muscat (mailing address is P. O. Box 966, Muscat; telephone 738-231 or 738-006
Flag description
: three horizontal bands of white (top, double width), red, and green (double 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 at the top of the vertical band
National symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy overview: Economic performance is closely tied to the fortunes of the oil industry. Petroleum accounts for nearly all export earnings, about 70% of government revenues, and more than 50% of GDP. Oman has proved oil reserves of four billion barrels, equivalent to about 20 years' supply at the current rate of extraction. Although agriculture employs a majority of the population, urban centers depend on imported food.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rateReal gdp per capitaGross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture products: based on subsistence farming (fruits, dates, cereals, cattle, camels), fishing; not self-sufficient in food
Industries: crude oil production and refining, natural gas production, construction, cement, copper
Industrial production growth rate: 5.0% (1986)
Labor force: 430,000; 60% agriculture (est.), 58% are non-Omani
Unemployment rate: NA%
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty lineGini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudget: revenues $3.1 billion; expenditures $4.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.0 billion (1989 est.)
Taxes and other revenuesPublic debtRevenueFiscal year: calendar year
Inflation rate consumer pricesCentral bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExports: $3.6 billion (f.o.b., 1988 est.)
Commodities: petroleum, reexports, processed copper, dates, nuts, fish
Partners: Japan, South Korea, Thailand
Imports: $1.9 billion (f.o.b., 1988 est.)
Commodities: machinery, transportation equipment, manufactured goods, food, livestock, lubricants
Partners: Japan, UAE, UK, FRG, US
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external: $3.5 billion (December 1988)
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: Omani rials (RO) per US$1 - 0.3845 (fixed rate since 1986)
top of pageElectricityCapacity: 1,130,000 kW capacity; 3,591 million kWh produced, 2,840 kWh per capita (1988)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitaOman - Communication 1989
top of pageTelephonesTelephone systemBroadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresDollar figure: $1.385 billion, 33% of central government budget (FY88)
Military and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupsOman - Transportation 1989
top of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 126 total, 114 usable; 6 with permanent-surface runways; 1 with runways over 3,659 m; 6 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 56 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
HeliportsPipelines: crude oil 1,300 km; natural gas 1,030 km
RailwaysRoadwaysWaterwaysMerchant marinePorts and terminalsOman - Transnational issues 1989
top of pageDisputes international: Administrative Line with PDRY; no defined boundary with most of UAE, Administrative Line in far north; no defined boundary with Saudi Arabia
Refugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs