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 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 has since ruled as sultan. Sultan QABOOS has no children and has not designated a successor publicly; the Basic Law of 1996 outlines Oman’s succession procedure. Sultan QABOOS’ extensive modernization program opened the country to the outside world, and the sultan has prioritized strategic ties with the UK and US. Oman's moderate, independent foreign policy has sought 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.


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

Geographic coordinates: 21 00 N, 57 00 E

Map reference: Middle East

Area
Total: 309,500 km²
Land: 309,500 km²
Water: 0 km²
Rank: 72
Comparative: twice the size of Georgia; slightly smaller than Kansas

Land boundaries
Total: 1561 km
Border countries: (3) Saudi Arabia 658 km; , UAE 609 km; , Yemen 294 km

Coastline: 2,092 km

Maritime claims
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Contiguous zone: 24 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
Mean elevation: 310 m
Lowest point: Arabian Sea 0 m
Highest point: Jabal Shams 3,004 m

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

Land use
Agricultural land: 4.7% (2011 est.)
Forest: 0% (2011 est.)
Other: 95.3% (2011 est.)

Irrigated land: 590 km² (2012)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

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

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


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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:
Rank: 125
Growth rate: 2% (2018 est.)
Growth rate rank: 47
Below poverty line note: NA

Nationality
Noun: Omani(s)
Adjective: Omani

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

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

Religions:

Demographic profile

Age structure
0-14 years: 30.1% (male 539,202 /female 512,416)
15-24 years: 18.26% (male 334,784 /female 303,172)
25-54 years: 44.15% (male 886,080 /female 656,734)
55-64 years: 3.94% (male 73,233 /female 64,450)
65 years and over: 3.55% (male 60,354 /female 63,691) (2018 est.)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 32.4 (2015 est.)
Youth dependency ratio: 29.4 (2015 est.)
Elderly dependency ratio: 3.1 (2015 est.)
Potential support ratio: 32.6 (2015 est.)

Median age
Total: 25.8 years (2018 est.)
Male: 26.8 years
Female: 24.5 years
Rank: 154

Population growth rate: 2% (2018 est.)
Rank: 47

Birth rate: 23.7 births/1000 population (2018 est.)
Rank: 54

Death rate: 3.3 deaths/1000 population (2018 est.)
Rank: 219

Net migration rate: -0.4 migrant(s)/1000 population (2018 est.)
Rank: 123

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

Urbanization
Urban population: 85.4% of total population
Note: (2015-20 est.)
Rate of urbanization: 5.25% annual rate of change

Major urban areas
Population: 1.502 million MUSCAT (capital) (2019)

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
International agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling
International agreements signed but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Air pollutants

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.1 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1.35 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 1.14 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.95 male(s)/female
Total population: 1.18 male(s)/female (2018 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate
Total: 12.4 deaths/1000 live births (2018 est.)
Male: 12.7 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 12.1 deaths/1000 live births
Rank: 109

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 75.9 years (2018 est.)
Male: 73.9 years
Female: 78 years
Rank: 97

Total fertility rate: 2.8 children born/woman (2018 est.)
Rank: 61

Contraceptive prevalence rate: 29.7% (2014)

Drinking water source
Urban: 4.5% of population
Rural: 13.9% of population
Total: 6.6% of population (2015 est.)

Current health expenditure: 4.3% (2016)

Physicians density: 1.97 physicians/1000 population (2017)

Hospital bed density: 1.6 beds/1000 population (2014)

Sanitation facility access
Urban: 2.7% of population (2015 est.)
Rural: 5.3% of population (2015 est.)
Total: 3.3% of population (2015 est.)

Hiv/Aids
Adult prevalence rate: 0.2% (2018)
Adult prevalence rate rank: 110
People living with hivaids: 3,200 (2018)
People living with hivaids rank: 129
Deaths: 100 (2018)
Deaths rank: 66

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate: 27% (2016)
Rank: 39

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 9.7% (2014)
Rank: 63

Education expenditures: 6.8% of GDP (2017)
Rank: 16

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 96.1%
Male: 97.4%
Female: 93.2% (2017)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Total: 15 years
Male: 14 years
Female: 15 years (2016)

Youth unemployment


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Country name
Conventional long form: Sultanate of Oman
Conventional short form: Oman
Local long form: Saltanat Uman
Local short form: Uman
Former: Sultanate of Muscat and 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.)

