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Middle East
Page last updated: July 24, 2024
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 on 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.
Middle East, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, and Persian Gulf, between Yemen and the UAE
21°00' N, 57°00' E
Middle East
Total : 309,500 km²
Land: 309,500 km²
Water: 0 km²
Twice the size of Georgia
Area comparison map:
Total: 1,561 km
Border countries (3): Saudi Arabia 658 km; UAE 609 km; Yemen 294 km
2,092 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
Highest point: Jabal Shams 3,004 m
Lowest point: Arabian Sea 0 m
Mean elevation: 310 m
Petroleum, copper, asbestos, some marble, limestone, chromium, gypsum, natural gas
Agricultural land: 4.7% (2018 est.)
Arable land: 0.1% (2018 est.)
Permanent crops: 0.1% (2018 est.)
Permanent pasture: 4.5% (2018 est.)
Forest: 0% (2018 est.)
Other: 95.3% (2018 est.)
1,079 km² (2020)
Arabian Aquifer System
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
Summer winds often raise large sandstorms and dust storms in interior; periodic droughts
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
Total: 3,901,992
Male: 2,096,126
Female: 1,805,866 (2024 est.)
Comparison rankings: female 132; male 128; total 130
Noun: Omani(s)
Adjective: Omani
Arab, Baluchi, South Asian (Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan, Bangladeshi), African
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.
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
MENA religious affiliation
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)
2023 population pyramid:
Total dependency ratio: 42
Youth dependency ratio: 38
Elderly dependency ratio: 4
Potential support ratio: 25.2 (2021 est.)
Total: 27.3 years (2024 est.)
Male: 28.1 years
Female: 26.3 years
1.75% (2024 est.)
21.1 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)
3.2 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)
-0.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)
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
Urban population: 88.4% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 2.32% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Total population growth rate v. urban population growth rate, 2000-2030
1.650 million MUSCAT (capital) (2023)
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.)
17 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)
Total: 13.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
Male: 15.1 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 12.6 deaths/1,000 live births
Total population: 77.4 years (2024 est.)
Male: 75.5 years
Female: 79.4 years
2.64 children born/woman (2024 est.)
1.29 (2024 est.)
29.7% (2014)
Improved: urban: 100% of population
Rural: 97.9% of population
Total: 99.7% of population
Unimproved: urban: 0% of population
Rural: 2.1% of population
Total: 0.3% of population (2020 est.)
5.3% of GDP (2020)
1.77 physicians/1,000 population (2020)
1.5 beds/1,000 population (2017)
Improved: urban: 100% of population
Rural: 100% of population
Total: 100% of population
Unimproved: urban: 0% of population
Rural: 0% of population
Total: 0% of population (2020 est.)
27% (2016)
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.)
Total: 8% (2020 est.)
Male: 15.5% (2020 est.)
Female: 0.4% (2020 est.)
11.2% (2016/17)
56.4% (2023 est.)
5.4% of GDP (2019 est.)
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 95.7%
Male: 97%
Female: 92.7% (2018)
Total: 15 years
Male: 15 years
Female: 15 years (2021)
Limited natural freshwater resources; high levels of soil and water salinity in the coastal plains; beach pollution from oil spills; industrial effluents seeping into the water tables and aquifers; desertificaiton due to high winds driving desert sand into arable lands
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
Dry desert; hot, humid along coast; hot, dry interior; strong southwest summer monsoon (May to September) in far south
Agricultural land: 4.7% (2018 est.)
Arable land: 0.1% (2018 est.)
Permanent crops: 0.1% (2018 est.)
Permanent pasture: 4.5% (2018 est.)
Forest: 0% (2018 est.)
Other: 95.3% (2018 est.)
Urban population: 88.4% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 2.32% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Total population growth rate v. urban population growth rate, 2000-2030
0% of GDP (2018 est.)
0% of GDP (2018 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 34.88 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: 63.46 megatons (2016 est.)
Methane emissions: 5.6 megatons (2020 est.)
Municipal solid waste generated annually: 1,734,885 tons (2014 est.)
Arabian Aquifer System
Municipal: 130 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Industrial: 240 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Agricultural: 1.55 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
1.4 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
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.)
