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National Map
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Oman |
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National Flag
Of |
Oman |
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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
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National Emblem(Coat Of Arms)
Of |
Oman |
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National Anthem
Of |
Oman |
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Categories National Symbol Of |
Oman |
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Background:
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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 the UK. Oman's moderate, independent
foreign policy has sought to maintain good relations
with all Middle Eastern countries. |
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Location:
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Middle
East, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, and
Persian Gulf, between Yemen and UAE |
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Geographic coordinates:
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21 00 N,
57 00 E |
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Map references:
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Middle
East |
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Area:
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total:
212,460 sq km
land: 212,460 sq km
water: 0 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly
smaller than Kansas |
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Land boundaries:
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total:
1,374 km
border countries: Saudi Arabia 676 km, UAE 410
km, Yemen 288 km |
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Coastline:
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2,092 km
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Maritime claims:
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territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm |
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Climate:
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dry
desert; hot, humid along coast; hot, dry interior;
strong southwest summer monsoon (May to September) in
far south |
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Terrain:
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central
desert plain, rugged mountains in north and south |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest
point: Arabian Sea 0 m
highest point: Jabal Shams 2,980 m |
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Natural resources:
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petroleum, copper, asbestos, some marble, limestone,
chromium, gypsum, natural gas |
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Land use:
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arable
land: 0.12%
permanent crops: 0.14%
other: 99.74% (2001) |
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Irrigated land:
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620 sq km
(1998 est.) |
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Natural hazards:
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summer
winds often raise large sandstorms and dust storms in
interior; periodic droughts |
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Environment - current issues:
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rising
soil salinity; beach pollution from oil spills; very
limited natural fresh water resources |
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Environment - international agreements:
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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 |
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Geography - note:
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strategic
location on Musandam Peninsula adjacent to Strait of
Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude oil |
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Population:
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3,001,583
note: includes 577,293 non-nationals (July 2005
est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14
years: 42.6% (male 652,028/female 626,698)
15-64 years: 54.9% (male 978,183/female 668,814)
65 years and over: 2.5% (male 41,366/female
34,494) (2005 est.) |
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Median age:
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total:
19.13 years
male: 21.88 years
female: 16.45 years (2005 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
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3.32%
(2005 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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36.73
births/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Death rate:
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3.86
deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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0.31
migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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at
birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.46 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.2 male(s)/female
total population: 1.26 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
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Infant mortality rate:
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total:
19.51 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 22.35 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 16.53 deaths/1,000 live births (2005
est.) |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total
population: 73.13 years
male: 70.92 years
female: 75.46 years (2005 est.) |
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Total fertility rate:
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5.84
children born/woman (2005 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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0.1%
(2001 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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1,300
(2001 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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less than
200 (2003 est.) |
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Nationality:
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noun:
Omani(s)
adjective: Omani |
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Ethnic groups:
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Arab,
Baluchi, South Asian (Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan,
Bangladeshi), African |
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Religions:
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Ibadhi
Muslim 75%, Sunni Muslim, Shi'a Muslim, Hindu |
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Languages:
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Arabic
(official), English, Baluchi, Urdu, Indian dialects |
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Literacy:
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definition: NA
total population: 75.8%
male: 83.1%
female: 67.2% (2003 est.) |
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Sultanate of Oman
conventional short form: Oman
local long form: Saltanat Uman
local short form: Uman
former: Muscat and Oman |
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Government type:
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monarchy
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Capital:
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Muscat
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Administrative divisions:
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5 regions
(manaatiq, singular - mintaqat) and 3 governorates*
(muhaafazaat, singular - muhaafaza) Ad Dakhiliyah, Al
Batinah, Al Wusta, Ash Sharqiyah, Az Zahirah, Masqat*,
Musandam*, Zufar* |
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Independence:
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1650
(expulsion of the Portuguese) |
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National holiday:
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Birthday
of Sultan QABOOS, 18 November (1940) |
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Constitution:
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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 |
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Legal system:
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based on
English common law and Islamic law; ultimate appeal to
the monarch; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction |
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Suffrage:
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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 |
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Executive branch:
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chief
of state: Sultan and Prime Minister QABOOS bin Said
al-Said (since 23 July 1970); 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 (since 23 July 1970); 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 |
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Legislative branch:
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bicameral
Majlis Oman consists of an upper chamber or 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 universal
suffrage for four-year term; 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 |
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme
Court
note: the nascent civil court system,
administered by region, has judges who practice secular
and Sharia (Islamic) law |
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Political parties and leaders:
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none |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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none |
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International organization participation:
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ABEDA,
AFESD, AMF, FAO, G-77, GCC, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt
(signatory), IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WTO, WToO |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief
of mission: Ambassador Muhammad bin Ali bin Thani
al-KHUSSAIBY
chancery: 2535 Belmont Road, NW, Washington, DC
20008
telephone: [1] (202) 387-1980 through 1981, 1988
FAX: [1] (202) 745-4933 |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief
of mission: Ambassador Richard Lewis BALTIMORE III
embassy: Jameat A'Duwal Al Arabiya Street, Al
Khuwair area, Muscat
mailing address: P. O. Box 202, P.C. 115, Madinat
Al-Sultan Qaboos, Muscat
telephone: [968] 24-698989
FAX: [968] 24-699771 |
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Flag description:
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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 |
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Economy - overview:
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Oman is a
middle-income economy in the Middle East with notable
oil and gas resources, a substantial trade surplus, and
low inflation. The government is privatizing its
utilities and diversifying its economy to attract
foreign investment. Oman continues to liberalize its
markets and joined the World Trade Organization (WTO) in
November 2000. To reduce unemployment and limit
dependence on foreign countries, the government is
encouraging the replacement of expatriate workers with
local people, i.e., Omanization. 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. |
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GDP (purchasing power parity):
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$38.09
billion (2004 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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1.2%
(2004 est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $13,100 (2004 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 3.1%
industry: 41.1%
services: 55.8% (2004 est.) |
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Labor force:
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920,000
(2002 est.) |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture NA, industry NA, services NA |
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Unemployment rate:
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15% (2004
est.) |
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Population below poverty line:
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NA |
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest
10%: NA
highest 10%: NA |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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0.2%
(2004 est.) |
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Investment (gross fixed):
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13.5% of
GDP (2004 est.) |
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Budget:
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revenues: $9.291 billion
expenditures: $8.747 billion, including capital
expenditures of NA (2004 est.) |
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Public debt:
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10.3% of
GDP (2004 est.) |
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Agriculture - products:
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dates,
limes, bananas, alfalfa, vegetables; camels, cattle;
fish |
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Industries:
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crude oil
production and refining, natural and liquefied natural
gas (LNG) production, construction, cement, copper,
steel, chemicals, optic fiber |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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-1.2%
(2004 est.) |
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Electricity - production:
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9.896
billion kWh (2003) |
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil
fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001) |
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Electricity - consumption:
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9.792
billion kWh (2003) |
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Electricity - exports:
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0 kWh
(2002) |
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Electricity - imports:
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0 kWh
(2002) |
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Oil - production:
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775,000
bbl/day (2004 est.) |
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Oil - consumption:
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54,000
bbl/day (2003 est.) |
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Oil - exports:
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721,000
bbl/day (2004) |
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Oil - imports:
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NA |
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Oil - proved reserves:
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5.5
billion bbl (2003 est.) |
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Natural gas - production:
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13.77
billion cu m (2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - consumption:
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6.34
billion cu m (2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - exports:
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7.43
billion cu m (2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - imports:
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0 cu m
(2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - proved reserves:
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829.7
billion cu m (2003) |
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Current account balance:
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$2.674
billion (2004 est.) |
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Exports:
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$13.14
billion f.o.b. (2004 est.) |
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Exports - commodities:
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petroleum, reexports, fish, metals, textiles |
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Exports - partners:
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China
29.5%, South Korea 17.5%, Japan 11.5%, Thailand 10.6%,
UAE 7.2% (2004) |
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Imports:
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$6.373
billion f.o.b. (2004 est.) |
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Imports - commodities:
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machinery
and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food,
livestock, lubricants |
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Imports - partners:
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UAE
21.2%, Japan 16.6%, UK 8.4%, Italy 6%, Germany 5.1%, US
4.7% (2004) |
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Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
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$4.144
billion (2004 est.) |
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Debt - external:
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$4.814
billion (2004 est.) |
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$76.4
million (1995) |
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Currency (code):
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Omani
rial (OMR) |
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Currency code:
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OMR |
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Exchange rates:
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Omani
rials per US dollar - 0.3845 (2004), 0.3845 (2003),
0.3845 (2002), 0.3845 (2001), 0.3845 (2000) |
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Fiscal year:
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calendar
year |
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Telephones - main lines in use:
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233,900
(2002) |
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
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464,900
(2002) |
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Telephone system:
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general assessment: 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: country code - 968; satellite
earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat
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Radio broadcast stations:
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AM 3, FM
9, shortwave 2 (1999) |
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Radios:
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1.4
million (1997) |
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Television broadcast stations:
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13 (plus
25 low-power repeaters) (1999) |
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Televisions:
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1.6
million (1997) |
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Internet country code:
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.om |
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Internet hosts:
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726
(2003) |
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Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
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1 (2000)
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Internet users:
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180,000
(2002) |
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Highways:
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total:
34,965 km
paved: 9,673 km (including 550 km of expressways)
unpaved: 25,292 km (2001) |
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Pipelines:
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gas 3,754
km; oil 3,212 km (2004) |
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Ports and harbors:
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Mina'
Qabus, Salalah |
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Merchant marine:
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total:
1 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 15,430 GRT/6,360 DWT
by type: passenger 1 (2005) |
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Airports:
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136 (2004
est.) |
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total:
6
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2004 est.) |
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total:
130
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 52
914 to 1,523 m: 34
under 914 m: 35 (2004 est.) |
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Heliports:
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1 (2004
est.) |
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Military branches:
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Royal
Omani Armed Forces: Royal Army of Oman, Royal Navy of
Oman, Royal Air Force of Oman (2005) |
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Military service age and obligation:
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18 years
of age for voluntary military service (2001) |
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Manpower available for military service:
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males
age 18-49: 719,871 (2005 est.) |
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Manpower fit for military service:
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males
age 18-49: 581,444 (2005 est.) |
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Manpower reaching military service age annually:
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males:
26,391 (2005 est.) |
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Military expenditures - dollar figure:
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$252.99
million (2004) |
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Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
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11.4%
(2003) |
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Disputes - international:
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boundary
agreement reportedly signed and ratified with UAE in
2003 for entire border, including Oman's Musandam
Peninsula and Al Madhah exclave, but details have not
been made public |
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This page was last updated on
20 October, 2005 |
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