Statistical information Oman 1997

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 pageLocation: Middle East, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, and Persian Gulf, between Yemen and UAE
Geographic coordinates: 21 00 N, 57 00 E
Map reference:
Middle EastAreaTotal: 212,460 km²
Land: 212,460 km²
Water: 0 km²
Comparative: slightly smaller than Kansas
Land boundariesTotal: 1,374 km
Border countries: (3) Saudi Arabia 676 km;
, UAE 410 km;
, Yemen 288 kmCoastline: 2,092 km
Maritime claimsContiguous zone: 24 nm
Exclusive 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
ElevationExtremes lowest point: Arabian Sea 0 m
Extremes highest point: Jabal ash Sham 2,980 m
Natural resources: petroleum, copper, asbestos, some marble, limestone, chromium, gypsum, natural gas
Land useArable land: 0%
Permanent crops: 0%
Permanent pastures: 5%
Forests and woodland: NA%
Other: 95% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 580 km² (1993 est.)
Major riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazards: summer winds often raise large sandstorms and dust storms in interior; periodic droughts
GeographyNote: strategic location with small foothold on Musandam Peninsula controlling Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude oil
top of pagePopulation: 2,264,590 (July 1997 est.)
Growth rate: 3.49% (1997 est.)
NationalityNoun: Omani(s)
Adjective: Omani
Ethnic groups: Arab, Baluchi, South Asian (Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan, Bangladeshi), African
Languages: Arabic (official), English, Baluchi, Urdu, Indian dialects
Religions: Ibadhi Muslim 75%, Sunni Muslim, Shi'a Muslim, Hindu
Demographic profileAge structure0-14 years: 46% (male 527,091; female 507,849)
15-64 years: 51% (male 632,647; female 535,149)
65 years and over: 3% (male 27,974; female 33,880) (July 1997 est.)
Dependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rate: 3.49% (1997 est.)
Birth rate: 37.85 births/1000 population (1997 est.)
Death rate: 4.39 deaths/1000 population (1997 est.)
Net migration rate: 1.42 migrant(s)/1000 population (1997 est.)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: rising soil salinity; beach pollution from oil spills; very limited natural fresh water resources
Air pollutantsSex ratioAt birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
Under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.18 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female
Total population: 1.1 male(s)/female (1997 est.)
Mothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 26.4 deaths/1000 live births (1997 est.)
Life expectancy at birthTotal population: 70.8 years
Male: 68.84 years
Female: 72.85 years (1997 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.02 children born/woman (1997 est.)
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 expendituresLiteracyDefinition: NA
Total population: approaching 80%
Male: NA%
Female: NA%
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry nameConventional long form: Sultanate of Oman
Conventional short form: Oman
Local long form: Saltanat Uman
Local short form: Uman
Government type: monarchy
Capital: Muscat
Administrative divisions: 6 regions (mintaqah, singular - mintaqat) and 2 governorates* (muhafazah, singular - muhafazat) Ad Dakhiliyah, Al Batinah, Al Wusta, Ash Sharqiyah, Az Zahirah, Masqat, Musandam*, Zufar*
Dependent areasIndependence: 1650 (expulsion of the Portuguese)
National holiday: National Day, 18 November (1940)
Constitution: none; note - on 6 November 1996, Sultan QABOOS issued a royal decree promulgating a new basic law which, among other things, clarifies the royal succession, provides for a prime minister, bars ministers from holding interests in companies doing business with the government, establishes a bicameral Omani council, and guarantees basic civil liberties for Omani citizens
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 branchChief of state: Sultan and Prime Minister QABOOS bin Said Al Said (since 23 July 1970); note - the sultan is both the chief of state and head of government
Head of government: Sultan and Prime Minister QABOOS bin Said Al Said (since 23 July 1970); note - the sultan is both the chief of state and head of government
Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the sultan
Elections: none; the sultan is a hereditary monarch
Legislative branch: unicameral Consultative Council or Majlis ash-Shura (80 members; two appointed from each wilayat with a population over 30,000, one appointed from each of the other wilayats; members serve four-year terms; has advisory powers only)
Note: new basic law to be implemented in 1997, provides for an upper chamber - the Majlis ad-Dawla or State Council; also the Majlis ash-Shura will be expanded to 110 members; the resulting bicameral legislature will be known as the Omani Council
