World Facts Index
 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.
Geography of Oman
|
Location:
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Middle East, bordering the
Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, and Persian Gulf, between Yemen and UAE |
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Coordinates:
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21 00 N, 57 00 E |
|
Area:
|
total: 212,460 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 212,460 sq km |
|
Area comparative:
|
slightly smaller than
Kansas |
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Land boundaries:
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total: 1,374 km
border countries: Saudi Arabia 676 km, UAE 410 km, Yemen 288 km |
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Coastline:
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2,092 km |
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Maritime claims:
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contiguous zone: 24
NM
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM |
|
Climate:
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dry desert; hot, humid
along coast; hot, dry interior; strong southwest summer monsoon (May to
September) in far south |
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Terrain:
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central desert plain,
rugged mountains in north and south |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point:
Arabian Sea 0 m
highest point: Jabal Shams 2,980 m |
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Natural resources:
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petroleum, copper,
asbestos, some marble, limestone, chromium, gypsum, natural gas |
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Natural hazards:
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summer winds often raise
large sandstorms and dust storms in interior; periodic droughts |
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Environment current issues:
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rising soil salinity; beach
pollution from oil spills; very limited natural fresh water resources |
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Geography - note:
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strategic location on
Musandam Peninsula adjacent to Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit point
for world crude oil
|
Population of Oman
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Population:
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3,311,640
note: includes 577,293 non-nationals (July 2008 est.) |
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Age structure:
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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) |
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Median age:
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19 years |
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Growth rate:
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3.28% |
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Infant mortality:
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18.89 deaths/1,000 live births |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 73.37 years
male: 71.14 years
female: 75.72 years |
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Fertility rate:
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5.77 children born/woman |
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Nationality:
|
noun: Omani(s)
adjective: Omani |
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Ethnic groups:
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Arab, Baluchi, South Asian (Indian,
Pakistani, Sri Lankan, Bangladeshi), African |
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Religions:
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Ibadhi Muslim 75%, Sunni Muslim, Shi'a
Muslim, Hindu |
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Languages:
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Arabic (official), English, Baluchi, Urdu,
Indian dialects |
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Literacy:
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total population: 75.8%
male: 83.1%
female: 67.2%
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Government
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Sultanate of
Oman
local long form: Saltanat Uman
former: Muscat and Oman
local short form: Uman |
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Government type:
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monarchy |
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Capital:
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Muscat |
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Administrative divisions:
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5 regions (manaatiq, singular - mintaqat) and 3
governorates* (muhaafazaat, singular - muhaafaza) Ad Dakhiliyah, Al Batinah, Al Wusta, Ash
Sharqiyah, Az Zahirah, Masqat*, Musandam*, Zufar (Dhofar)* |
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Independence:
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1650 (expulsion of the Portuguese) |
|
National holiday:
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Birthday of Sultan QABOOS, 18 November
(1940) |
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Constitution:
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none; note - on 6 November 1996, Sultan
QABOOS issued a royal decree promulgating a new basic law 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 |
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Legal system:
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based on English common law and Islamic
law; ultimate appeal to the monarch; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction |
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Suffrage:
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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 |
|
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
elections: the monarch is hereditary |
|
Legislative branch:
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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) |
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme Court
note: the nascent civil court system, administered by region, has judges who
practice secular and Shari'a law |
Economy
Oman is a middle-income economy that is heavily dependent on dwindling oil
resources, but sustained high oil prices in recent years have helped build
Oman's budget and trade surpluses and foreign reserves. Oman joined the World
Trade Organization in November 2000 and continues to liberalize its markets.
It ratified a free trade agreement with the US in September 2006, and, through
the Gulf Cooperation Council, seeks similar agreements with the EU, China and
Japan. As a result of its dwindling oil resources, Oman is actively pursuing a
development plan that focuses on diversification, industrialization, and
privatization, with the objective of reducing the oil sector's contribution to
GDP to 9 percent by 2020. Muscat is attempting to "Omanize" the
labor force by replacing foreign expatriate workers with local workers. Oman
actively seeks private foreign investors, especially in the industrial,
information technology, tourism, and higher education fields. Industrial
development plans focus on gas resources, metal manufacturing, petrochemicals,
and international transshipment ports.
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GDP:
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$60.89 billion (2007 est.) |
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GDP growth rate:
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4.3% |
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GDP per capita:
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$19,000 |
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GDP composition by sector:
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agriculture: 2.7%
industry: 39%
services: 58.3% |
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Inflation rate:
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1.2% |
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Labor force:
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920,000 (2002 est.) |
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Unemployment:
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15% |
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Electricity production by source:
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fossil fuel: 100% |
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Industries:
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crude oil production and refining, natural
gas production, construction, cement, copper |
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Agriculture:
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dates, limes, bananas, alfalfa, vegetables;
camels, cattle; fish |
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Exports:
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petroleum, reexports, fish, metals,
textiles |
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Export partners:
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China 23.4%, South Korea 17.6%, Japan 15.4%, Thailand
13.7%, UAE 6.2% |
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Imports:
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machinery and transport equipment,
manufactured goods, food, livestock, lubricants |
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Import partners:
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UAE 19.5%, Japan 16.9%, UK 8.4%, US 7.2%, Germany 6.1% |
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Currency:
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Omani rial (OMR) |
SOURCES: The CIA World Factbook, U.S. Department of State, Area Handbook of the US Library of Congress
Copyright 2004 - 2008 worldfacts.us |