Form of Government: Sultanate
Area: 309 980 sq km
Population: 4 471 148 inhab. (census 2020)
Density: 14.42 inhab./sq km
Coordinates: lat. 26° - 17° N; long. 52° - 60° E
Capital: Muscat=Masqaț (capital) 31 409 inhab. (2020); Mascate=Masqaț 1 302 440 inhab. (2020), urban agglomeration
Currency: Omani rial (1000 baiza)
Human development index: 0.813 (rank: 60)
Sovereign: Sultan Haitham bin Ṭāriq bin Taimūr Āl Sa‘īd, since 11 January 2020
Internet: www.ncsi.gov.om (National Center for Statistics)
Member of Arab League, GCC, OIC, UN, WTO
Oman

International license plate code OM
International dialling code 00968
Travel vaccinations requirement yellow fever (required only if traveling from a country with risk of transmission)
Electricity (Voltage) 220/240
Driving side rigth
Internet code .om
GMT +4
DST not applied
Annual average temperature (°C) Mascate 28.4
Average temperature in January/July (°C) Mascate 22/33
Annual average precipitation (mm) Mascate 109
Days of rainfall (annual average) Mascate 8
Geography.
Oman is bordered to the south-west by Yemen, to the west by Saudi Arabia and to the northwest by the UAE. Its coasts are formed to the north-east by the Gulf of Oman, to the east by the Arabian Sea and to the south by the Indian Ocean. The Kuria Muria Islands (78 km²) became a part of Oman in 1967. The Madha and Musandam peninsula exclaves are surrounded by the UAE on their land borders.
Government
A British protectorate from 1891 to 1971, Oman has been ruled by the Āl-Bū-Sa‘īd dynasty since the 18th century. It has an absolute monarchy; the Sultan controls the state using the Council of Oman, formed by the Consultative Assembly (86 members elected for four years) and the Council of State (up to 85 royally appointed members). Political parties are not allowed. The right to vote is acquired at the age of 21 (military and law enforcement members are allowed to vote at a younger age).
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Air force | 11.7 | % | 2015 |
Army | 58.7 | % | 2015 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Crimes | 313.3 | per 100 000 pop. | 2017 |
Homicides | 0.7 | per 100 000 pop. | 2014 |
Administrative division
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
As-Sīb | 479 893 | inhab. | 2020 |
Bawshar | 383 257 | inhab. | 2020 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Mascate=Masqaț | 1 302 440 | inhab. | 2020 |
Population
Population by age and gender (% - 2020) | ||||||||
| ||||||||
MALE | AGE | FEMALE |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Birth rate | 18.513 | ‰ | 2019 |
Death rate | 2.422 | ‰ | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Arab | 55.3 | % | 2000 |
Indo-Pakistani | 31.7 | % | 2000 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Muslim | 85.9 | % | 2010 |
Christian | 6.5 | % | 2010 |
DESCRIPTION |
---|
Arabic (official) |
English |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
0-14 years | 29.9 | % | 2020 |
15-29 years | 27.6 | % | 2020 |
Economy
The economy is essentially oil-based, thanks to the presence of many oil fields connected by a network of pipelines to the refineries at Mīnā’ al Faḥl and Ṣuḥār (a third is being built at Ad-Duqm). Natural gas, often extracted in the oil production areas, is sent to the liquefaction plant at Qalhāt before being exported. Other mineral products include chromite, copper, gold, gypsum and marble. There are metal-working plants and cement works. Fishing is also important (sardines, tuna).
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Agricultural prod. index (2004-06=100) | 143.69 | index | 2016 |
Agricultural prod. index (2014-16=100) | 132.79 | index | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Active population | 2 677 983 | units | 2020 |
Active population, Females | 12.7 | % | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Unemployment rate | 5$ | % | 2020 |
Unemployment rate, Females | 56.8 | % | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Expenses | 13 063.6 | M LCU | 2019 |
Revenues | 10 410.1 | M LCU | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
agriculture | 4.6 | % | 2019 |
industry | 32.8 | % | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
agriculture | 2.258 | % | 2019 |
industry | 51.552 | % | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Currency in circulation | 1.611 | BN LCU | 2019 |
International reserves | 15 007.357 | M US$ | 2020 |
Agriculture
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
arable land | 0.352 | % | 2018 |
forests | 0.008 | % | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
barley | 1.677 | 1000 t | 2019 |
cereals, total | 65.375 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
potatoes | 15.766 | 1000 t | 2019 |
roots and tubers, total | 15.766 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cabbages | 20.242 | 1000 t | 2019 |
carrots and turnips | 18.303 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
sugar cane | 1.437 | 1000 t | 2019 |
tobacco | 1.164 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
fruits, total | 510.473 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
citrus fruits | 7.189 | 1000 t | 2019 |
lemons | 7.189 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
bananas | 18.447 | 1000 t | 2019 |
dates | 372.572 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
barley | 0.613 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
maize | 1.027 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
potatoes | 0.582 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cabbages | 0.669 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
carrots and turnips | 0.582 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
sugar cane | 0.136 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
tobacco | 0.256 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
citrus fruits | 1.414 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
lemons | 1.414 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
bananas | 1.575 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
dates | 25.382 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
Forests-Livestock-Fishing
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
timber | 50 115 | m³ | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cattle | 404.851 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
cattle and buffaloes | 404.851 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
sheep | 617.394 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
goats | 2 348.277 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
asses | 22.623 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
asses and mules | 22.623 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
camels | 273.49 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
birds | 4 909 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
honey | 0.616 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
butter | 0.955 | 1000 t | 2018 |
cheese | 3.213 | 1000 t | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
crustaceans and molluscs | 16 469 | t | 2019 |
freshwater fishes | 192 | t | 2019 |
Minerals
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
natural gas | 36 930.4 | M m³ | 2020 |
oil, crude | 47 327 | 1000 t | 2020 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
chromite | 690 | 1000 t | 2019 |
copper | 8$ | 1000 t | 2015 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
clay | 460 | 1000 t | 2018 |
gypsum | 11 000 | 1000 t | 2020 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
kaolin | 12.5 | 1000 t | 2019 |
limestone | 13 933 | 1000 t | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
gold | 3$ | kg | 2017 |
silver | 120 | kg | 2017 |
Energy
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
- thermal | 35 406.98 | M kWh | 2018 |
non-renewable electricity generation | 99.989 | % | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
- thermal | 8 820 | 1000 kW | 2018 |
- other renew. | 8$ | 1000 kW | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
total net generation | 35 410.98 | M kWh | 2018 |
total installed capacity | 8 828 | 1000 kW | 2018 |
Industry
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
aluminium | 391 | 1000 t | 2019 |
copper | 22$ | 1000 t | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
petrol | 4 133.8 | 1000 t | 2014 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
ammonia | 1 700 | 1000 t | 2020 |
nitrogen fertilizers | 1 603.8 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
fish, frozen | 28.1 | 1000 t | 2003 |
maize oil | 12$ | 1000 t | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
other paper | 4$ | 1000 t | 2019 |
paper | 4$ | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cement | 6 000 | 1000 t | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
chemicals production | 1 087.781 | M US$ | 2018 |
food, beverages and tobacco production | 740.704 | M US$ | 2018 |
Trade
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
fuels | 75.185 | % of goods exports | 2018 |
manufactures | 15.762 | % of goods exports | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
United Arab Emirates | 1 702 | M US$ | 2010 |
India | 889.7 | M US$ | 2010 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
United Arab Emirates | 4 828 | M US$ | 2010 |
China | 886.6 | M US$ | 2010 |
Tourism
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Expenditures | 3 387 | M US$ | 2019 |
Number of arrivals | 2 500 000 | units | 2019 |
Communications
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Civil aviation, km flown | 51 700 000 | km flown | 2004 |
Civil aviation, passengers carried | 11 240 | 1000 units | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Broadband subscribers | 102.442 | per 1000 pop. | 2019 |
Computers | 169 | per 1000 pop. | 2008 |
Social and welfare
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Expected years of schooling | 14.311 | years | 2019 |
Graduates | 27 651 | units | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Students, primary level | 290 045 | units | 2019 |
Students, secondary level | 436 578 | units | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Hospital beds | 1.5 | per 1000 pop. | 2019 |
Physicians | 2.1 | per 1000 pop. | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
HIV | -0.1 | % of adults | 2019 |
HIV, total | 0.04 | % | 2001 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Museums | 12$ | units | 2019 |
Museums, visitors | 408 000 | units | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Research and development spending | 0.22 | % of GDP | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Access to clean fuels and technologies for cooking | 100 | % | 2019 |
Access to electricity | 100 | % | 2019 |