Government type: absolute monarchy

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

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)

Dependent areas

Independence: 1650 (expulsion of the Portuguese)

National holiday: National Day, 18 November; note - coincides with the birthday of Sultan QABOOS, 18 November (1940)

Constitution
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
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 in 2011 (2016)

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
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

Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal; note - members of the military and security forces by law cannot vote

Executive branch
Chief of state: Sultan and Prime Minister QABOOS bin Said Al-Said (sultan since 23 July 1970 and prime minister since 23 July 1972); note - the monarch is both chief of state and head of government
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
Electionsappointments: members of the Ruling Family Council determine a successor from the sultans extended family; if the Council cannot form a consensus within 3 days of the sultans death or incapacitation, the Defense Council will relay a predetermined heir as chosen by the sultan

Legislative branch
Description:
Elections:
Election results:

Judicial branch
Highest courts: 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

Political parties and leaders: none; note - organized political parties are legally banned in Oman, and loyalties tend to form around tribal affiliations

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 chief of mission: Ambassador Marc J. SIEVERS (since 15 December 2016)
From the us telephone: [968] 24-643-400
From the us embassy: P.C. 115, Madinat Al Sultan Qaboos, Muscat
From the us mailing address: P.O. Box 202, P.C. 115, Madinat Al Sultan Qaboos, Muscat
From the us FAX: [968] 24-643-740

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

National symbols: khanjar dagger superimposed on two crossed swords; national colors: red, white, green

National anthem
Name: Nashid as-Salaam as-Sultani (The Sultans Anthem)
Lyricsmusic: Rashid bin Uzayyiz al KHUSAIDI/James Frederick MILLS, arranged by Bernard EBBINGHAUS: 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


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Economy overview: Oman is heavily dependent on oil and gas resources, which can generate between and 68% and 85% of government revenue, depending on fluctuations in commodity prices. In 2016, low global oil prices drove Oman’s budget deficit to $13.8 billion, or approximately 20% of GDP, but the budget deficit is estimated to have reduced to 12% of GDP in 2017 as Oman reduced government subsidies. As of January 2018, Oman has sufficient foreign assets to support its currency’s fixed exchange rates. It is issuing debt to cover its deficit.Oman is using enhanced oil recovery techniques to boost production, but it has simultaneously pursued a development plan that focuses on diversification, industrialization, and privatization, with the objective of reducing the oil sector's contribution to GDP. The key components of the government's diversification strategy are tourism, shipping and logistics, mining, manufacturing, and aquaculture.Muscat also has notably focused on creating more Omani jobs to employ the rising number of nationals entering the workforce. However, high social welfare benefits - that had increased in the wake of the 2011 Arab Spring - have made it impossible for the government to balance its budget in light of current oil prices. In response, Omani officials imposed austerity measures on its gasoline and diesel subsidies in 2016. These spending cuts have had only a moderate effect on the government’s budget, which is projected to again face a deficit of $7.8 billion in 2018.

Real gdp purchasing power parity:
Rank: 67

Real gdp growth rate:
Rank: 201

Real gdp per capita:
Rank: 37

Gross national saving:
Rank: 127

Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 36.8% (2017 est.)
Government consumption: 26.2% (2017 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 27.8% (2017 est.)
Investment in inventories: 3% (2017 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 51.5% (2017 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -46.6% (2017 est.)

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 1.8% (2017 est.)
Industry: 46.4% (2017 est.)
Services: 51.8% (2017 est.)

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

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

Industrial production growth rate: -3% (2017 est.)
Rank: 188

Labor force:
Rank: 119
By occupation agriculture: 4.7%
By occupation note: NA (2016 est.)
By occupation industry: 49.6%
By occupation services: 45%

Unemployment rate: NA

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line
Note: NA

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Revenues: 22.14 billion (2017 est.)
Expenditures: 31.92 billion (2017 est.)
Surplus or deficit: -13.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Surplus or deficit rank: 216

Taxes and other revenues: 31.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Rank: 73

Public debt:
Rank: 113

Revenue

Fiscal year: calendar year

Inflation rate consumer prices:
Rank: 90

Central bank discount rate:
Rank: 119

Commercial bank prime lending rate:
Rank: 148

Stock of narrow money:
Rank: 79

Stock of broad money:
Rank: 80

Stock of domestic credit:
Rank: 67

Market value of publicly traded shares:
Rank: 57

Current account balance:
Rank: 192

Exports:
Rank: 35
Partners: China 43.7%, UAE 11%, South Korea 7.9%, Saudi Arabia 4.2% (2017)
Commodities: petroleum, reexports, fish, metals, textiles

