Oman

Sultanate of OmanSaltanat Uman

monarchyIndependence 1650 (expulsion of the Portuguese)

Oman as the 1997 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 98 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

Position21 00 N, 57 00 E

Area212,460 sq km

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

Populationas each edition published it

2.26 million July 1997 est. · 1.46m in 1990

Population growth% a year

3.49% 1997 est. · 3.46% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 19.4 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

70.8 years 1997 est. · 67.32 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

6.02 children per woman 1997 est. · 6.8 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

26.4 deaths per 1,000 live births 1997 est. · 105 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$9,500 1996 est. · $6,670 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

6.5% 1996 est. · 7.4% in 1993

Geography

Middle East, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, and | Persian Gulf, between Yemen and UAE

18 fields

Land useshare of 212,460 sq km

permanent crops 0%permanent pastures 5%other 95% (1993 est.)arable land 0% in all · irrigated 580 sq km (1993 est.)forests and woodland: NA%

Area

212,460sq km

land: 212,460 sq kmwater : 0 sq kmslightly smaller than Kansas

Coastline

2,092km

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

Highest point

2,980m

Jabal ash Shamlowest point: Arabian Sea 0 m

Land boundaries

1,374km

border countries: 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 UAE

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

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;
very limited natural fresh water resources

Environment - international agreements

party to:: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified:: none of the selected agreements

Geography - 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

2,264,590

(July 1997 est.)growth rate: 3.49% (1997 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1997 est.)

Birth

37.85Death

4.39Net migration

1.42

Literacy

80%

approachingdefinition: NAmale : NA%female: NA%

Age structure

0-14 years:: 46% (male 527,091; female 507,849)
15-64 years:: 51% (male 632,647; female 535,149)
65 years and over:: 3% (male 27,974; female 33,880) (July 1997 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years:: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years:: 1.18 male(s)/female
65 years and over:: 0.83 male(s)/female
total population:: 1.1 male(s)/female (1997 est.)

Infant mortality rate

26.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population:: 70.8 years
male :: 68.84 years
female:: 72.85 years (1997 est.)

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

Government

Monarchy; Sultan and Prime Minister QABOOS bin Said Al Said (since 23 July 1970)

21 fields

Country name

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*

none; note - on 6 November 1996, Sultan QABOOS issued a royal decree promulgating a new basic law 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 Omani council, and guarantees basic civil liberties for Omani citizens

Legal system

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

Suffrage

none

Executive branch

chief of state:: Sultan and Prime Minister QABOOS bin Said Al Said (since 23 July 1970); note - the sultan 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 sultan is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet :: Cabinet appointed by the sultan
elections:: none; the sultan is a hereditary monarch

Legislative branch

unicameral Consultative Council or Majlis ash-Shura (80 members; two appointed from each wilayat with a population over 30,000, one appointed from each of the other wilayats; members serve four-year terms; has advisory powers only)

note: new basic law to be implemented in 1997, provides for an upper chamber - the Majlis ad-Dawla or State Council; also the Majlis ash-Shura will be expanded to 110 members; the resulting bicameral legislature will be known as the Omani Council

Judicial branch

none; traditional Islamic judges and a nascent civil court system, administered by region

Political parties and leaders

none

Political pressure groups and leaders

International organization participation

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

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

FAX

[1] (202) 745-4933

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Frances D. COOK
embassy:: Jameat A'Duwal Al Arabiya Street, Al Khuwair area, Muscat
mailing address:: domestic - Unit 73000, Box 1, APO AE 09890-3000; international - P. O. Box 202, Code No. 115, Medinat Qaboos, Muscat
telephone:: [968] 698989 (Medinat Qaboos, switchboard)

FAX

[968] 699779

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 at the top of the vertical band

Economy

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

22 fields

Real growth rate

6.5%

(1996 est.)industrial production growth: 3% (1994 est.)

Inflation, consumer prices

0.5%

(1996 est.)

Labor force

454,000

by occupation: agriculture 37% (1993 est.)

Debt - external

$2.7billion

(1995 est.)

GDP - composition by sector(1994 est.)

agriculture 3%industry 55%services 42% (1994 est.)

Budget

Revenues

$5.3 billionExpenditures

$6 billion (1997 est.)

expenditures including capital expenditures of $NA

Economy - overview

Economic performance is closely tied to the fortunes of the oil industry. Petroleum accounts for 75% of export earnings and government revenues and for 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 year 1996 was marked by higher oil production and prices. The government is encouraging private investment, both domestic and foreign, as a prime force for further economic development.

GDP

purchasing power parity - $20.8 billion (1996 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $9,500 (1996 est.)

Unemployment rate

NA%

Industries

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

Electricity - capacity

1.74 million kW (1994)

Electricity - production

7.39 billion kWh (1994)

Electricity - consumption per capita

3,412 kWh (1995 est.)

Agriculture - products

dates, limes, bananas, alfalfa, vegetables;
camels, cattle;
annual fish catch averages 100,000 metric tons

Exports

total value:: $7.2 billion (f.o.b., 1996 est.)
commodities:: petroleum 75%, reexports, fish, processed copper, textiles
partners:: Japan 32%, South Korea 16%, Thailand 12%, China 8%, US 6%, Taiwan 6% (1995)

Imports

total value:: $5.5 billion (c.i.f., 1996 est.)
commodities:: machinery, transportation equipment, manufactured goods, food, livestock, lubricants
partners :: UAE 25% (largely reexports), UK 16%, Japan 16%, France 11%, US 5% (1995)

Economic aid

recipient : ODA, $82 million (1993)

Currency

1 Omani rial (RO) = 1,000 baiza

Exchange rates

Omani rials (RO) per US$1 - 0.3845 (fixed rate since 1986)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

6 fields

Fixed lines

150,000

(1994 est.)

Telephone system

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 :: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat