Oman Population: 3,027,959
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| 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. Inspired by the popular uprisings that swept the Middle East and North Africa in 2010-11, Omanis began staging marches and demonstrations to demand economic benefits, an end to corruption, and greater political rights. In February and March 2011, in response to protester demands, QABOOS pledged to create more government jobs and promised to implement economic and political reforms, such as granting legislative and regulatory powers to the Council of Oman and the introduction of unemployment benefits. Also in March, the Gulf Cooperation Council pledged $20 billion in financial aid to Oman and Bahrain over a 10-year period to assist the two nations in their struggle with Arab protests. Amid concessions made to oppositionists, the government during the summer continued to crack down on protests and demonstrations, and increasingly clamped down on the media. In October 2011, QABOOS issued a royal decree expanding the legislative powers of the Council of Oman to amend and approve draft legislation. |
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| Geography | |
| Strategic location on Musandam Peninsula adjacent to Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude oil | |
| Location: | Middle East, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, and Persian Gulf, between Yemen and UAE |
| Geographic coordinates: | 21 00 N, 57 00 E |
| Area: | total: 309,500 sq km land: 309,500 sq km water: 0 sq km Size comparison: slightly smaller than Kansas |
| Land Boundaries: | total: 1,374 km border countries: Saudi Arabia 676 km, UAE 410 km, Yemen 288 km |
| Coastline: | 2,092 km |
| Maritime claims: | territorial sea: 12 nm 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 extremes: | lowest point: Arabian Sea 0 m highest point: Jabal Shams 2,980 m |
| Natural resources: | petroleum, copper, asbestos, some marble, limestone, chromium, gypsum, natural gas |
| Land use: | arable land: 0.12% permanent crops: 0.14% other: 99.74% (2005) |
| Irrigated land: | 590 sq km (2008) |
| Natural hazards: | summer winds often raise large sandstorms and dust storms in interior; periodic droughts |
| Current Environment Issues: | rising soil salinity; beach pollution from oil spills; limited natural freshwater resources |
| International Environment Agreements: | 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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| People | |
| Population: | 3,027,959 (July 2011 est.) note: includes 577,293 non-nationals |
| Age structure: | 0-14 years: 31.2% (male 484,292/female 460,066) 15-64 years: 65.7% (male 1,133,329/female 856,701) 65 years and over: 3.1% (male 47,786/female 45,785) (2011 est.) |
| Median age: | total: 24.1 years male: 25.5 years female: 22.4 years (2011 est.) |
| Population growth rate: | 2.023% (2011 est.) |
| Birth rate: | 24.15 births/1,000 population (2011 est.) |
| Death rate: | 3.45 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.) |
| Net migration rate: | -0.48 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.) |
| Sex ratio: | at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.34 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.06 male(s)/female total population: 1.23 male(s)/female (2011 est.) |
| Infant mortality rate: | total: 15.47 deaths/1,000 live births male: 15.78 deaths/1,000 live births female: 15.15 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.) |
| Life expectancy at birth: | total population: 74.22 years male: 72.38 years female: 76.16 years (2011 est.) |
| Total fertility rate: | 2.87 children born/woman (2011 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | 0.1% (2009 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | 1,100 (2009 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - deaths: | fewer than 100 (2009 est.) |
| Nationality: | noun: Omani(s) adjective: Omani |
| Ethnic groups: | Arab, Baluchi, South Asian (Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan, Bangladeshi), African |
| Religions: | Ibadhi Muslim 75%, other (includes Sunni Muslim, Shia Muslim, Hindu) 25% |
| Languages: | Arabic (official), English, Baluchi, Urdu, Indian dialects |
| Literacy: | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 81.4% male: 86.8% female: 73.5% (2003 census) |
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| 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 type: | monarchy |
| 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 divisions: | 5 regions (manatiq, singular - mintaqat) and 4 governorates* (muhafazat, singular - muhafazat) Ad Dakhiliyah, Al Batinah, Al Buraymi*, Al Wusta, Ash Sharqiyah, Az Zahirah, Masqat (Muscat)*, Musandam*, Zufar (Dhofar)* |
| Independence: | 1650 (expulsion of the Portuguese) |
| National holiday: | Birthday of Sultan QABOOS, 18 November (1940) |
| 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: | mixed legal system of Anglo-Saxon law and Islamic law |
| Suffrage: | 21 years of age; universal; note - members of the military and security forces are not allowed to vote |
| Executive branch: | chief of state: 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 head of government: Sultan and Prime Minister QABOOS bin Said Al-Said (sultan since 23 July 1970 and prime minister since 23 July 1972) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarch (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections: the monarchy is hereditary |
| Legislative branch: | bicameral Majlis Oman consists of Majlis al-Dawla or upper chamber (71 seats; members appointed by the monarch; has only advisory powers and Majlis al-Shura or lower chamber (84 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms; body has only advisory powers) elections: last held on 27 October 2007 (next to be held in October 2011) election results: new candidates won 46 seats and 38 members of the outgoing Majlis kept their positions; none of the 20 female candidates was elected |
| Judicial branch: | Supreme Court note: the nascent civil court system, administered by region, has judges who practice secular and sharia law |
| Political parties and leaders: | none |
| Political pressure groups and leaders: | none |
| International organization participation: | ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO |
| Diplomatic representation in the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador Hunaina bint Sultan bin Ahmad al-MUGHAIRI chancery: 2535 Belmont Road, NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 387-1980 FAX: [1] (202) 745-4933 |
| Diplomatic representation from the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador Richard J. SCHMIERER embassy: Jameat A'Duwal Al Arabiya Street, Al Khuwair area, Muscat mailing address: P. O. Box 202, P.C. 115, Madinat Sultan Qaboos, Muscat telephone: [968] 24-643-400 FAX: [968] 24-699771 |
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| Economy | |
| Oman is a middle-income economy that is heavily dependent on dwindling oil resources. Because of declining reserves, Muscat has actively pursued a development plan that focuses on diversification, industrialization, and privatization, with the objective of reducing the oil sector's contribution to GDP to 9% by 2020. Tourism and gas-based industries are key components of the government's diversification strategy. By using enhanced oil recovery techniques, Oman succeeded in increasing oil production, giving the country more time to diversify, and the increase in global oil prices throughout 2010 provides the government greater financial resources to invest in non-oil sectors. | |
| GDP (purchasing power parity): | GDP (purchasing power parity): $75.84 billion (2010 est.) $72.77 billion (2009 est.) $71.98 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars |
| GDP (official exchange rate): | GDP (official exchange rate): $55.62 billion (2010 est.) |
| GDP - real growth rate: | 4.2% (2010 est.) 1.1% (2009 est.) 12.9% (2008 est.) |
| GDP - per capita (PPP): | GDP - per capita (PPP): $25,600 (2010 est.) $25,000 (2009 est.) $25,200 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars |
| GDP - composition by sector: | agriculture: 1.6% industry: 51% services: 47.5% (2010 est.) |
| Labor force: | 968,800 note: about 60% of the labor force is non-national (2007) |
| Labor force - by occupation: | agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA% |
| Unemployment rate: | 15% (2004 est.) |
| Population below poverty line: | NA% |
| Household income or consumption by percentage share: | lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA% |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices): | Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.2% (2010 est.) 3.5% (2009 est.) |
| Investment (gross fixed): | Investment (gross fixed): 29.1% of GDP (2010 est.) |
| Budget: | revenues: $20.59 billion expenditures: $20.71 billion (2010 est.) |
| Public debt: | 4% of GDP (2010 est.) 5.4% of GDP (2009 est.) |
| Agriculture - products: | dates, limes, bananas, alfalfa, vegetables; camels, cattle; fish |
| Industries: | crude oil production and refining, natural and liquefied natural gas (LNG) production; construction, cement, copper, steel, chemicals, optic fiber |
| Industrial production growth rate: | 4.6% (2010 est.) |
| Electricity - production: | 17.63 billion kWh (2009 est.) |
| Electricity - consumption: | 13.25 billion kWh (2008 est.) |
| Electricity - exports: | 0 kWh (2009 est.) |
| Electricity - imports: | 0 kWh (2009 est.) |
| Oil - production: | 867,900 bbl/day (2010 est.) |
| Oil - consumption: | 142,000 bbl/day (2010 est.) |
| Oil - exports: | 592,300 bbl/day (2009 est.) |
| Oil - imports: | 27,970 bbl/day (2009 est.) |
| Oil - proved reserves: | 5.5 billion bbl (1 January 2011 est.) |
| Natural gas - production: | 24.76 billion cu m (2009 est.) |
| Natural gas - consumption: | 14.72 billion cu m (2009 est.) |
| Natural gas - exports: | 11.54 billion cu m (2009 est.) |
| Natural gas - imports: | 1.5 billion cu m (2009 est.) |
| Natural gas - proved reserves: | 849.5 billion cu m (1 January 2011 est.) |
| Current account balance: | $2.007 billion (2010 est.) -$286 million (2009 est.) |
| Exports: | $35.23 billion (2010 est.) $27.65 billion (2009 est.) |
| Exports - commodities: | petroleum, reexports, fish, metals, textiles |
| Exports - partners: | China 26.3%, South Korea 12.4%, Japan 12.1%, India 11.3%, UAE 10.8%, Thailand 6.6% (2010) |
| Imports: | $19.32 billion (2010 est.) $16.05 billion (2009 est.) |
| Imports - commodities: | machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, livestock, lubricants |
| Imports - partners: | UAE 25.1%, Japan 15.4%, India 5.6%, US 5.5%, China 4.7% (2010) |
| Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: | $13.03 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $12.2 billion (31 December 2009 est.) |
| Debt - external: | $8.211 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $7.169 billion (31 December 2009 est.) |
| Stock of direct foreign investment - at home: | $NA |
| Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad: | $NA |
| Market value of publicly traded shares: | $20.27 billion (31 December 2010) $17.3 billion (31 December 2009) $14.91 billion (31 December 2008) |
| Exchange rates: | Omani rials (OMR) per US dollar - 0.3845 (2010) 0.3845 (2009) 0.3845 (2008) 0.3845 (2007) 0.3845 (2006) |
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| Communications | |
| Telephones in use: | 300,100 (2009) country comparison to the world: 115 |
| Cellular Phones in use: | 3.971 million (2009) |
| Telephone system: | general assessment: modern system consisting of open-wire, microwave, and radiotelephone communication stations; limited coaxial cable; domestic satellite system with 8 earth stations domestic: fixed-line and mobile-cellular subscribership both increasing with fixed-line phone service gradually being introduced to remote villages using wireless local loop systems international: country code - 968; the Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG) and the SEA-ME-WE-3 submarine cable provide connectivity to Asia, the Middle East, and Europe; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Indian Ocean), 1 Arabsat (2008) |
| Radio broadcast stations: | |
| Television broadcast stations: | |
| Internet country code: | .om |
| Internet hosts: | 9,114 (2010) |
| Internet users: | 1.465 million (2009) |
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| Transportation | |
| Airports: | 130 (2010) country comparison to the world: 44 |
| Airports (paved runways): | total: 11 over 3,047 m: 6 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2010) |
| Airports (unpaved runways): | total: 119 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 51 914 to 1,523 m: 33 under 914 m: 26 (2010) |
| Heliports: | 3 (2010) |
| Pipelines: | condensate 107 km; gas 4,209 km; oil 3,558 km; refined products 263 km (2010) |
| Roadways: | total: 53,430 km paved: 23,223 km (includes 1,384 km of expressways) unpaved: 30,207 km (2008) |
| Merchant marine: | total: 4 by type: chemical tanker 1, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 2 registered in other countries: 9 (Panama 8, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1) (2010) |
| Ports and terminals: | Mina' Qabus, Salalah, Suhar |
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| Military | |
| Military branches: | Sultan's Armed Forces (SAF): Royal Army of Oman, Royal Navy of Oman, Royal Air Force of Oman (al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Sultanat) (2010) |
| Military service age and obligation: | 18-30 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2010) |
| Manpower available for military service: | males age 16-49: 985,957 females age 16-49: 737,812 (2010 est.) |
| Manpower fit for military service: | males age 16-49: 837,886 females age 16-49: 642,427 (2010 est.) |
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