Absolute monarchy
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, whose meaning is uncertain, traces back almost two millennia; two 2nd century A.D. scholars, the geographer PTOLEMY and the historian ARRIAN, both mention an Arabian Sea coastal town of Moscha, which most likely referred to Muscat
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)
1650 (expulsion of the Portuguese)
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
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 by royal decree 2011, 2021
Mixed legal system of Anglo-Saxon law and Islamic law
Has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
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
21 years of age; universal; note - members of the military and security forces by law cannot vote
Chief of state: Sultan and Prime Minister HAITHAM bin Tarik Al Said (since 11 January 2020)
Head of government: Sultan and Prime HAITHAM bin Tarik Al Said (since 11 January 2020)
Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarch
Description: bicameral Council of Oman or Majlis Oman consists of:
Council of State or Majlis al-Dawla (87 seats including the chairman; members appointed by the sultan from among former government officials and prominent educators, businessmen, and citizens; members serve 4-year term)
Consultative Assembly or Majlis al-Shura (90 seats; members directly elected in single- and 2-seat constituencies by simple majority popular vote to serve renewable 4-year terms)
Elections: Council of State - last appointments on 8 November 2023 (next appointments in November 2027)
Consultative Assembly - last held on 29 October 2023 (next to be held in October 2027)
Election results: Council of State - 87 nonpartisan members were appointed by the sultan; composition - men 68, women 18, percentage women 20.9%
Consultative Assembly percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; 90 nonpartisan members were elected (organized political parties in Oman are legally banned); composition - 90 men, 0 women, percentage women 0%; total Council of Oman percentage women 10.2%
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
None; note - organized political parties are legally banned in Oman, and loyalties tend to form around tribal affiliations
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
Three horizontal bands of white (top), 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
Khanjar dagger superimposed on two crossed swords; national colors: red, white, green
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
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
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
$185.96 billion (2023 est.)
$183.574 billion (2022 est.)
$175.986 billion (2021 est.)
Note: data in 2021 dollars
1.3% (2023 est.)
4.31% (2022 est.)
3.09% (2021 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
$40,000 (2023 est.)
$40,100 (2022 est.)
$38,900 (2021 est.)
Note: data in 2021 dollars
$108.192 billion (2023 est.)
Note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
0.94% (2023 est.)
2.51% (2022 est.)
1.68% (2021 est.)
Note: annual % change based on consumer prices
Fitch rating: BB- (2020)
Moody's rating: Ba3 (2020)
Standard & Poors rating: B+ (2020)
Note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.
Agriculture: 1.8% (2017 est.)
Industry: 46.4% (2017 est.)
Services: 51.8% (2017 est.)
Comparison rankings: services 169; industry 16; agriculture 181
Household consumption: 36.8% (2017 est.)
Government consumption: 26.2% (2017 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 27.8% (2017 est.)
Investment in inventories: 3% (2017 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 51.5% (2017 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -46.6% (2017 est.)
Dates, tomatoes, milk, sorghum, vegetables, goat milk, cucumbers/gherkins, chilies/peppers, watermelons, cantaloupes/melons (2022)
Note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
Crude oil production and refining, natural and liquefied natural gas production; construction, cement, copper, steel, chemicals, optic fiber
5.05% (2022 est.)
Note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
2.316 million (2023 est.)
Note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
1.46% (2023 est.)
1.51% (2022 est.)
1.9% (2021 est.)
Note: % of labor force seeking employment
Total: 14.6% (2021 est.)
Male: 11.6%
Female: 29.6%
On food: 22.6% of household expenditures (2021 est.)
On alcohol and tobacco: 0.2% of household expenditures (2021 est.)
0.04% of GDP (2023 est.)
0.03% of GDP (2022 est.)
0.04% of GDP (2021 est.)
Note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Revenues: $29.334 billion (2018 est.)
Expenditures: $35.984 billion (2018 est.)
-13.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
46.9% of GDP (2017 est.)
32.5% of GDP (2016 est.)
Note: excludes indebtedness of state-owned enterprises
31.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
$5.652 billion (2022 est.)
-$4.834 billion (2021 est.)
-$12.514 billion (2020 est.)
Note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
$69.701 billion (2022 est.)
$46.572 billion (2021 est.)
$35.691 billion (2020 est.)
Note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
China 40%, India 11%, South Korea 6%, UAE 4%, US 4% (2022)
Note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Crude petroleum, natural gas, refined petroleum, fertilizers, semi-finished iron (2022)
Note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
$46.326 billion (2022 est.)
$37.216 billion (2021 est.)
$33.827 billion (2020 est.)
Note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
UAE 27%, Saudi Arabia 11%, India 10%, China 9%, Qatar 5% (2022)
Note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Refined petroleum, cars, iron ore, milk, iron pipes (2022)
Note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
$17.455 billion (2023 est.)
$17.606 billion (2022 est.)
$19.731 billion (2021 est.)
Note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
$46.27 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$27.05 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
Omani rials (OMR) per US dollar -
Exchange rates:
0.385 (2023 est.)
0.385 (2022 est.)
0.385 (2021 est.)
0.385 (2020 est.)
0.385 (2019 est.)
Electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Installed generating capacity: 9.129 million kW (2022 est.)
Consumption: 39.012 billion kWh (2022 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 4.043 billion kWh (2022 est.)
Comparison rankings: transmission/distribution losses 155; consumption 59; installed generating capacity 68
Fossil fuels: 99.4% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Solar: 0.6% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Consumption: 31,000 metric tons (2022 est.)
Exports: 73,000 metric tons (2022 est.)
Imports: 105,000 metric tons (2022 est.)
Total petroleum production: 1.056 million bbl/day (2023 est.)
Refined petroleum consumption: 211,000 bbl/day (2022 est.)
Crude oil estimated reserves: 5.373 billion barrels (2021 est.)
Production: 40.754 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Consumption: 27.364 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Exports: 15.446 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Imports: 1.506 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Proven reserves: 651.287 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
79.559 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 24,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 27.188 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
From consumed natural gas: 52.348 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
285.886 million Btu/person (2022 est.)
Total subscriptions: 563,000 (2022 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 13 (2021 est.)
Total subscriptions: 6.75 million (2022 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 135 (2021 est.)
General assessment: Oman has a modern mobile sector which comprises substantial coverage of both 3G and LTE networks; in February 2021 commercial 5G services were launched; the Covid-19 pandemic has caused a spike in mobile data traffic; while Oman’s fixed broadband infrastructure penetration is considered low, it is being improved with the building of fiber-based networks as part of Oman’s Vision 2040 program; Oman has also established itself as an important communications hub in the Middle East, with access to numerous submarine cables including the 2Africa submarine cable, which should become available during 2023-2024; the 9,800km Oman Australia Cable running from Muscat to Perth, with the potential for a branch line to Djibouti, is making progress and is expected to be completed in December 2021; this additional infrastructure will provide considerable additional bandwidth (2021)
Domestic: fixed-line is 13 per 100 and mobile-cellular is 135 per 100 (2021)
International: country code - 968; landing points for GSA, AAE-1, SeaMeWe-5, Tata TGN-Gulf, FALCON, GBICS/MENA, MENA/Guld Bridge International, TW1, BBG, EIG, OMRAN/EPEG, and POI submarine cables providing connectivity to Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Southeast Asia and Europe; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) (2019)
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)
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Total: 4.32 million (2021 est.)
Percent of population: 96% (2021 est.)
Total: 508,949 (2020 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 11 (2020 est.)
Number of registered air carriers: 2 (2020)
Inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 57
Annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 10,438,241 (2018)
Annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 510.43 million (2018) mt-km
A4O
36 (2024)
20 (2024)
106 km condensate, 4,224 km gas, 3,558 km oil, 33 km oil/gas/water, 264 km refined products (2013)
Total: 60,230 km
Paved: 29,685 km (includes 1,943 km of expressways)
Unpaved: 30,545 km (2012)
Total: 57 (2023)
By type: general cargo 11, other 46
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
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, Customs, Royal Oman Police Coast Guard, Special Task Force (2024)
Note 1: the Sultan’s Special Forces and the ROP Special Task Force are Oman’s primary tactical counterterrorism response forces
Note 2: in addition to its policing duties, the ROP conducts many administrative functions similar to the responsibilities of a Ministry of Interior in other countries
5.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
5.5% of GDP (2022 est.)
8% of GDP (2021 est.)
11% of GDP (2020 est.)
11.8% of GDP (2019 est.)
Approximately 40,000 active-duty troops (25,000 Army, 5,000 Navy; 5,000 Air Force; 5,000 Royal Guard) (2023)
The SAF's inventory includes a mix of older and some more modern weapons systems from a variety of suppliers, particularly Europe and the US; in recent years, the UK has been the leading supplier of arms to Oman (2023)
18 for voluntary military service for men and women (women have been allowed to serve since 2011); no conscription (2023)
The SAF’s primary responsibility is external security; it is a small but well-equipped military that trains regularly, including with foreign partners such as the UK, US, and Gulf Cooperation Council countries; the SAF has a longstanding security relationship with the British military going back to the 18th century; the relationship was notable during the Dhofar Rebellion (1963-1976), when the British military provided considerable assistance to the SAF in their eventually successful counterinsurgency campaign; today, the SAF and the British maintain a joint training base in Oman and exercise together regularly; in 2017, Oman and the UK signed an agreement allowing the British military the use of 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
Oman has a small but relatively modern navy that conducts 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; while Oman is not a member of the US-led, multinational Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), which operates task forces to counter piracy and smuggling, the Omani Navy has at times participated in CMF-led joint exercises (2023)
Refugees (country of origin): 5,000 (Yemen) (2017)