Oman

absolute monarchyIndependence 1650, expulsion of the Portuguese

Oman as the 1991 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 69 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalMuscat

Area212,460 km2

Populationas each edition published it

1.53 million July 1991 · 1.46m in 1990

Population growth% a year

Not in this edition 3.46% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 19.4 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

Not in this edition 67.32 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

6.7 children per woman 1991 · 6.8 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

40 deaths per 1,000 live births 1991 · 105 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

Not in this edition $6,670 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

Not in this edition 7.4% in 1993

Geography

11 fields

Total area

212,460km2

land area: 212,460 km2Comparative area: slightly smaller than Kansas

Land boundaries

1,374km total

Saudi Arabia 676 km, UAE 410 km, Yemen 288 km

Coastline

2,092 km Continental shelf: to be defined;
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;
Territorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes

Administrative Line with Yemen; no defined boundary with most of UAE, Administrative Line in far north

Climate

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

Terrain

vast central desert plain, rugged mountains in north and south

Natural resources

crude oil, copper, asbestos, some marble, limestone, chromium, gypsum, natural gas

Land use

arable land NEGL%;
permanent crops NEGL%;
meadows and pastures 5%;
forest and woodland 0%;
other 95%;
includes irrigated NEGL%

Environment

summer winds often raise large sandstorms and duststorms in interior; sparse natural freshwater resources

Note

strategic location with small foothold on Musandam Peninsula controlling Strait of Hormuz (17% of world's oil production transits this point going from Persian Gulf to Arabian Sea)

People

14 fields

Population

1,534,011

(July 1991), growth rate 3.5% (1991)

Per 1,000 population(1991)

Birth

41Death

6Net migration

Ethnic divisions

mostly Arab, with small Balochi, Zanzibari, and South Asian (Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi) groups

Religion

Ibadhi Muslim 75%; remainder Sunni Muslim, Shia Muslim, some Hindu

Language

Arabic (official); English, Balochi, Urdu, Indian dialects

Labor force

430,000;
agriculture (est.) 60%;
58% are non-Omani

Government

Absolute monarchy

18 fields

Type

absolute monarchy; independent, with residual UK influence

Administrative divisions

there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 7 planning regions (manatiq takhtitiyah, singular--mintaqah takhtitiyah) that include 1 governorate* (muhafazah) and 50 districts (wilayat, singular--wilayah);
al-Batinah--Awabi, Barka, Khabura, Liwa, Musanaa, Nakhl, Rustaq, Saham, Shinas, Sohar, Suwaiq, Wadi al-Maawil;
al-Dakhiliah--Adam, al-Hamra, Bahla, Bidbid, Haima, Izki, Manah, Nizwa, Sumail;
al-Dhahirah--al-Buraimi, Dhank, Ibri, Mhadha, Yanqul;
al-Janubiah--Dhalqut, Mirbat, Rokhyut, Sadah, Salalah, Shalim, Taqa, Thamrait;
al-Sharqiya--al Kamil and al-Wafi, al-Mudhaiby, al-Qabil, Bidiya, Dimaa and Tayin, Ibra, Jaalan Bani Bu Ali, Jaalan Bani Bu Hassan, Masirah, Sur, Wadi Bani Khalid;
Musandam--Daba al-Biya, Bukha, Khasab, Madha;
Muscat--Muscat*, Quriyat

Legal system

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

Legislative branch

State Consultative Assembly (advisory function only)

Judicial branch

none; traditional Islamic judges and a nascent civil court system

National holiday

National Day, 18 November Chief of State and Head of Government--Sultan and Prime Minister QABOOS bin Said Al Said (since 23 July 1970)

Other political or pressure groups

outlawed Popular Front for the Liberation of Oman (PFLO), based in Yemen

ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO

Diplomatic representation

Ambassador Awadh Bader AL-SHANFARI;
Chancery at 2342 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008;
telephone (202) 387-1980 through 1982;
US--Ambassador Richard W. BOEHM;
Embassy at address NA, Muscat (mailing address is P. O. Box 50200 Madinat Qaboos, Muscat);
telephone 698-989

Flag

three horizontal bands of white (top, double width), red, and green (double 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 at the top of the vertical band

Economy

Economic performance is closely tied to the fortunes of the oil industry.

16 fields

GDP, purchasing power parity

$9.2billion

per capita $5,870 (1990); real growth rate - 3.0% (1987 est.)

Inflation, consumer prices

1.3%

(1989)

External debt

$3.1billion

(December 1989 est.)

Budget

Revenues

$3.5 billionExpenditures

$4.3 billion

expenditures, including capital expenditures of $675 million (1989 est.)

Overview

Economic performance is closely tied to the fortunes of the oil industry. Petroleum accounts for nearly all export earnings, about 80% of government revenues, and roughly 40% of GDP. Oman has proved oil reserves of 4 billion barrels, equivalent to about 20 years' supply at the current rate of extraction. Although agriculture employs a majority of the population, urban centers depend on imported food.

Unemployment rate

NA%

Exports

$3.9 billion (f.o.b., 1989);
commodities--petroleum, reexports, processed copper, dates, nuts, fish;
partners--Japan, South Korea, Taiwan

Imports

$2.3 billion (c.i.f., 1989);
commodities--machinery, transportation equipment, manufactured goods, food, livestock, lubricants;
partners--UK, UAE, Japan, US

accounts for 6% of GDP and 60% of the labor force (including fishing);
less than 2% of land cultivated;
largely subsistence farming (dates, limes, bananas, alfalfa, vegetables, camels, cattle);
not self-sufficient in food;
annual fish catch averages 100,000 metric tons

Economic aid

US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $137 million;
Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-88), $122 million;
OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $797 million