Oman

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total: 562,000 (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 11 (2023 est.)

Broadcast media

1 state-run TV broadcaster; TV stations transmitting from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Iran, and Yemen available via satellite TV; state-run radio operates multiple stations; first private radio station began operating in 2007, and several additional stations now operating (2019)

Internet country code

.om

Internet users

percent of population: 95% (2024 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 579,000 (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 11 (2023 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 6.35 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 121 (2024 est.)

Agricultural products

vegetables, dates, milk, tomatoes, sorghum, chillies/peppers, goat milk, cucumbers/gherkins, cantaloupes/melons, cabbages (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Average household expenditures

on food: 18.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.) on alcohol and tobacco: 0.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Budget

revenues: $29.334 billion (2018 est.) expenditures: $35.984 billion (2018 est.)

Current account balance

$2.638 billion (2023 est.) $4.362 billion (2022 est.) -$4.836 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Economic overview

high-income, oil-based economy; large welfare system; growing government debt; citizenship-based labor force growth policy; US free trade agreement; diversifying portfolio; high female labor force participation

Exchange rates

Omani rials (OMR) per US dollar - 0.384 (2024 est.) 0.384 (2023 est.) 0.384 (2022 est.) 0.384 (2021 est.) 0.384 (2020 est.)

Exports

$64.749 billion (2023 est.) $69.483 billion (2022 est.) $46.572 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Exports - commodities

crude petroleum, refined petroleum, natural gas, semi-finished iron, fertilizers (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Exports - partners

China 43%, India 6%, Saudi Arabia 5%, UAE 5%, South Africa 4% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

GDP (official exchange rate)

$106.943 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 37.8% (2023 est.) government consumption: 19.1% (2023 est.) investment in fixed capital: 24.3% (2023 est.) investment in inventories: 2.4% (2023 est.) exports of goods and services: 61.1% (2023 est.) imports of goods and services: -44.8% (2023 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 2.6% (2024 est.) industry: 54.2% (2024 est.) services: 46.5% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Imports

$47.412 billion (2023 est.) $46.682 billion (2022 est.) $37.216 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

Imports - commodities

refined petroleum, cars, crude petroleum, iron ore, iron pipes (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Imports - partners

UAE 25%, Saudi Arabia 12%, India 8%, China 7%, Qatar 5% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Industrial production growth rate

0.2% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1% (2023 est.) 2.5% (2022 est.) 1.7% (2021 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices

Labor force

2.696 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Public debt

46.9% of GDP (2017 est.) note: excludes indebtedness of state-owned enterprises

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

$193.591 billion (2024 est.) $190.403 billion (2023 est.) $188.169 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP growth rate

1.7% (2024 est.) 1.2% (2023 est.) 8% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP per capita

$36,700 (2024 est.) $37,700 (2023 est.) $39,800 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars

Remittances

0% of GDP (2023 est.) 0% of GDP (2022 est.) 0% of GDP (2021 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$18.287 billion (2024 est.) $17.455 billion (2023 est.) $17.606 billion (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Unemployment rate

3.2% (2024 est.) 3.2% (2023 est.) 3.3% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total: 13.9% (2024 est.) male: 11% (2024 est.) female: 30.9% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Coal

consumption: 82,000 metric tons (2023 est.) exports: 70,000 metric tons (2023 est.) imports: 323,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Electricity

installed generating capacity: 11.589 million kW (2023 est.) consumption: 40.738 billion kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 4.267 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels: 96% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 3.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) wind: 0.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

296.586 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Natural gas

production: 41.726 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) consumption: 28.646 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) exports: 15.536 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) imports: 1.924 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) proven reserves: 651.287 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Petroleum

total petroleum production: 1.056 million bbl/day (2023 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 218,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 5.373 billion barrels (2021 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

84.073 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 661,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 28.611 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from consumed natural gas: 54.8 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Climate

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

Environmental issues

limited natural freshwater resources; high levels of soil and water salinity in the coastal plains; beach pollution from oil spills; industrial effluents in the water table and aquifers; desertification due to high winds driving desert sand into arable lands

International environmental agreements

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Land use

agricultural land: 4.8% (2023 est.) arable land: 0.3% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0.1% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 4.4% (2023 est.) forest: 0% (2023 est.) other: 95.2% (2023 est.)

Methane emissions

energy: 673.6 kt (2022-2024 est.) agriculture: 36.8 kt (2019-2021 est.) waste: 62.4 kt (2019-2021 est.) other: 9.9 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Particulate matter emissions

34.9 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Total renewable water resources

1.4 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal

municipal: 130 million cubic meters (2022 est.) industrial: 238 million cubic meters (2022 est.) agricultural: 1.547 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Urbanization

urban population: 88.4% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 2.32% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually: 3.308 million tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 13.9% (2022 est.)

