Page last updated on February 3, 2014
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 his father, and he has since ruled as sultan. 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 beginning in January 2011, some Omanis began staging marches, demonstrations, and sit-ins calling mostly 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 introducing 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 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 will have the power to advise the Royal Court on the needs of local districts across Oman's 11 governorates.
Middle East, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, and Persian Gulf, between Yemen and UAE
total: 309,500 sq km
country comparison to the world: 71
land: 309,500 sq km
water: 0 sq km
slightly smaller than Kansas
total: 1,374 km
border countries: Saudi Arabia 676 km, UAE 410 km, Yemen 288 km
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
dry desert; hot, humid along coast; hot, dry interior; strong southwest summer monsoon (May to September) in far south
central desert plain, rugged mountains in north and south
lowest point: Arabian Sea 0 m
highest point: Jabal Shams 2,980 m
petroleum, copper, asbestos, some marble, limestone, chromium, gypsum, natural gas
arable land: 0.1%
permanent crops: 0.12%
other: 99.77% (2011)
total: 1.32 cu km/yr (10%/1%/88%)
per capita: 515.8 cu m/yr (2003)
summer winds often raise large sandstorms and dust storms in interior; periodic droughts
rising soil salinity; beach pollution from oil spills; limited natural freshwater resources
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
strategic location on Musandam Peninsula adjacent to Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude oil
noun: Omani(s)
adjective: Omani
Arab, Baluchi, South Asian (Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan, Bangladeshi), African
Arabic (official), English, Baluchi, Urdu, Indian dialects
Ibadhi Muslim (official) 75%, other (includes Sunni Muslim, Shia Muslim, Hindu) 25%
3,154,134 (July 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136
note: includes 577,293 non-nationals
0-14 years: 30.6% (male 494,444/female 469,752)
15-24 years: 20.2% (male 333,583/female 302,618)
25-54 years: 42.1% (male 781,396/female 547,872)
55-64 years: 3.9% (male 65,722/female 56,673)
65 years and over: 3.2% (male 51,515/female 50,559) (2013 est.)
total dependency ratio: 35.7 %
youth dependency ratio: 31.9 %
elderly dependency ratio: 3.8 %
potential support ratio: 26.2 (2013)
total: 24.7 years
male: 25.9 years
female: 23.1 years (2013 est.)
2.06% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
24.43 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
3.4 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 218
-0.47 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
urban population: 73.4% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization: 2.23% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
MUSCAT (capital) 634,000 (2009)
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: 1.45 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 1.17 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.03 male(s)/female
total population: 1.22 male(s)/female (2013 est.)
32 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)
country comparison to the world: 123
total: 14.46 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 115
male: 14.76 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 14.15 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)
total population: 74.72 years
country comparison to the world: 105
male: 72.84 years
female: 76.7 years (2013 est.)
2.86 children born/woman (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
2.3% of GDP (2011)
country comparison to the world: 188
2.05 physicians/1,000 population (2010)
1.8 beds/1,000 population (2009)
0.1% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153
1,100 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
fewer than 100 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
20.9% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 94
8.6% (2009)
country comparison to the world: 72
4.3% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 102
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 86.9%
male: 90.2%
female: 81.8% (2010 est.)
total: 14 years
male: 14 years
female: 14 years (2011)
conventional long form: Sultanate of Oman
conventional short form: Oman
local long form: Saltanat Uman
local short form: Uman
former: Muscat and Oman
name: Muscat
geographic coordinates: 23 37 N, 58 35 E
time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
11 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazat); 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)
1650 (expulsion of the Portuguese)
Birthday of Sultan QABOOS, 18 November (1940)
previous 1996 (The Basic Law of the Sultanate of Oman serves as the constitution); latest amended by royal decree in 2011 (2011)
mixed legal system of Anglo-Saxon law and Islamic law
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
21 years of age; universal; note - members of the military and security forces by law are not allowed to vote
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
elections: the Ruling Family Council determines a successor from the Sultan's extended family; if the Council cannot form a consensus within three days of the Sultan's death or incapacitation, the Defense Council will relay a predetermined heir as chosen by the Sultan
bicameral - consists of Majlis al-Dawla or upper chamber (71 seats; members appointed by the sultan; 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 authority to draft legislation but is subordinate to the Sultan)
elections: (Majlis al-Shura) last held on 15 October 2011 (next to be held in October 2015)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; note - three prominent figures from the Arab Spring 2011 protests won seats; one woman also won a seat
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; judge tenure NA
subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; Courts of First Instance; sharia courts; magistrates' courts
political parties are illegal
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
chief of mission: Ambassador Hunaina bint Sultan bin Ahmad al-MUGHAIRI (since 9 November 2005)
chancery: 2535 Belmont Road, NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 387-1980
FAX: [1] (202) 745-4933
chief of mission: Ambassador Greta C. HOLTZ (since 27 September 2012)
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] 24-64-37-40
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 Akhdar (Green Mountains) and fertility
Khanjar dagger superimposed on two crossed swords
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 words were written after QABOOS bin Said al Said gained power in 1970; the anthem was 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 visiting the ship
