from
CIA World Factbook 2006
Oman
Introduction
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
Location: Middle East, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman,
and Persian Gulf, between Yemen and UAE
Geographic 21 00 N, 57 00 E
coordinates:
Map Middle East
references:
Area: total: 212,460 sq km
land: 212,460 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - slightly smaller than Kansas
comparative:
Land total: 1,374 km
boundaries: border countries: Saudi Arabia 676 km, UAE 410 km,
Yemen 288 km
Coastline: 2,092 km
Maritime territorial sea: 12 nm
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 lowest point: Arabian Sea 0 m
extremes: highest point: Jabal Shams 2,980 m
Natural petroleum, copper, asbestos, some marble, limestone,
resources: chromium, gypsum, natural gas
Land use: arable land: 0.12%
permanent crops: 0.14%
other: 99.74% (2005)
Irrigated 720 sq km (2003)
land:
Natural summer winds often raise large sandstorms and dust
hazards: storms in interior; periodic droughts
Environment - rising soil salinity; beach pollution from oil spills;
current very limited natural fresh water resources
issues:
Environment - party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
international Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous
agreements: Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected
agreements
Geography - strategic location on Musandam Peninsula adjacent to
note: Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude
oil
People
Population: 3,102,229
note: includes 577,293 non-nationals (July 2006 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 42.7% (male 675,423/female 648,963)
15-64 years: 54.7% (male 1,001,917/female 695,578)
65 years and over: 2.6% (male 44,300/female 36,048)
(2006 est.)
Median age: total: 19 years
male: 21.7 years
female: 16.5 years (2006 est.)
Population 3.28% (2006 est.)
growth rate:
Birth rate: 36.24 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate: 3.81 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration 0.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
rate:
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.44 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.23 male(s)/female
total population: 1.25 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant total: 18.89 deaths/1,000 live births
mortality male: 21.65 deaths/1,000 live births
rate: female: 16 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life total population: 73.37 years
expectancy at male: 71.14 years
birth: female: 75.72 years (2006 est.)
Total 5.77 children born/woman (2006 est.)
fertility
rate:
HIV/AIDS - 0.1% (2001 est.)
adult
prevalence
rate:
HIV/AIDS - 1,300 (2001 est.)
people living
with HIV/AIDS:
HIV/AIDS - less than 200 (2003 est.)
deaths:
Nationality: noun: Omani(s)
adjective: Omani
Ethnic groups: Arab, Baluchi, South Asian (Indian, Pakistani, Sri
Lankan, Bangladeshi), African
Religions: Ibadhi Muslim 75%, Sunni Muslim, Shi'a Muslim, Hindu
Languages: Arabic (official), English, Baluchi, Urdu, Indian
dialects
Literacy: definition: NA
total population: 75.8%
male: 83.1%
female: 67.2%
Government
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 monarchy
type:
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 5 regions (manatiq, singular - mintaqat) and 4
divisions: governorates* (muhafazat, singular - muhafazat) Ad
Dakhiliyah, Al Batinah, Al Buraymi*, Al Wusta, Ash
Sharqiyah, Az Zahirah, Masqat*, Musandam*, Zufar
(Dhofar)*
Independence: 1650 (expulsion of the Portuguese)
National Birthday of Sultan QABOOS, 18 November (1940)
holiday:
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: in Oman's most recent Majlis al-Shura elections in
2003, suffrage was universal for all Omanis over age 21
except for members of the military and security forces;
the next Majlis al-Shura elections are scheduled for
2007
Executive chief of state: Sultan and Prime Minister QABOOS bin
branch: 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); note - the monarch is
both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarch
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary
Legislative bicameral Majlis Oman consists of an upper chamber or
branch: Majlis al-Dawla (58 seats; members appointed by the
monarch; has advisory powers only) and a lower chamber
or Majlis al-Shura (83 seats; members elected by
popular vote for four-year terms; body has some limited
power to propose legislation, but otherwise has only
advisory powers)
elections: last held 4 October 2003 (next to be held NA
2007)
election results: NA
Judicial Supreme Court
branch: note: the nascent civil court system, administered by
region, has judges who practice secular and Shari'a law
Political none
parties and
leaders:
Political none
pressure
groups and
leaders:
International ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, FAO, G-77, GCC, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt
organization (signatory), IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
participation: Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WTO, WToO
Diplomatic chief of mission: Ambassador Hunaina bint Sultan bin
representation Ahmad al-MUGHAIRI
in the US: chancery: 2535 Belmont Road, NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 387-1980 through 1981, 1988
FAX: [1] (202) 745-4933
Diplomatic chief of mission: Ambassador Gary A. GRAPPO
representation embassy: Jameat A'Duwal Al Arabiya Street, Al Khuwair
from the US: area, Muscat
mailing address: P. O. Box 202, P.C. 115, Madinat
Sultan Qaboos, Muscat
telephone: [968] 24-698989
FAX: [968] 24-699771
Flag three horizontal bands of white, red, and green of
description: 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
Economy
Economy - Oman is a middle-income economy in the Middle East with
overview: notable oil and gas resources, a substantial trade
surplus, and low inflation. Work on a new liquefied
natural gas (LNG) facility progressed in 2005 and will
contribute to slightly higher oil and gas exports in
2006. Oman continues to liberalize its markets and
joined the World Trade Organization (WTO) in November
2000. To reduce unemployment and limit dependence on
foreign labor, the government is encouraging the
replacement of foreign expatriate workers with local
workers. Training in information technology, business
management, and English support this objective.
Industrial development plans focus on gas resources,
metal manufacturing, petrochemicals, and international
transshipment ports. In 2005, Oman signed agreements
with several foreign investors to boost oil reserves,
build and operate a power plant, and develop a second
mobile phone network in the country.
GDP $40.39 billion (2005 est.)
(purchasing
power parity):
GDP (official $24.98 billion (2005 est.)
exchange
rate):
GDP - real 5.6% (2005 est.)
growth rate:
GDP - per $13,500 (2005 est.)
capita (PPP):
GDP - agriculture: 2.7%
composition by industry: 39%
sector: services: 58.3% (2005 est.)
Labor force: 920,000 (2002 est.)
Labor force - agriculture: NA%
by occupation: industry: NA%
services: NA%
Unemployment 15% (2004 est.)
rate:
Population NA%
below poverty
line:
Household lowest 10%: NA%
income or highest 10%: NA%
consumption by
percentage
share:
Inflation rate 1.2% (2005 est.)
(consumer
prices):
Investment 14.8% of GDP (2005 est.)
(gross fixed):
Budget: revenues: $14.36 billion
expenditures: $10.61 billion; including capital
expenditures of $NA (2005 est.)
Public debt: 8.1% of GDP (2005 est.)
Agriculture - dates, limes, bananas, alfalfa, vegetables; camels,
products: cattle; fish
Industries: crude oil production and refining, natural and
liquefied natural gas (LNG) production; construction,
cement, copper, steel, chemicals, optic fiber
Industrial 4.1% (2005 est.)
production
growth rate:
Electricity - 10.3 billion kWh (2003)
production:
Electricity - fossil fuel: 100%
production by hydro: 0%
source: nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - 9.582 billion kWh (2003)
consumption:
Electricity - 0 kWh (2003)
exports:
Electricity - 0 kWh (2003)
imports:
Oil - 769,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)
production:
Oil - 62,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)
consumption:
Oil - exports: 721,000 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - imports: NA bbl/day
Oil - proved 6.1 billion bbl (2005 est.)
reserves:
Natural gas - 16.5 billion cu m (2003 est.)
production:
Natural gas - 7.09 billion cu m (2003 est.)
consumption:
Natural gas - 7.43 billion cu m (2001 est.)