Area

total : 309,500 sq km land: 309,500 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative

twice the size of Georgia

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

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

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

Irrigated land

1,162 sq km (2022)

Land boundaries

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

Land use

agricultural land: 4.8% (2023 est.) arable land: 0.3% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0.1% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 4.4% (2023 est.) forest: 0% (2023 est.) other: 95.2% (2023 est.)

Location

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

Major aquifers

Arabian Aquifer System

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; 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) etymology: the name derives from the Arabic name for the city, Masqat, which is said to mean "hidden" and refers to the range of hills that isolate the port city from the rest of the country

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 amendment process: 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

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 may date back at least 2,000 years, with an "Omana" mentioned by Pliny the Elder (1st century A.D.) and an "Omanon" by Ptolemy (2nd century A.D.); it is said to derive from Oman ben Ibrahim al Khalil (Oman ben Kahtan), who founded the state

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Ana ESCROGIMA (since 4 December 2023) embassy: P.C. 115, Madinat Al Sultan Qaboos, Muscat mailing address: 6220 Muscat Place, Washington DC 20521 telephone: [968] 2464-3400 FAX: [968] 2464-3740 email address and website: ConsularMuscat@state.gov https://om.usembassy.gov/

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Talal Sulaiman AL-RAHBI (since 24 July 2025) chancery: 2535 Belmont Road, NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 387-1980 FAX: [1] (202) 745-4933 email address and website: washington@fm.gov.om Embassy of the Sultanate of Oman, Washington, USA - FM.gov.om

Executive branch

chief of state: Sultan and Prime Minister HAITHAM bin Tarik Al Said (since 11 January 2020) head of government: Sultan and Prime Minister HAITHAM bin Tarik Al Said (since 11 January 2020) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarch note: the monarch is both chief of state and head of government

Flag

description: three equal horizontal bands of white (top), red, and green, with a vertical red band on the left side; the national emblem (a khanjar dagger in its sheath on top of crossed swords in scabbards) in white is centered near the top of the vertical band meaning: white stands for peace and prosperity, red for battles against foreign invaders, and green for 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, UNOOSA, 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 system of Anglo-Saxon law and Islamic law

Legislative branch

legislature name: Majles legislative structure: bicameral

Legislative branch - lower chamber

chamber name: Shura Council (Majles A'Shura) number of seats: 90 (all directly elected) electoral system: other systems scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 4 years most recent election date: 11/1/2023 percentage of women in chamber: 0% expected date of next election: October 2027

Legislative branch - upper chamber

chamber name: State Council (Majles Addawla) number of seats: 87 (all appointed) scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 4 years most recent election date: 10/29/2023 percentage of women in chamber: 20.9% expected date of next election: November 2027

National anthem(s)

title: "Nashid as-Salaam as-Sultani" (The Sultan's Anthem) lyrics/music: Rashid bin Uzayyiz al KHUSAIDI/James Frederick MILLS, arranged by Bernard EBBINGHAUS history: adopted 1932; new lyrics written after QABOOS bin Said al Said came to power in 1970; first performed by the band of the HMS Hawkins as a salute to the Sultan during a 1932 visit to Muscat; the ship's bandmaster did the arrangement

National color(s)

red, white, green

National heritage

total World Heritage Sites: 5 (all cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Bahla Fort; Archaeological Sites of Bat; Land of Frankincense; Aflaj Irrigation Systems of Oman; Ancient Qalhat

National holiday

National Day, 18 November note: celebrates Oman's independence from Portugal in 1650 and the birthday of Sultan QABOOS bin Said al Said, who reigned from 1970 to 2020

National symbol(s)

khanjar dagger on top of two crossed swords

Political parties

note: organized political parties are banned in Oman, and loyalties tend to form around tribal affiliations

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 present-day 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 ruled as sultan for the next five decades. His extensive modernization program opened the country to the outside world. He prioritized strategic ties to the UK and US, and his moderate, independent foreign policy allowed Oman to maintain good relations with its neighbors and avoid external entanglements. In 2011, the popular uprisings that swept the Middle East and North Africa inspired demonstrations in Oman that called for more jobs and economic benefits and an end to corruption. In response, QABOOS implemented economic and political reforms such as granting Oman s legislative body more power and authorizing direct elections for its lower house. Additionally, the sultan increased unemployment benefits and issued a royal directive mandating a national public- and private-sector job creation plan. 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 2012. QABOOS, Oman's longest reigning monarch, died in 2020. His cousin, HAYTHAM bin Tariq Al Said, former Minister of Heritage and Culture, was sworn in as Oman's new sultan the same day.

