OMÃ

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 the restrictive rule of his father; he has ruled as sultan ever since. 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.

Geography ::OMAN
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 references:

Middle East
Area:

total: 309,500 sq km
country comparison to the world: 70
land: 309,500 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Kansas
Land boundaries:

total: 1,374 km
border countries: Saudi Arabia 676 km, UAE 410 km, Yemen 288 km
Coastline:

2,092 km
Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:

Current Weather
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:

lowest point: Arabian Sea 0 m
highest point: Jabal Shams 2,980 m
Natural resources:

petroleum, copper, asbestos, some marble, limestone, chromium, gypsum, natural gas
Land use:

arable land: 0.12%
permanent crops: 0.14%
other: 99.74% (2005)
Irrigated land:

720 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:

1 cu km (1997)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 1.36 cu km/yr (7%/2%/90%)
per capita: 529 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:

summer winds often raise large sandstorms and dust storms in interior; periodic droughts
Environment - current issues:

rising soil salinity; beach pollution from oil spills; limited natural fresh water resources
Environment - 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
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:

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

People ::OMAN
Population:

3,418,085
country comparison to the world: 134
note: includes 577,293 non-nationals (July 2010 est.)
Age structure:

0-14 years: 42.7% (male 744,265/female 714,116)
15-64 years: 54.5% (male 1,079,511/female 783,243)
65 years and over: 2.8% (male 55,180/female 41,770) (2010 est.)
Median age:

total: 23.9 years
male: 25.4 years
female: 22.1 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:

3.138% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9
Birth rate:

34.79 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
Death rate:

3.65 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 212
Net migration rate:

0.24 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
Urbanization:

urban population: 72% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.34 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.06 male(s)/female
total population: 1.23 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:

total: 16.88 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 118
male: 19.29 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 14.35 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 74.16 years
country comparison to the world: 93
male: 71.87 years
female: 76.55 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:

2.87 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.1% (2001 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

1,300 (2001 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141
HIV/AIDS - deaths:

fewer than 200 (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121
Nationality:

noun: Omani(s)
adjective: Omani
Ethnic groups:

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

Ibadhi Muslim 75%, other (includes Sunni Muslim, Shia Muslim, Hindu) 25%
Languages:

Arabic (official), English, Baluchi, Urdu, Indian dialects
Literacy:

definition: NA
total population: 81.4%
male: 86.8%
female: 73.5% (2003 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 12 years
male: 12 years
female: 11 years (2006)
Education expenditures:

4% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 102

Government ::OMAN
Country name:

conventional long form: Sultanate of Oman
conventional short form: Oman
local long form: Saltanat Uman
local short form: Uman
former: Muscat and Oman
Government type:

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)
Administrative divisions:

5 regions (manatiq, singular - mintaqat) and 4 governorates* (muhafazat, singular - muhafazat) Ad Dakhiliyah, Al Batinah, Al Buraymi*, Al Wusta, Ash Sharqiyah, Az Zahirah, Masqat (Muscat)*, Musandam*, Zufar (Dhofar)*
Independence:

1650 (expulsion of the Portuguese)
National holiday:

Birthday of Sultan QABOOS, 18 November (1940)
Constitution:

none; note - on 6 November 1996, Sultan QABOOS issued a royal decree promulgating a basic law considered by the government to be a constitution 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 legislature, and guarantees basic civil liberties for Omani citizens
Legal system:

based on English common law and Islamic law; ultimate appeal to the monarch; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:

21 years of age; universal; note - members of the military and security forces are not allowed to 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 the 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
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: the monarchy is hereditary
Legislative branch:

bicameral Majlis Oman consists of Majlis al-Dawla or upper chamber (71 seats; members appointed by the monarch; 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 only advisory powers)
elections: last held on 27 October 2007 (next to be held in 2011)
election results: new candidates won 46 seats and 38 members of the outgoing Majlis kept their positions; none of the 20 female candidates was elected
Judicial branch:

Supreme Court
note: the nascent civil court system, administered by region, has judges who practice secular and sharia law
Political parties and leaders:

none
Political pressure groups and leaders:

none
International organization participation:

ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), 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, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Hunaina bint Sultan bin Ahmad al-MUGHAIRI
chancery: 2535 Belmont Road, NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 387-1980
FAX: [1] (202) 745-4933
Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Richard J. SCHMIERER
embassy: Jameat A'Duwal Al Arabiya Street, Al Khuwair area, Muscat
mailing address: P. O. Box 202, P.C. 115, Madinat Sultan Qaboos, Muscat
telephone: [968] 24-643-400
FAX: [968] 24-699771
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

Economy ::OMAN
Economy - overview:

Oman is a middle-income economy that is heavily dependent on dwindling oil resources. Because of declining reserves, 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. Tourism and gas-based industries are key components of the government's diversification strategy. By using enhanced oil recovery techniques, Oman succeeded in increasing oil production in 2009, giving the country more time to diversify. The drop in oil prices in 2008 and the global financial crisis reduced Oman's budget surplus in 2009 and slowed the pace of investment and development projects, but GDP growth still was positive, in part because Muscat implemented an expansionary fiscal policy.
GDP (purchasing power parity):

$72.88 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
$71.45 billion (2008 est.)
$63.32 billion (2007 est.)
note: data are in 2009 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):

$53.4 billion (2009 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:

2% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83
12.8% (2008 est.)
6.8% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):

$25,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
$25,000 (2008 est.)
$22,600 (2007 est.)
note: data are in 2009 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 1.4%
industry: 48.6%
services: 49.9% (2009 est.)
Labor force:

968,800
country comparison to the world: 143
note: about 60% of the labor force is non-national (2007)
Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Unemployment rate:

15% (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
Population below poverty line:

NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Investment (gross fixed):

33.6% of GDP (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13
Budget:

revenues: $18.86 billion
expenditures: $18.39 billion (2009 est.)
Public debt:

4.5% of GDP (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
2.5% of GDP (2008 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):

3.5% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
12.5% (2008 est.)
Central bank discount rate:

0.91% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 133
1.98% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:

7.1% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 123
7.29% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:

$5.25 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 65
$5.044 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:

$14.57 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 58
$11.04 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:

$17.83 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 68
$13.88 billion (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:

$17.3 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 64
$14.91 billion (31 December 2008)
$23.06 billion (31 December 2007)
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:

3.5% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
Electricity - production:

13.58 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
Electricity - consumption:

11.36 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:

816,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25
Oil - consumption:

84,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83
Oil - exports:

593,700 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25
Oil - imports:

17,290 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118
Oil - proved reserves:

5.5 billion bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
Natural gas - production:

24 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
Natural gas - consumption:

13.46 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
Natural gas - exports:

10.89 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19
Natural gas - imports:

350 million cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
Natural gas - proved reserves:

849.5 billion cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29
Current account balance:

-$1.108 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
$5.469 billion (2008 est.)
Exports:

$27.65 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60
$37.72 billion (2008 est.)
Exports - commodities:

petroleum, reexports, fish, metals, textiles
Exports - partners:

China 26.98%, South Korea 17.19%, Japan 12.12%, UAE 11.23%, Thailand 7.64% (2009)
Imports:

$18.46 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
$20.71 billion (2008 est.)
Imports - commodities:

machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, livestock, lubricants
Imports - partners:

UAE 22.9%, Japan 13.99%, US 6.46%, China 5.64%, India 5.27%, France 5.19%, South Korea 4.65% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$12.2 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64
$11.58 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
Debt - external:

$7.474 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
$7.68 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$NA
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$NA
Exchange rates:

Omani rials (OMR) per US dollar - 0.3845 (2009), 0.3845 (2008), 0.3845 (2007), 0.3845 (2006), 0.3845 (2005)

Communications ::OMAN
Telephones - main lines in use:

274,200 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 116
Telephones - mobile cellular:

3.219 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 105
Telephone system:

general assessment: modern system consisting of open-wire, microwave, and radiotelephone communication stations; limited coaxial cable; domestic satellite system with 8 earth stations
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 (2007)
Broadcast media:

1 state-run TV broadcaster; TV stations transmitting from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Yemen are accessible via satellite TV; state-run radio operates multiple stations; first private radio station began operation in 2007 and 2 additional stations now operating (2007)
Internet country code:

.om
Internet hosts:

6,346 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 133
Internet users:

465,000 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 110

Transportation ::OMAN
Airports:

130 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 45
Airports - with paved runways:

total: 11
over 3,047 m: 6
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 119
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 51
914 to 1,523 m: 33
under 914 m: 26 (2010)
Heliports:

3 (2010)
Pipelines:

gas 4,209 km; oil 3,558 km; refined products 263 km (2009)
Roadways:

total: 68,467 km
country comparison to the world: 69
paved: 23,223 km (includes 1,384 km of expressways)
unpaved: 30,207 km (2008)
Merchant marine:

total: 3
country comparison to the world: 138
by type: chemical tanker 1, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 1
registered in other countries: 2 (Panama 2) (2008)
Ports and terminals:

Mina' Qabus, Salalah

Military ::OMAN
Military branches:

Sultan's Armed Forces (SAF): Royal Army of Oman, Royal Navy of Oman, Royal Air Force of Oman (al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Sultanat) (2010)
Military service age and obligation:

18-30 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2008)
Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 964,200
females age 16-49: 714,421 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 816,579
females age 16-49: 622,927 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 31,827
female: 30,148 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:

11.4% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1

Transnational Issues ::OMAN
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