Oman

Internet country code

.om

Internet hosts

3,555 (2006)

Internet users

245,000 (2005)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 3, FM 9, shortwave 2 (1999)

Telephone system

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

Telephones - main lines in use

265,200 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular

1.333 million (2005)

Television broadcast stations

13 (plus 25 low-power repeaters) (1999)

Agriculture - products

dates, limes, bananas, alfalfa, vegetables; camels, cattle; fish

Budget

revenues: $14.36 billion expenditures: $10.61 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA (2005 est.)

Currency (code)

Omani rial (OMR)

Current account balance

$4.796 billion (2005 est.)

Debt - external

$4.361 billion (2005 est.)

Economic aid - recipient

$76.4 million (1995)

Economy - overview

Oman is a middle-income economy in the Middle East with notable oil and gas resources, a substantial trade surplus, and low inflation. Work on a new liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility progressed in 2005 and will contribute to slightly higher oil and gas exports in 2006. Oman continues to liberalize its markets and joined the World Trade Organization (WTO) in November 2000. To reduce unemployment and limit dependence on foreign labor, the government is encouraging the replacement of foreign expatriate workers with local workers. 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. In 2005, Oman signed agreements with several foreign investors to boost oil reserves, build and operate a power plant, and develop a second mobile phone network in the country.

Electricity - consumption

9.582 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2003)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2003)

Electricity - production

10.3 billion kWh (2003)

Exchange rates

Omani rials per US dollar - 0.3845 (2005), 0.3845 (2004), 0.3845 (2003), 0.3845 (2002), 0.3845 (2001)

Exports

$19.01 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Exports - commodities

petroleum, reexports, fish, metals, textiles

Exports - partners

China 21.7%, South Korea 19.5%, Japan 14.3%, Thailand 12.7%, UAE 7.1%, Taiwan 4.1% (2005)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate)

$24.98 billion (2005 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$40.39 billion (2005 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 2.7% industry: 39% services: 58.3% (2005 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$13,500 (2005 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

5.6% (2005 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports

$8.709 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, livestock, lubricants

Imports - partners

UAE 22.4%, Japan 15.7%, UK 7.7%, US 6.7%, Germany 5.8%, India 4.2% (2005)

Industrial production growth rate

4.1% (2005 est.)

Industries

crude oil production and refining, natural and liquefied natural gas (LNG) production; construction, cement, copper, steel, chemicals, optic fiber

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.2% (2005 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

14.8% of GDP (2005 est.)

Labor force

920,000 (2002 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

Natural gas - consumption

7.09 billion cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - exports

7.43 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - production

16.5 billion cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

829.1 billion cu m (2005)

Oil - consumption

62,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - exports

721,000 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - imports

NA bbl/day

Oil - production

769,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

6.1 billion bbl (2005 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Public debt

8.1% of GDP (2005 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$4.358 billion (2005 est.)

Unemployment rate

15% (2004 est.)

Area

total: 212,460 sq km land: 212,460 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Kansas

Climate

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

Coastline

2,092 km

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Arabian Sea 0 m highest point: Jabal Shams 2,980 m

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, 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

Geographic coordinates

21 00 N, 57 00 E

Geography - note

strategic location on Musandam Peninsula adjacent to Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude oil

Irrigated land

720 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

total: 1,374 km border countries: Saudi Arabia 676 km, UAE 410 km, Yemen 288 km

Land use

arable land: 0.12% permanent crops: 0.14% other: 99.74% (2005)

Location

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

Map references

Middle East

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Natural hazards

summer winds often raise large sandstorms and dust storms in interior; periodic droughts

Natural resources

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

Terrain

central desert plain, rugged mountains in north and south

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*, Musandam*, Zufar (Dhofar)*

Capital

name: Muscat geographic coordinates: 23 37 N, 58 35 E time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

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

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Gary A. GRAPPO 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] 24-698989 FAX: [968] 24-699771

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 through 1981, 1988 FAX: [1] (202) 745-4933

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); 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

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

Government type

monarchy

Independence

1650 (expulsion of the Portuguese)

International organization participation

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

Judicial branch

Supreme Court note: the nascent civil court system, administered by region, has judges who practice secular and Shari'a law

Legal system

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

Legislative branch

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 popular vote for four-year terms; 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

National holiday

Birthday of Sultan QABOOS, 18 November (1940)

Political parties and leaders

none

Political pressure groups and leaders

none

Suffrage

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

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.

Manpower available for military service

males age 18-49: 719,871 females age 18-49: 508,621 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 18-49: 581,444 females age 18-49: 435,107 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually

males age 18-49: 26,391 females age 18-49: 25,466 (2005 est.)

Military branches

Royal Omani Armed Forces: Royal Army of Oman, Royal Navy of Oman, Royal Air Force of Oman (Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Sultanat Oman, RAFO) (2006)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

11.4% (2003)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)

Age structure

0-14 years: 42.7% (male 675,423/female 648,963) 15-64 years: 54.7% (male 1,001,917/female 695,578) 65 years and over: 2.6% (male 44,300/female 36,048) (2006 est.)

Birth rate

36.24 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate

3.81 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Ethnic groups

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

less than 200 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

1,300 (2001 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total: 18.89 deaths/1,000 live births male: 21.65 deaths/1,000 live births female: 16 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 73.37 years male: 71.14 years female: 75.72 years (2006 est.)

Literacy

definition: NA total population: 75.8% male: 83.1% female: 67.2%

Median age

total: 19 years male: 21.7 years female: 16.5 years (2006 est.)

Nationality

noun: Omani(s) adjective: Omani

Net migration rate

0.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Population

3,102,229 note: includes 577,293 non-nationals (July 2006 est.)

Population growth rate

3.28% (2006 est.)

Religions

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

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.44 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.23 male(s)/female total population: 1.25 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate

5.77 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Disputes - international

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

Trafficking in persons

current situation: Oman is a destination country for men and women primarily from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and India who migrate willingly, but may subsequently become victims of trafficking when subjected to conditions of involuntary servitude as domestic workers and laborers; there have been occasional reports that expatriate children engaged in camel racing may transit or reside in Omani territory tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Oman is placed on the Tier 2 Watch List because of a lack of evidence of increasing efforts to combat severe forms of trafficking in persons in 2005

Airports

137 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 6 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 131 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 52 914 to 1,523 m: 35 under 914 m: 35 (2006)

Heliports

1 (2006)

Merchant marine

total: 1 ship (1000 GRT or over) 10,797 GRT/5,040 DWT by type: passenger 1 registered in other countries: 2 (Kazakhstan 2) (2006)

Pipelines

gas 4,072 km; oil 3,405 km (2006)

Ports and terminals

Mina' Qabus, Salalah

Roadways

total: 34,965 km paved: 9,673 km (including 550 km of expressways) unpaved: 25,292 km (2001)