Military - note

the Sultan's Armed Forces (SAF) are responsible for defending the country, ensuring internal security, and protecting the monarchy; it trains with foreign partners such as the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, the UK, and the US; the SAF has a security relationship with the British military going back to the 18th century; today, the SAF and the British maintain a joint training base in Oman, and the British military uses the facilities at Al Duqm Port; in 2019, the US obtained access to the port, expanding on previous military cooperation agreements in 2014, 2010, and 1980; Oman also allows other nations to use some of its maritime facilities, including China; the SAF is part of the Peninsula Shield Forces, a joint military force established by the GCC countries with the aim of maintaining security and stability in the region Oman's naval forces conduct maritime security operations along the country s long coastline, including patrolling, ensuring freedom of navigation in the key naval chokepoint of the Strait of Hormuz, and countering piracy and smuggling; Oman participates in the US-led, multinational Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), which operates multinational task forces conducting maritime security in regional waters (2025)

Military and security forces

Sultan's Armed Forces (SAF): Royal Army of Oman (RAO), Royal Navy of Oman (RNO), Royal Air Force of Oman (RAFO), Royal Guard of Oman (RGO), Sultan's Special Forces Royal Oman Police (ROP): Civil Defense, Immigration, Infrastructure Security Police, Coast Guard Police, Special Security Police, Special Task Force (2024) note: in addition to its policing duties, the ROP conducts many administrative functions similar to the responsibilities of a Ministry of Interior in other countries

Military and security service personnel strengths

approximately 40,000 active Sultan's Armed Forces (2025)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the SAF's inventory includes a mix of older and some more modern weapons systems from a variety of suppliers, particularly the UK and the US; other suppliers have included China, EU countries, South Africa, and T rkiye (2025)

Military expenditures

6% of GDP (2024 est.) 5.5% of GDP (2023 est.) 5.5% of GDP (2022 est.) 8% of GDP (2021 est.) 11% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military service age and obligation

18-25 for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription (2025) note: women have served since 2011

Age structure

0-14 years: 29.8% (male 594,909/female 566,682) 15-64 years: 66.2% (male 1,428,141/female 1,155,438) 65 years and over: 4% (2024 est.) (male 73,076/female 83,746)

Alcohol consumption per capita

total: 0.47 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 0.17 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 0.29 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Birth rate

20.65 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

11.2% (2017 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

55.8% (2020 est.)

Death rate

3.17 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 50.8 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 44.6 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 6.2 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 16.2 (2025 est.)

Drinking water source

urban: 94.7% of population (2022 est.) rural: 76.3% of population (2022 est.) total: 92.4% of population (2022 est.) urban: 5.3% of population (2022 est.) rural: 23.7% of population (2022 est.) total: 7.6% of population (2022 est.)

Education expenditure

4.3% of GDP (2022 est.) 14.2% national budget (2022 est.)

Ethnic groups

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

Gross reproduction rate

1.27 (2025 est.)

Health expenditure

4.4% of GDP (2021) 8.3% of national budget (2022 est.)

Hospital bed density

1.2 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total: 13.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 15.1 deaths/1,000 live births female: 12.6 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Arabic (official), English, Baluchi, Swahili, Urdu, Indian dialects major-language sample(s): كتاب حقائق العالم، المصدر الذي لا يمكن الاستغناء عنه للمعلومات الأساسية (Arabic) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 77.4 years (2024 est.) male: 75.5 years female: 79.4 years

Literacy

total population: 97.3% (2022 est.) male: 98.6% (2022 est.) female: 94.9% (2022 est.)

Major urban areas - population

1.650 million MUSCAT (capital) (2023)

Maternal mortality ratio

13 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Median age

total: 27.5 years (2025 est.) male: 28.1 years female: 26.3 years

Nationality

noun: Omani(s) adjective: Omani

Net migration rate

-0.49 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

27% (2016)

Physician density

1.99 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Population

total: 3,969,824 (2025 est.) male: 2,130,080 female: 1,839,744

Population distribution

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

Population growth rate

1.7% (2025 est.)

Religions

Muslim 85.9%, Christian 6.4%, Hindu 5.7%, other and unaffiliated 2% (2020 est.) note: Omani citizens represent approximately 56.4% of the population and are overwhelming Muslim (Ibadhi and Sunni sects each constitute about 45% and Shia about 5%); Christians, Hindus, and Buddhists account for roughly 5% of Omani citizens

Sanitation facility access

urban: 100% of population (2022 est.) rural: 100% of population (2022 est.) total: 100% of population (2022 est.) urban: 0% of population (2022 est.) rural: 0% of population (2022 est.) total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 13 years (2021 est.) male: 13 years (2021 est.) female: 14 years (2021 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.24 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female total population: 1.16 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Tobacco use

total: 11.6% (2025 est.) male: 17.9% (2025 est.) female: 0.4% (2025 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.61 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Urbanization

urban population: 88.4% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 2.32% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Terrorist group(s)

Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees: 714 (2024 est.)

Airports

37 (2025)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

A4O

Heliports

20 (2025)

Merchant marine

total: 57 (2023) by type: general cargo 11, other 46

Ports

total ports: 7 (2024) large: 0 medium: 1 small: 4 very small: 2 ports with oil terminals: 6 key ports: Duqm, Khawr Khasab, Mina Al Fahl, Mina Raysut, Sohar