Imports:
Rank: 71
Commodities: machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, livestock, lubricants
Partners: UAE 35.5%, US 27.8%, Brazil 4% (2017)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
Rank: 64

Debt external:
Rank: 70

Stock of direct foreign investment at home: NA

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad: NA

Exchange rates:


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Electricity
Access electrification total population: 99% (2016)
Access electrification urban areas: 100% (2016)
Access electrification rural areas: 93% (2016)
Production: 32.16 billion kWh (2016 est.)
Production rank: 62
Consumption: 28.92 billion kWh (2016 est.)
Consumption rank: 63
Exports: 0 kWh (2016 est.)
Exports rank: 181
Imports: 0 kWh (2016 est.)
Imports rank: 183
Installed generating capacity: 8.167 million kW (2016 est.)
Installed generating capacity rank: 70
Generation sources fossil fuels: 100% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels rank: 14
Generation sources nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Generation sources nuclear rank: 160
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity rank: 192
Generation sources other renewable sources: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Generation sources other renewable sources rank: 204

Coal

Petroleum
Petroleum total petroleum production: 979,000 bbl/day (2018 est.)
Petroleum total petroleum production rank: 21
Crude oil exports: 844,100 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Crude oil exports rank: 14
Crude oil imports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Crude oil imports rank: 179
Crude oil proven reserves: 5.373 billion bbl (1 January 2018 est.)
Crude oil proven reserves rank: 21

Crude oil

Refined petroleum
Products production: 229,600 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Products production rank: 48
Products consumption: 188,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)
Products consumption rank: 59
Products exports: 33,700 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Products exports rank: 60
Products imports: 6,041 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Products imports rank: 165

Natural gas
Production: 31.23 billion m³ (2017 est.)
Production rank: 26
Consumption: 21.94 billion m³ (2017 est.)
Consumption rank: 35
Exports: 11.16 billion m³ (2017 est.)
Exports rank: 20
Imports: 1.982 billion m³ (2017 est.)
Imports rank: 53
Proven reserves: 651.3 billion m³ (1 January 2018 est.)
Proven reserves rank: 28

Carbon dioxide emissions
From consumption of energy: 68.94 million Mt (2017 est.)
From consumption of energy rank: 52

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 497,716
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 11 (2017 est.)
Fixed lines rank: 95
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 6,943,910
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 151 (2017 est.)
Mobile cellular rank: 107

Telephone system
General assessment: modern system consisting of open-wire, microwave, and radiotelephone communication stations; coaxial cable; domestic satellite system with 8 earth stations; both 3G and 4G LTE networks; exploring 5G options; competition among mobile network operators (MNO) (2018)
Domestic: fixed-line 11 per 100 and mobile-cellular 151 per 100, subscribership both increasing with fixed-line phone service gradually being introduced to remote villages using wireless local loop systems (2018)
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)

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
Users total: 2,342,483
Users percent of population: 69.8% (July 2016 est.)
Users rank: 106

Broadband fixed subscriptions
Total: 348,926
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 8 (2017 est.)
Rank: 91


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Military expenditures:
Rank: 2

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
Number of registered air carriers: 1 (2015)
Inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 45 (2015)
Annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 6,365,784 (2015)
Annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 412,234,008
Note: mt-km (2015)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: A4O (2016)

Airports: 132 (2013)
Rank: 44
With paved runways total: 13 (2017)
With paved runways over 3047 m: 7 (2017)
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 5 (2017)
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 1 (2017)
With unpaved runways total: 119 (2013)
With unpaved runways over 3047 m: 2 (2013)
With unpaved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 7 (2013)
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 51 (2013)
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 33 (2013)
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 26 (2013)

Heliports: 3 (2013)

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

Railways

Roadways
Total: 60,230 km (2012)
Paved: 29,685 km
Note: (includes 1943 km of expressways) (2012)
Unpaved: 30,545 km (2012)
Rank: 74

Waterways

Merchant marine
Total: 51
By type: general cargo 9, other 42 (2018)
Rank: 114

Ports and terminals
Major seaport: Mina Qabus, Salalah, Suhar
Container port: Salalah (3,946,421) (2017)
LNG terminal: Qalhat


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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
Refugees: 5,000 (Yemen) (2017)

Illicit drugs