Oman

Sultanate of OmanSaltanat Uman

monarchyIndependence 1650 (expulsion of the Portuguese)

Oman as the 1995 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 80 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 sq km

LocationMiddle East, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, and

Populationas each edition published it

2.13 million July 1995 est. · 1.46m in 1990

Population growth% a year

3.71% 1995 est. · 3.46% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 19.4 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

70.25 years 1995 est. · 67.32 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

6.16 children per woman 1995 est. · 6.8 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

34.3 deaths per 1,000 live births 1995 est. · 105 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$10,020 1994 est. · $6,670 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

0.5% 1994 est. · 7.4% in 1993

Geography

Middle East, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, and | Persian Gulf, between Yemen and the United Arab Emirates

14 fields

Land useshare of 212,460 sq km

permanent crops 0%meadows and pastures 5%forest and woodland 0%other 93%irrigated 410 sq km (1989 est.)arable land: less than 2%

Area

212,460sq km

land area: 212,460 sq kmcomparative area: slightly smaller than Kansas

Coastline

2,092km

contiguous zone: 24 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm

Land boundaries

1,374km

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

Location

Middle East, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, and Persian Gulf, between Yemen and the United Arab Emirates

International disputes

no defined boundary with most of UAE; Administrative Line with UAE 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

petroleum, copper, asbestos, some marble, limestone, chromium, gypsum, natural gas

Environment

current issues:: rising soil salinity;
beach pollution from oil spills;
very limited natural fresh water resources
natural hazards:: summer winds often raise large sandstorms and duststorms in interior; periodic droughts
international agreements:: party to - Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ship Pollution, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change

Note

strategic location with small foothold on Musandam Peninsula controlling Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude oil

People

15 fields

Population

2,125,089

(July 1995 est.)growth rate: 3.71% (1995 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1995 est.)

Birth

38.05Death

5Net migration

4.09

Labor force

430,000

(est.)by occupation: agriculture 40% (est.)

Age structure

0-14 years:: 46% (female 480,974; male 498,619)
15-64 years:: 51% (female 493,685; male 593,740)
65 years and over:: 3% (female 31,826; male 26,245) (July 1995 est.)

Infant mortality rate

34.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population:: 70.25 years
male:: 68.31 years
female:: 72.29 years (1995 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Omani(s)
adjective:: Omani

Ethnic divisions

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

Religions

Ibadhi Muslim 75%, Sunni Muslim, Shi'a Muslim, Hindu

Languages

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

Government

Monarchy

21 fields

Names

conventional long form:: Sultanate of Oman
conventional short form:: Oman
local long form:: Saltanat Uman
local short form:: Uman

Administrative divisions

6 regions (mintaqah, singular - mintaqat) and 2 governorates* (muhafazah, singular - muhafazat) Ad Dakhiliyah, Al Batinah, Al Wusta, Ash Sharqiyah, Az Zahirah, Masqat, Musandam*, Zufar*

Legal system

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

Executive branch

chief of state and head of government:: Sultan and Prime Minister QABOOS bin Said Al Said (since 23 July 1970)
cabinet:: Cabinet

Judicial branch

none; traditional Islamic judges and a nascent civil court system

Other political or pressure groups

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

Diplomatic representation in US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Abdallah bin Muhammad bin Aqil al-DHAHAB
chancery:: 2535 Belmont Rd. NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:: [1] (202) 387-1980 through 1982

FAX

[1] (202) 745-4933

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission:: Ambassador David J. DUNFORD
embassy:: address NA, Muscat
mailing address:: P. O. Box 202, Code No. 115, Muscat
telephone:: [968] 698989

FAX

[968] 699779

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, including trends in international oil prices and the | ability of OPEC producers to agree on output quotas.

18 fields

GDP per capita, PPP

$10,020

(1994 est.)

Real growth rate

0.5%

(1994 est.)industrial production growth: growth rate 8.6% (1991); accounts for almost 60% of GDP, including petroleum

Inflation, consumer prices

1.2%

(1994 est.)

External debt

$3billion

(1993)

Budget

Revenues

$4.4 billionExpenditures

$5.2 billion (1994 est.)

expenditures including capital expenditures of $1 billion

Installed generating capacity, 1,540,000 kW

Electricity production

6 billionElectricity consumption per capita

3,407 (1993)

Overview

Economic performance is closely tied to the fortunes of the oil industry, including trends in international oil prices and the ability of OPEC producers to agree on output quotas. Petroleum accounts for more than 85% of 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.

Agriculture is carried on at a subsistence level and the general population depends on imported food. The government is encouraging private investment, both domestic and foreign, as a prime force for further economic development.

commodities:: petroleum 87%, re-exports, fish, processed copper, textiles
partners:: UAE 33%, Japan 20%, South Korea 14%, China 7% (1993)

Imports

$4.1 billion (c.i.f., 1994 est.)

commodities:: machinery, transportation equipment, manufactured goods, food, livestock, lubricants
partners:: UAE 24% (largely re-exports), Japan 21%, UK 12%, US 7%, France 6% (1993)

Industries

crude oil production and refining, natural gas production, construction, cement, copper

Agriculture

accounts for 4% of GDP and 40% 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

recipient:: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $137 million;
Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $148 million;
OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $797 million

Transportation

6 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right · 140 in all

over 3,047 m

1,524 to 2,437 m

914 to 1,523 m

under 914 m

2,438 to 3,047 m

1,524 to 2,438 m

PavedUnpaved

Networkskm

Highways

26,000Railroads

Highways: paved: 5,000 km · unpaved: 21,000 km (1992 est.)

Highways

total:: 26,000 km
paved:: 5,000 km
unpaved:: 21,000 km (1992 est.)

Communications

3 fields

Telephone system

50,000 telephones;
modern system consisting of open-wire, microwave, and radio communications stations;
limited coaxial cable

local:: NA
intercity:: open wire, microwave, radio communications, and 8 domestic satellite links
international:: 2 INTELSAT (Indian Ocean) and 1 ARABSAT earth station