Judicial branch: none; traditional Islamic judges and a nascent civil court system, administered by region
Political parties and leadersInternational organization participation: ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representationIn the us chief of mission: Ambassador Abdallah bin Muhammad bin Aqil al-DHAHAB
In the us chancery: 2,535 Belmont Road, NW, Washington, DC 20,008
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 387-1980 through 1982
In the us FAX: [1] (202) 745-4,933
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Frances D. COOK
From the us embassy: Jameat A'Duwal Al Arabiya Street, Al Khuwair area, Muscat
From the us mailing address: domestic - Unit 73,000, Box 1, APO AE 9,890-3,000; international - P. O. Box 202, Code No. 115, Medinat Qaboos, Muscat
From the us telephone: [968] 698,989 (Medinat Qaboos, switchboard)
From the us FAX: [968] 699,779
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 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 75% of export earnings and government revenues and for roughly 40% of GDP. Oman has proved oil reserves of 4 billion barrels, equivalent to about 20 years' supply at the current rate of extraction. Agriculture is carried on at a subsistence level and the general population depends on imported food. The year 1996 was marked by higher oil production and prices. The government is encouraging private investment, both domestic and foreign, as a prime force for further economic development.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rate: 6.5% (1996 est.)
Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity - $9,500 (1996 est.)
Gross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture: 3%
Industry: 55%
Services: 42% (1994 est.)
Agriculture products: dates, limes, bananas, alfalfa, vegetables; camels, cattle; annual fish catch averages 100,000 metric tons
Industries: crude oil production and refining, natural gas production, construction, cement, copper
Industrial production growth rate: 3% (1994 est.)
Labor forceTotal: 454,000
By occupation: agriculture 37% (1993 est.)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty lineGini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudgetRevenues: $5.3 billion
Expenditures: $6 billion, including capital expenditures of $N/A (1997 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 balanceExportsTotal value: $7.2 billion (f.o.b., 1996 est.)
Commodities: petroleum 75%, reexports, fish, processed copper, textiles
Partners: Japan 32%, South Korea 16%, Thailand 12%, China 8%, US 6%, Taiwan 6% (1995)
ImportsTotal value: $5.5 billion (c.i.f., 1996 est.)
Commodities: machinery, transportation equipment, manufactured goods, food, livestock, lubricants
Partners: UAE 25% (largely reexports), UK 16%, Japan 16%, France 11%, US 5% (1995)
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external: $2.7 billion (1995 est.)
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: 1.74 million kW (1994)
Production: 7.39 billion kWh (1994)
Consumption per capita: 3,412 kWh (1995 est.)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitaOman - Communication 1997
top of pageTelephones: 150,000 (1994 est.)
Telephone system: modern system consisting of open wire, microwave, and radiotelephone communication stations; limited coaxial cable
Domestic: open wire, microwave, radiotelephone communications, and a domestic satellite system with 8 earth stations
International: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat
Broadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresDollar figure: $1.82 billion (1996)
Percent of gdp: 13.7% (1996)
Military and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupsOman - Transportation 1997
top of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 126 (1996 est.)
With paved runways total: 38
With paved runways over 3047 m: 4
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 1
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 1
With paved runways under 914 m: 32 (1996 est.)
With unpaved runways total: 88
With unpaved runways over 3047 m: 3
With unpaved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 3
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 57
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 25 (1996 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1996 est.)
Pipelines: crude oil 1,300 km; natural gas 1,030 km
Railways: 0 km
RoadwaysWaterwaysMerchant marineTotal: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 16,306 GRT/8,210 DWT
Ships by type: cargo 1, passenger 1, passenger-cargo 1 (1996 est.)
Ports and terminalsOman - Transnational issues 1997
top of pageDisputes international: no defined boundary with most of UAE, but Administrative Line in far north
Refugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs