Oman

Broadcast media

1 state-run TV broadcaster; TV stations transmitting from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Yemen available via satellite TV; state-run radio operates multiple stations; first private radio station began operating in 2007 and 2 additional stations now operating (2007)

Internet country code

.om

Internet users

total: 2,342,483 | percent of population: 69.8% (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 96

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 (2016)

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 422,518 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 13 (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 108

Telephones - mobile cellular

total: 6,866,260 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 205 (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 109

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $22.68 billion | expenditures: $32.07 billion (2017 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-13% of GDP (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 216

Central bank discount rate

2% (31 December 2010) | 0.05% (31 December 2009) | country comparison to the world: 116

Commercial bank prime lending rate

5.4% (31 December 2017 est.) | 5.08% (31 December 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 142

Current account balance

-$10.3 billion (2017 est.) | -$12.32 billion (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 187

Debt - external

$39.17 billion (31 December 2017 est.) | $27.05 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 83

Economy - overview

Oman is heavily dependent on its dwindling oil resources, which generate 84% of government revenue. In 2016, low global oil prices drove Oman’s budget deficit to $11.5 billion, or approximately 19% of GDP, but the budget deficit was reduced to 13% of GDP in 2017 as Oman reduced government subsidies. Oman has limited foreign assets and is issuing debt to cover its deficit. | Oman is using enhanced oil recovery techniques to boost production, but has simultaneously pursued a development plan that focuses on diversification, industrialization, and privatization, with the objective of reducing the oil sector's contribution to GDP from 46% at present to 9% by 2020 in accordance with Oman’s ninth five-year development plan. Tourism and gas-based industries are key components of the government's diversification strategy. | Muscat also has notably focused on creating more Omani jobs to employ the rising number of nationals entering the workforce. However, high social welfare benefits — that had increased in the wake of the 2011 Arab Spring — have challenged the government's ability to effectively balance its budget in light of low export oil prices. In response, Omani officials imposed austerity measures to its gasoline and diesel subsidies in 2016, with further subsidy cuts planned for electricity and liquid petroleum gas. The spending cuts have faced some public opposition, which could hinder their implementation.

Exchange rates

Omani rials (OMR) per US dollar - | 0.3845 (2017 est.) | 0.3845 (2016 est.) | 0.3845 (2015 est.) | 0.3845 (2014 est.) | 0.3845 (2013 est.)

Exports

$31.9 billion (2017 est.) | $27.54 billion (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 62

Exports - commodities

petroleum, reexports, fish, metals, textiles

Exports - partners

China 47.8%, UAE 8.3%, India 4.1% (2016)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate)

$71.93 billion (2016 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$187.9 billion (2017 est.) | $187.9 billion (2016 est.) | $182.4 billion (2015 est.) | note: data are in 2017 dollars | country comparison to the world: 66

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 34.5% | government consumption: 24.6% | investment in fixed capital: 35.3% | investment in inventories: 2.1% | exports of goods and services: 51% | imports of goods and services: -47.4% (2017 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 1.7% | industry: 45.2% | services: 53% (2017 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$45,500 (2017 est.) | $46,900 (2016 est.) | $48,300 (2015 est.) | note: data are in 2017 dollars | country comparison to the world: 34

GDP - real growth rate

0% (2017 est.) | 3% (2016 est.) | 4.2% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 93

Gross national saving

19.7% of GDP (2017 est.) | 19.4% of GDP (2016 est.) | 18.3% of GDP (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 91

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$22.71 billion (2017 est.) | $21.29 billion (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 68

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

UAE 44.9%, China 4.8%, India 4.8% (2016)

Industrial production growth rate

0.3% (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 152

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3.2% (2017 est.) | 1.1% (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 94

Labor force

968,800 | note: about 60% of the labor force is non-national (2007 est.) | country comparison to the world: 145

Labor force - by occupation

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

Market value of publicly traded shares

$41.12 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | $37.83 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $36.77 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 58

Population below poverty line

NA%

Public debt

41.3% of GDP (2017 est.) | 31.4% of GDP (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 157

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$19.96 billion (31 December 2017 est.) | $20.26 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 62

Stock of broad money

$41.44 billion (31 December 2017 est.) | $40.11 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 71

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$NA

Stock of domestic credit

$48.24 billion (31 December 2017 est.) | $46.47 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 66

Stock of narrow money

$12.7 billion (31 December 2017 est.) | $12.95 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 75

Taxes and other revenues

31.5% of GDP (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 73

Unemployment rate

15% (2004 est.) | country comparison to the world: 171

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

69 million Mt (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 51

Crude oil - exports

745,800 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 17

Crude oil - imports

6,970 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 78

Crude oil - production

1.007 million bbl/day (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 20

Crude oil - proved reserves

5.373 billion bbl (1 January 2017 es) | country comparison to the world: 23

Electricity - consumption

27.62 billion kWh (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 63

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 172

Electricity - from fossil fuels

100% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 13

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 189

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 146

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 198

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 176

Electricity - installed generating capacity

7.869 million kW (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 70

Electricity - production

30.79 billion kWh (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 64

Electricity access

population without electricity: 100,000 | electrification - total population: 98% | electrification - urban areas: 99% | electrification - rural areas: 93% (2013)

Natural gas - consumption

38.03 billion cu m (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 36

Natural gas - exports

1.99 billion cu m (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 38

Natural gas - imports

10 billion cu m (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 28

Natural gas - production

29.93 billion cu m (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 26

Natural gas - proved reserves

651.3 billion cu m (1 January 2017 es) | country comparison to the world: 30

Refined petroleum products - consumption

176,000 bbl/day (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 61

Refined petroleum products - exports

33,240 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 59

Refined petroleum products - imports

713.9 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 203

Refined petroleum products - production

224,000 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 49

Area

total: 309,500 sq km | land: 309,500 sq km | water: 0 sq km | country comparison to the world: 72

Area - comparative

twice the size of Georgia; 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

mean elevation: 310 m | elevation extremes: lowest point: Arabian Sea 0 m | highest point: Jabal Shams 3,004 m

Environment - current issues

rising soil salinity; beach pollution from oil spills; limited natural freshwater 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

consists of Oman proper and two northern exclaves, Musandam and Al Madhah; the former is a peninsula that occupies a strategic location adjacent to the Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude oil

Irrigated land

590 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries

total: 1,561 km | border countries (3): Saudi Arabia 658 km, UAE 609 km, Yemen 294 km

Land use

agricultural land: 4.7% | arable land 0.1%; permanent crops 0.1%; permanent pasture 4.5% | forest: 0% | other: 95.3% (2011 est.)

Location

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

Population - distribution

the vast majority of the population is located in and around the Al Hagar Mountains in the north of the country; another smaller cluster is found around the city of Salalah in the far south; most of the country remains sparsely populated

Terrain

central desert plain, rugged mountains in north and south

Administrative divisions

11 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafaza); Ad Dakhiliyah, Al Buraymi, Al Wusta, Az Zahirah, Janub al Batinah (Al Batinah South), Janub ash Sharqiyah (Ash Sharqiyah South), Masqat (Muscat), Musandam, Shamal al Batinah (Al Batinah North), Shamal ash Sharqiyah (Ash Sharqiyah North), 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)

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: no | citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Oman | dual citizenship recognized: no | residency requirement for naturalization: unknown

Constitution

history: promulgated by royal decree 6 November 1996 (the Basic Law of the Sultanate of Oman serves as the constitution); amended by royal decree in 2011 | amendments: promulgated by the sultan or proposed by the Council of Oman and drafted by a technical committee as stipulated by royal decree and then promulgated through royal decree; amended 2011 (2016)

Country name

conventional long form: Sultanate of Oman | conventional short form: Oman | local long form: Saltanat Uman | local short form: Uman | former: Sultanate of Muscat and Oman | etymology: the origin of the name is uncertain, but it apparently dates back at least 2,000 years since an "Omana" is mentioned by Pliny the Elder (1st century A.D.) and an "Omanon" by Ptolemy (2nd century A.D.)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Marc J. SIEVERS (since 15 December 2016) | embassy: Jamait Ad Duwal Al Arabiyya Street, Al Khuwair area, Muscat | mailing address: P.O. Box 202, P.C. 115, Madinat Al Sultan Qaboos, Muscat | telephone: [968] 24-643-400 | FAX: [968] 24-643-740

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Hunaina bint Sultan bin Ahmad al-MUGHAIRI (since 2 December 2005) | chancery: 2535 Belmont Road, NW, Washington, DC 20008 | telephone: [1] (202) 387-1980 | 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 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 | elections/appointments: members of the Ruling Family Council determine a successor from the sultan's extended family; if the Council cannot form a consensus within 3 days of the sultan's death or incapacitation, the Defense Council will relay a predetermined heir as chosen by the sultan

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; white represents peace and prosperity, red recalls battles against foreign invaders, and green symbolizes the Jebel al Akhdar (Green Mountains) and fertility

Government type

absolute monarchy

Independence

1650 (expulsion of the Portuguese)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

International organization participation

ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, CAEU, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), 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 (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of 5 judges) | judge selection and term of office: judges nominated by the 9-member Supreme Judicial Council (chaired by the monarch) and appointed by the monarch; judges appointed for life | subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; Administrative Court; Courts of First Instance; sharia courts; magistrates' courts; military courts

Legal system

mixed legal system of Anglo-Saxon law and Islamic law

Legislative branch

description: bicameral Council of Oman or Majlis Oman consists of the Council of State or Majlis al-Dawla (85 seats including the chairman; members appointed by the sultan from among former government officials and prominent educators, businessmen, and citizens) and the Consultative Council or Majlis al-Shura (85 seats; members directly elected in single- and 2-seat constituencies by simple majority popular vote to serve renewable 4-year terms); note - since political reforms in 2011, legislation from the Consultative Council is submitted to the Council of State for review by the Royal Court | elections: Consultative Assembly - last held on 25 October 2015 (next to be held in October 2019) | election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; note - organized political parties in Oman are legally banned

National anthem

name: "Nashid as-Salaam as-Sultani" (The Sultan's Anthem) | lyrics/music: Rashid bin Uzayyiz al KHUSAIDI/James Frederick MILLS, arranged by Bernard EBBINGHAUS | note: adopted 1932; new lyrics written after QABOOS bin Said al Said gained power in 1970; first performed by the band of a British ship as a salute to the Sultan during a 1932 visit to Muscat; the bandmaster of the HMS Hawkins was asked to write a salutation to the Sultan on the occasion of his ship visit

National holiday

National Day, 18 November; note - coincides with the birthday of Sultan QABOOS, 18 November (1940)

National symbol(s)

khanjar dagger superimposed on two crossed swords; national colors: red, white, green

Political parties and leaders

none; note - organized political parties are legally banned in Oman, and loyalties tend to form around tribal affiliations

Political pressure groups and leaders

none

Suffrage

21 years of age; universal; note - members of the military and security forces by law cannot vote

Background

The inhabitants of the area of Oman have long prospered from Indian Ocean trade. In the late 18th century, the nascent 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, although the Sultanate never became a British colony. In 1970, QABOOS bin Said Al-Said overthrew his father, and has since ruled as sultan, but he has not designated a successor. His extensive modernization program has opened the country to the outside world, while preserving the longstanding close ties with the UK and US. Oman's moderate, independent foreign policy has sought to maintain good relations with its neighbors and to avoid external entanglements. Inspired by the popular uprisings that swept the Middle East and North Africa beginning in January 2011, some Omanis staged demonstrations, calling for more jobs and economic benefits and an end to corruption. In response to those protester demands, QABOOS in 2011 pledged to implement economic and political reforms, such as granting legislative and regulatory powers to the Majlis al-Shura and increasing unemployment benefits. Additionally, in August 2012, the Sultan announced a royal directive mandating the speedy implementation of a national job creation plan for thousands of public and private sector Omani jobs. As part of the government's efforts to decentralize authority and allow greater citizen participation in local governance, Oman successfully conducted its first municipal council elections in December 2012. Announced by the Sultan in 2011, the municipal councils have the power to advise the Royal Court on the needs of local districts across Oman's 11 governorates. The Sultan returned to Oman in March 2015 after eight months in Germany, where he received medical treatment. He has since appeared publicly on a few occasions.