exports:
Natural gas - 0 cu m (2001 est.)
imports:
Natural gas - 829.1 billion cu m (2005)
proved
reserves:
Current $4.796 billion (2005 est.)
account
balance:
Exports: $19.01 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - petroleum, reexports, fish, metals, textiles
commodities:
Exports - China 21.7%, South Korea 19.5%, Japan 14.3%, Thailand
partners: 12.7%, UAE 7.1%, Taiwan 4.1% (2005)
Imports: $8.709 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods,
commodities: food, livestock, lubricants
Imports - UAE 22.4%, Japan 15.7%, UK 7.7%, US 6.7%, Germany 5.8%,
partners: India 4.2% (2005)
Reserves of $4.358 billion (2005 est.)
foreign
exchange and
gold:
Debt - $4.361 billion (2005 est.)
external:
Economic aid - $76.4 million (1995)
recipient:
Currency Omani rial (OMR)
(code):
Currency code: OMR
Exchange Omani rials per US dollar - 0.3845 (2005), 0.3845
rates: (2004), 0.3845 (2003), 0.3845 (2002), 0.3845 (2001)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones - 265,200 (2005)
main lines in
use:
Telephones - 1.333 million (2005)
mobile
cellular:
Telephone general assessment: modern system consisting of
system: 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: country code - 968; satellite earth
stations - 2 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat
Radio AM 3, FM 9, shortwave 2 (1999)
broadcast
stations:
Radios: 1.4 million (1997)
Television 13 (plus 25 low-power repeaters) (1999)
broadcast
stations:
Televisions: 1.6 million (1997)
Internet .om
country code:
Internet 3,555 (2006)
hosts:
Internet 1 (2000)
Service
Providers
(ISPs):
Internet 245,000 (2005)
users:
Transportation
Airports: 137 (2006)
Airports - total: 6
with paved over 3,047 m: 4
runways: 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)
Airports - total: 131
with unpaved over 3,047 m: 2
runways: 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 52
914 to 1,523 m: 35
under 914 m: 35 (2006)
Heliports: 1 (2006)
Pipelines: gas 4,072 km; oil 3,405 km (2006)
Roadways: total: 34,965 km
paved: 9,673 km (including 550 km of expressways)
unpaved: 25,292 km (2001)
Merchant total: 1 ship (1000 GRT or over) 10,797 GRT/5,040 DWT
marine: by type: passenger 1
registered in other countries: 2 (Kazakhstan 2) (2006)
Ports and Mina' Qabus, Salalah
terminals:
Military
Military Royal Omani Armed Forces: Royal Army of Oman, Royal
branches: Navy of Oman, Royal Air Force of Oman (Al-Quwwat
al-Jawwiya al-Sultanat Oman, RAFO) (2006)
Military 18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)
service age
and
obligation:
Manpower males age 18-49: 719,871
available for females age 18-49: 508,621 (2005 est.)
military
service:
Manpower fit males age 18-49: 581,444
for military females age 18-49: 435,107 (2005 est.)
service:
Manpower males age 18-49: 26,391
reaching females age 18-49: 25,466 (2005 est.)
military
service age
annually:
Military $252.99 million (2004)
expenditures -
dollar figure:
Military 11.4% (2003)
expenditures -
percent of
GDP:
Transnational
Issues
Disputes - boundary agreement reportedly signed and ratified with
international: UAE in 2003 for entire border, including Oman's
Musandam Peninsula and Al Madhah exclave, but details
have not been made public
Trafficking in current situation: Oman is a destination country for
persons: men and women primarily from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and
India who migrate willingly, but may subsequently
become victims of trafficking when subjected to
conditions of involuntary servitude as domestic workers
and laborers; there have been occasional reports that
expatriate children engaged in camel racing may transit
or reside in Omani territory
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Oman is placed on the
Tier 2 Watch List because of a lack of evidence of
increasing efforts to combat severe forms of
trafficking in persons in 2005