Oman is a middle-income economy that is heavily dependent on dwindling oil resources. Because of declining reserves and a rapidly growing labor force, 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 and creating more jobs to employ the rising numbers of Omanis entering the workforce. Tourism and gas-based industries are key components of the government's diversification strategy. However, increases in social welfare benefits, particularly since the Arab Spring, will challenge the government's ability to effectively balance its budget if oil revenues decline. 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 through 2011 provided the government greater financial resources to invest in non-oil sectors. In 2012, continued surpluses resulting from sustained high oil prices and increased enhanced oil recovery allowed the government to maintain growth in social subsidies and public sector job creation. However, the Sultan made widely reported statements indicating this would not be sustainable, and called for expanded efforts to support SME development and entrepreneurship. Government agencies and large oligarchic group companies heeded his call, announcing new initiatives to spin off non-essential functions to entrepreneurs, incubate new businesses, train and mentor up and coming business people, and provide financing for start-ups. In response to fast growth in household indebtedness, the Central Bank reduced the ceiling on personal interest loans from 8 to 7%, lowered mortgage rates, capped the percentage of consumer loans at 50% of borrower's salaries for personal loans and 60% for housing loans, and limited maximum repayment terms to 10 and 25 years respectively. In 2012 the Central Bank also issued final regulations governing Islamic banking and two full-fledged Islamic banks held oversubscribed IPOs while four traditional banks opened sharia-compliant Islamic windows.
$89.06 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
$77.23 billion (2012 est.)
5% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
$28,800 (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
37.4% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15
household consumption: 30.1%
government consumption: 17.8%
investment in fixed capital: 26.7%
investment in inventories: -0.5%
exports of goods and services: 61.6%
imports of goods and services: -35.7%
agriculture: 1%
industry: 65.9%
services: 33% (2012 est.)
dates, limes, bananas, alfalfa, vegetables; camels, cattle; fish
crude oil production and refining, natural and liquefied natural gas (LNG) production; construction, cement, copper, steel, chemicals, optic fiber
0.2% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134
968,800
country comparison to the world: 145
note: about 60% of the labor force is non-national (2007)
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
15% (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
revenues: $35.04 billion
expenditures: $35.25 billion (2012 est.)
45.4% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23
-0.3% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
4.3% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153
2.9% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
2% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143
5.65% (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
$9.083 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81
$71.42 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
$27.62 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71
$19.72 billion (31 December 2011)
country comparison to the world: 64
$8.312 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29
$52.14 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57
petroleum, reexports, fish, metals, textiles
China 31.8%, Japan 12.9%, UAE 10.4%, South Korea 10%, Thailand 4.4%, Singapore 4.4% (2012)
$25.63 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, livestock, lubricants
UAE 24.1%, Japan 12.5%, India 8.5%, China 6.3%, US 6.1% (2012)
$14.4 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
$9.99 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100
Omani rials (OMR) per US dollar -
18.63 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
15.32 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108
4.265 million kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
100% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 184
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 205
923,800 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26
705,100 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96
5.5 billion bbl (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 21
164,600 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
98,000 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
47,710 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
2,390 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177
35.94 billion cu m (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27
17.53 billion cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
10.93 billion cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
1.95 billion cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
849.5 billion cu m (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 29
52.67 million Mt (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60
305,000 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 115
5.278 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 109
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)
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)
14,531 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 127
1.465 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 83
132 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 44
total: 13
over 3,047 m: 7
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2013)
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:
condensate 106 km; gas 4,224 km; oil 3,558 km; oil/gas/water 33 km; refined products 264 km (2013)
total: 60,240 km
country comparison to the world: 70
paved: 29,685 km (includes 1,943 km of expressways)
unpaved: 30,545 km (2012)
total: 5
country comparison to the world: 125
by type: chemical tanker 1, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 3
registered in other countries: 15 (Malta 5, Panama 10) (2010)
major seaport(s): Mina' Qabus, Salalah, Suhar
container port(s) (TEUs): Salalah (3,200,000)
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)
18-30 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2012)
males age 16-49: 985,957
females age 16-49: 737,812 (2010 est.)
males age 16-49: 837,886
females age 16-49: 642,427 (2010 est.)
male: 31,959
female: 30,264 (2010 est.)
8.61% of GDP (2012)
country comparison to the world: 3