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 Oman) (2013)

Military expenditures

13.73% of GDP (2016) | 14.38% of GDP (2015) | 13.51% of GDP (2014) | 14.81% of GDP (2013) | 16.08% of GDP (2012) | country comparison to the world: 3

Military service age and obligation

18-30 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2012)

Age structure

0-14 years: 30.1% (male 528,554/female 502,272) | 15-24 years: 18.69% (male 335,764/female 304,207) | 25-54 years: 43.8% (male 864,858/female 635,006) | 55-64 years: 3.92% (male 71,477/female 62,793) | 65 years and over: 3.49% (male 58,561/female 60,894) (2017 est.)

Birth rate

24 births/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 54

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

9.7% (2014) | country comparison to the world: 73

Contraceptive prevalence rate

29.7% (2014)

Death rate

3.3 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 220

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 32.4 | youth dependency ratio: 29.4 | elderly dependency ratio: 3.1 | potential support ratio: 32.6 (2015 est.)

Drinking water source

urban: 95.5% of population | rural: 86.1% of population | total: 93.4% of population | urban: 4.5% of population | rural: 13.9% of population | total: 6.6% of population (2015 est.)

Education expenditures

5% of GDP (2013) | country comparison to the world: 100

Ethnic groups

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Health expenditures

3.6% of GDP (2014) | country comparison to the world: 172

Hospital bed density

1.7 beds/1,000 population (2012)

Infant mortality rate

total: 12.8 deaths/1,000 live births | male: 13.1 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 12.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 110

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 75.7 years | male: 73.7 years | female: 77.7 years (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 99

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write | total population: 93% | male: 96.6% | female: 86% (2015 est.)

Major urban areas - population

MUSCAT (capital) 838,000 (2015)

Maternal mortality ratio

17 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 133

Median age

total: 25.6 years | male: 26.6 years | female: 24.2 years (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 153

Nationality

noun: Omani(s) | adjective: Omani

Net migration rate

-0.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 120

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

27% (2016) | country comparison to the world: 39

Physicians density

1.54 physicians/1,000 population (2014)

Population

3,424,386 (July 2017 est.) | note: immigrants make up almost 45% of the total population, according to UN data (2017) | country comparison to the world: 132

Population distribution

the vast majority of the population is located in and around the Al Hagar Mountains in the north of the country; another smaller cluster is found around the city of Salalah in the far south; most of the country remains sparsely poplulated

Population growth rate

2.03% (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 44

Religions

Muslim 85.9%, Christian 6.5%, Hindu 5.5%, Buddhist 0.8%, Jewish <0.1%, other 1%, unaffiliated 0.2% (2010 est.) | note: Omani citizens represent approximately 60% of the population and are overwhelming Muslim (Ibadhi and Sunni sects each constitute about 45% and Shia about 5%); Christians, Hindus, and Buddhists accounting for roughly 5% of Omani citizens

Sanitation facility access

urban: 97.3% of population | rural: 94.7% of population | total: 96.7% of population | urban: 2.7% of population | rural: 5.3% of population | total: 3.3% of population (2015 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 14 years | male: 13 years | female: 15 years (2015)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female | 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female | 15-24 years: 1.1 male(s)/female | 25-54 years: 1.38 male(s)/female | 55-64 years: 1.14 male(s)/female | 65 years and over: 0.99 male(s)/female | total population: 1.19 male(s)/female (2016 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.82 children born/woman (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 60

Urbanization

urban population: 78.5% of total population (2017) | rate of urbanization: 2.17% annual rate of change (2015-20 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 of the alignment have not been made public

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin): 5,000 (Yemen) (2017)

Airports

132 (2013) | country comparison to the world: 44

Airports - with paved runways

total: 13 | over 3,047 m: 7 | 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 | 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2017)

Airports - with 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 (2013)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

A4O (2016)

Heliports

3 (2013)

Merchant marine

total: 51 | by type: general cargo 9, other 42 (2017) | country comparison to the world: 114

National air transport system

number of registered air carriers: 1 | inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 45 | annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 6,365,784 | annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 412,234,008 mt-km (2015)

Pipelines

condensate 106 km; gas 4,224 km; oil 3,558 km; oil/gas/water 33 km; refined products 264 km (2013)

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s): Mina' Qabus, Salalah, Suhar | container port(s) (TEUs): Salalah (3,200,000) | LNG terminal(s) (export): Qalhat

Roadways

total: 60,230 km | paved: 29,685 km (includes 1,943 km of expressways) | unpaved: 30,545 km (2012) | country comparison to the world: 70