Map of Oman | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide1989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025 | More stats

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Background: The inhabitants of the area of Oman have long prospered on Indian Ocean trade. In the late 18th century a newly established 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 but it never became a British colony. In 1970 QABOOS bin Said Al-Said overthrew his father and he has since ruled as sultan. His extensive modernization program has opened the country to the outside world while preserving the longstanding close ties with the UK. Oman's moderate independent foreign policy has sought to maintain good relations with all Middle Eastern countries. Inspired by the popular uprisings that swept the Middle East and North Africa beginning in January 2011 Omanis began staging marches and demonstrations to demand economic benefits an end to corruption and greater political rights. In response to protester demands QABOOS in 2011 pledged to implement economic and political reforms such as granting legislative and regulatory powers to the Majlis al-Shura and introducing unemployment benefits. In August 2012 the Sultan announced a royal directive mandating the speedy implementation of a national job creation plan for thousands of public and private sector 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 will have the power to advise the Royal Court on the needs of local districts across Oman's 11 governorates.


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Location: 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

Area
Rank: 71
Land: 309,500 km²
Water: 0 km²
Comparative: slightly smaller than Kansas

Land boundaries
Border countries: (3) Saudi Arabia 676 km; UAE 410 km; Yemen 288 km

Coastline: 2,092 km

Maritime claims
Contiguous zone: 24 nm
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

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

Terrain: central desert plain rugged mountains in north and south

Elevation
Extremes highest point: Jabal Shams 2,980 m

Natural resources: petroleum copper asbestos some marble limestone chromium gypsum natural gas

Land use
Permanent crops: 0.12%
Other: 99.77% (2011)

Irrigated land: 588.5 km² (2004)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources: 1.4 km³ (2011)

Natural hazards: summer winds often raise large sandstorms and dust storms in interior; periodic droughts

Geography
Note: strategic location on Musandam Peninsula adjacent to Strait of Hormuz a vital transit point for world crude oil


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Population: 3,154,134 (July 2013 est.)
Rank: 137
Growth rate: 2.06% (2013 est.)
Growth rate rank: 49
Below poverty line: NA%

Nationality
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 (official) 75% other (includes Sunni Muslim Shia Muslim Hindu) 25%

Demographic profile

Age structure
15-24 years: 20.2% (male 333,583/female 302,618)
25-54 years: 42.1% (male 781,396/female 547,872)
55-64 years: 3.9% (male 65,722/female 56,673)
65 years and over: 3.2% (male 51,515/female 50,559) (2013 est.)

Dependency ratios
Youth dependency ratio: 31.9 %
Elderly dependency ratio: 3.8 %
Potential support ratio: 26.2 (2013)

Median age
Male: 25.9 years
Female: 23.1 years (2013 est.)

Population growth rate: 2.06% (2013 est.)
Rank: 49

Birth rate: 24.43 births/1000 population (2013 est.)
Rank: 62

Death rate: 3.4 deaths/1000 population (2013 est.)
Rank: 218

Net migration rate: -0.47 migrant(s)/1000 population (2013 est.)
Rank: 133

Population distribution

Urbanization
Rate of urbanization: 2.23% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Major urban areas
Population: MUSCAT (capital) 634,000 (2009)

Environment
Current issues: rising soil salinity; beach pollution from oil spills; limited natural freshwater resources
International agreements signed but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Air pollutants

Sex ratio
0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.1 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1.45 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 1.17 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.03 male(s)/female
Total population: 1.22 male(s)/female (2013 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate
Rank: 115
Male: 14.76 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 14.15 deaths/1000 live births (2013 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Rank: 105
Male: 72.84 years
Female: 76.7 years (2013 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.86 children born/woman (2013 est.)
Rank: 68

Contraceptive prevalence rate: 31.7% (2000)

Drinking water source:

Current health expenditure

Physicians density: 2.05 physicians/1000 population (2010)

Hospital bed density: 1.8 beds/1000 population (2009)

Sanitation facility access:

Hiv/Aids
Adult prevalence rate: 0.1% (2009 est.)
Adult prevalence rate rank: 153
People living with hivaids: 1100 (2009 est.)
People living with hivaids rank: 138
Deaths: fewer than 100 (2009 est.)
Deaths rank: 116

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate: 20.9% (2008)
Rank: 94

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 8.6% (2009)
Rank: 72

Education expenditures: 4.3% of GDP (2009)
Rank: 102

Literacy
Total population: 86.9%
Male: 90.2%
Female: 81.8% (2010 est.)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Male: 14 years
Female: 14 years (2011)

Youth unemployment


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Country name
Conventional short form: Oman
Local long form: Saltanat Uman
Local short form: Uman
Former: Muscat and Oman

Government type: monarchy

Capital
Geographic coordinates: 23 37 N 58 35 E
Time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions: 11 governorates (muhafazat singular - muhafazat); 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)

Dependent areas

Independence: 1650 (expulsion of the Portuguese)

National holiday: Birthday of Sultan QABOOS 18 November (1940)

Constitution: previous 1996 (The Basic Law of the Sultanate of Oman serves as the constitution); latest amended by royal decree in 2011 (2011)

Legal system: mixed legal system of Anglo-Saxon law and Islamic law

International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

Citizenship

Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal; note - members of the military and security forces by law are not allowed to vote

Executive branch
Head of government: Sultan and Prime Minister QABOOS bin Said Al-Said (sultan since 23 July 1970 and prime minister since 23 July 1972)
Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarch
Elections: the Ruling Family Council determines a successor from the Sultan's extended family; if the Council cannot form a consensus within three days of the Sultan's death or incapacitation the Defense Council will relay a predetermined heir as chosen by the Sultan

Legislative branch: bicameral - consists of Majlis al-Dawla or upper chamber (71 seats; members appointed by the sultan; has only advisory powers) and Majlis al-Shura or lower chamber (84 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms; body has authority to draft legislation but is subordinate to the Sultan)
Elections: (Majlis al-Shura) last held on 15 October 2011 (next to be held in October 2015)
Election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; note - three prominent figures from the Arab Spring 2011 protests won seats; one woman also won a seat

Judicial branch
Judge selection and term of office: judges nominated by the 9-member Supreme Judicial Council (chaired by the monarch) and appointed by the monarch; judge tenure NA
Subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; Courts of First Instance; sharia courts; magistrates' courts

Political parties and leaders: political parties are illegal

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

Diplomatic representation
In the us chancery: 2,535 Belmont Road NW Washington DC 20,008
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 387-1980
In the us FAX: [1] (202) 745-4,933
From the us embassy: Jamait Ad Duwal Al Arabiyya Street Al Khuwair area Muscat
From the us mailing address: P. O. Box 202 P.C. 115 Madinat Al Sultan Qaboos Muscat
From the us telephone: [968] 24-643-400
From the us FAX: [968] 24-64-37-40

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 near the top of the vertical band; white represents peace and prosperity red recalls battles against foreign invaders and green symbolizes the Jebel Akhdar (Green Mountains) and fertility

National symbols: Khanjar dagger superimposed on two crossed swords

National anthem
Lyrics and music: Rashid bin Uzayyiz al KHUSAIDI/James Frederick MILLS arranged by Bernard EBBINGHAUS

National heritage


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Economy overview: Oman is a middle-income economy that is heavily dependent on dwindling oil resources. Because of declining reserves and a rapidly growing labor force Muscat has actively pursued a development plan that focuses on diversification industrialization and privatization with the objective of reducing the oil sector's contribution to GDP to 9% by 2020 and creating more jobs to employ the rising numbers of Omanis entering the workforce. Tourism and gas-based industries are key components of the government's diversification strategy. However increases in social welfare benefits particularly since the Arab Spring will challenge the government's ability to effectively balance its budget if oil revenues decline. By using enhanced oil recovery techniques Oman succeeded in increasing oil production giving the country more time to diversify and the increase in global oil prices through 2011 provided the government greater financial resources to invest in non-oil sectors. In 2012 continued surpluses resulting from sustained high oil prices and increased enhanced oil recovery allowed the government to maintain growth in social subsidies and public sector job creation. However the Sultan made widely reported statements indicating this would not be sustainable and called for expanded efforts to support SME development and entrepreneurship. Government agencies and large oligarchic group companies heeded his call announcing new initiatives to spin off non-essential functions to entrepreneurs incubate new businesses train and mentor up and coming business people and provide financing for start-ups. In response to fast growth in household indebtedness the Central Bank reduced the ceiling on personal interest loans from 8 to 7% lowered mortgage rates capped the percentage of consumer loans at 50% of borrower's salaries for personal loans and 60% for housing loans and limited maximum repayment terms to 10 and 25 years respectively. In 2012 the Central Bank also issued final regulations governing Islamic banking and two full-fledged Islamic banks held oversubscribed IPOs while four traditional banks opened sharia-compliant Islamic windows.

Real gdp purchasing power parity:
Rank: 77

Real gdp growth rate:
Rank: 68

Real gdp per capita:
Rank: 51

Gross national saving:
Rank: 15

Gdp composition by end use
Government consumption: 17.8%
Investment in fixed capital: 26.7%
Investment in inventories: -0.5%
Exports of goods and services: 61.6%
Imports of goods and services: -35.7%: (2012 est.)

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Industry: 65.9%
Services: 33% (2012 est.)

Agriculture products: dates limes bananas alfalfa vegetables; camels cattle; fish

Industries: crude oil production and refining natural and liquefied natural gas (LNG) production; construction cement copper steel chemicals optic fiber

Industrial production growth rate: 0.2% (2012 est.)
Rank: 134

Labor force: 968,800
Rank: 145
By occupation industry: NA%
By occupation services: NA%

Unemployment rate: 15% (2004 est.)
Rank: 145

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line: NA%

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Highest 10: NA%

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Expenditures: $35.25 billion (2012 est.)
Surplus or deficit: -0.3% of GDP (2012 est.)
Surplus or deficit rank: 53

Taxes and other revenues: 45.4% of GDP (2012 est.)
Rank: 23

Public debt: 4.6% of GDP (2011 est.)
Rank: 153

Revenue

Fiscal year: calendar year

Inflation rate consumer prices: 4% (2011 est.)
Rank: 92

Central bank discount rate: 0.05% (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 143

Commercial bank prime lending rate: 6.19% (31 December 2011 est.)
Rank: 138

Stock of narrow money: $7.971 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Rank: 81

Stock of broad money: $63.16 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 62

Stock of domestic credit: $23.18 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Rank: 71

Market value of publicly traded shares:
Rank: 64

Current account balance: $10.26 billion (2011 est.)
Rank: 29

Exports: $47.09 billion (2011 est.)
Rank: 57
Commodities: petroleum reexports fish metals textiles
Partners: China 31.8% Japan 12.9% UAE 10.4% South Korea 10% Thailand 4.4% Singapore 4.4% (2012)

Imports: $21.5 billion (2011 est.)
Rank: 68
Commodities: machinery and transport equipment manufactured goods food livestock lubricants
Partners: UAE 24.1% Japan 12.5% India 8.5% China 6.3% US 6.1% (2012)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $14.37 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Rank: 66

Debt external: $9.285 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Rank: 100

Stock of direct foreign investment at home: $N/A

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad: $N/A

Exchange rates:


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Electricity
Production: 18.63 billion kWh (2010 est.)
Production rank: 75
Consumption: 15.32 billion kWh (2010 est.)
Consumption rank: 75
Exports: 0 kWh (2012 est.)
Exports rank: 106
Imports: 0 kWh (2012 est.)
Imports rank: 108
Installed generating capacity: 4.265 million kW (2010 est.)
Installed generating capacity rank: 80
Generation sources fossil fuels: 100% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels rank: 24
Generation sources nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Generation sources nuclear rank: 142
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity rank: 184
Generation sources other renewable sources: 0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Generation sources other renewable sources rank: 205

Coal

Petroleum
Petroleum total petroleum production: 923,800 bbl/day (2012 est.)
Petroleum total petroleum production rank: 26
Crude oil exports: 705,100 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Crude oil exports rank: 20
Crude oil imports: 0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Crude oil imports rank: 96
Crude oil proven reserves: 5.5 billion bbl (1 January 2013 es)
Crude oil proven reserves rank: 21

Crude oil

Refined petroleum
Products production: 164,600 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Products production rank: 61
Products consumption: 98,000 bbl/day (2011 est.)
Products consumption rank: 79
Products exports: 47,710 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Products exports rank: 61
Products imports: 2,390 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Products imports rank: 177

Natural gas
Production: 35.94 billion m³ (2012 est.)
Production rank: 27
Consumption: 17.53 billion m³ (2011 est.)
Consumption rank: 37
Exports: 10.93 billion m³ (2011 est.)
Exports rank: 24
Imports: 1.95 billion m³ (2011 est.)
Imports rank: 52
Proven reserves: 849.5 billion m³ (1 January 2013 es)
Proven reserves rank: 29

Carbon dioxide emissions
From consumption of energy: 52.67 million Mt (2011 est.)
From consumption of energy rank: 60

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones
Main lines in use: 305,000 (2012)
Main lines in use rank: 115
Mobile cellular: 5.278 million (2012)
Mobile cellular rank: 109

Telephone system
Domestic: fixed-line and mobile-cellular subscribership both increasing with fixed-line phone service gradually being introduced to remote villages using wireless local loop systems
International: country code - 968; the Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG) and the SEA-ME-WE-3 submarine cable provide connectivity to Asia the Middle East and Europe; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) 1 Arabsat (2008)

Broadcast media: 1 state-run TV broadcaster; TV stations transmitting from Saudi Arabia the UAE and Yemen available via satellite TV; state-run radio operates multiple stations; first private radio station began operating in 2007 and 2 additional stations now operating (2007)

Internet
Country code: .om
Hosts: 14,531 (2012)
Hosts rank: 127
Users: 1.465 million (2009)
Users rank: 83

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures: 11.4% of GDP (2005 est.)
Rank: 1

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation: 18-30 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2012)

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 132 (2013)
Rank: 44
With paved runways over 3047 m: 7
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 5
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 1 (2013)
With unpaved runways over 3047 m: 2
With unpaved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 7
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 51
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 33
With unpaved runways: 26 (2013)

Heliports: 3 (2013)

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

Railways

Roadways
Rank: 70
Paved: 29,685 km (includes 1943 km of expressways)
Unpaved: 30,545 km (2012)

Waterways

Merchant marine
Rank: 125
By type: chemical tanker 1 passenger 1 passenger/cargo 3
Registered in other countries: 15 (Malta 5 Panama 10) (2010)

Ports and terminals: Mina' Qabus Salalah Suhar


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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

Illicit drugs