The inhabitants of the area of 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 has since ruled as sultan, but he has not designated a successor. His extensive modernization program has opened the country to the outside world, while preserving the longstanding close ties with the UK and US. Oman's moderate, independent foreign policy has sought to maintain good relations with its neighbors and to avoid external entanglements. Inspired by the popular uprisings that swept the Middle East and North Africa beginning in January 2011, some Omanis staged demonstrations, calling 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 increasing 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 Omani 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 have the power to advise the Royal Court on the needs of local districts across Oman's 11 governorates. The Sultan returned to Oman in March 2015 after eight months in Germany, where he received medical treatment. He has since appeared publicly on a few occasions.

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

twice the size of Georgia; slightly smaller than Kansas

2,092 km

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 2,980 m

petroleum, copper, asbestos, some marble, limestone, chromium, gypsum, natural gas

arable land 0.1%; permanent crops 0.1%; permanent pasture 4.5%

590 sq km (2012)

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

rising soil salinity; beach pollution from oil spills; limited natural freshwater resources

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

3,355,262 (July 2016 est.)

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

Arabic (official), English, Baluchi, Urdu, Indian dialects

Muslim (official; majority are Ibadhi, lesser numbers of Sunni and Shia) 85.9%, Christian 6.5%, Hindu 5.5%, Buddhist 0.8%, Jewish <0.1%, other 1%, unaffiliated 0.2% (2010 est.)

2.05% (2016 est.)

24.3 births/1,000 population (2016 est.)

3.3 deaths/1,000 population (2016 est.)

-0.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2016 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

MUSCAT (capital) 838,000 (2015)

17 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

2.84 children born/woman (2016 est.)

24.4% (2007/08)

3.6% of GDP (2014)

2.43 physicians/1,000 population (2012)

1.7 beds/1,000 population (2012)

urban: 95.5% of population

rural: 86.1% of population

total: 93.4% of population

urban: 4.5% of population

rural: 13.9% of population

total: 6.6% of population (2015 est.)

urban: 97.3% of population

rural: 94.7% of population

total: 96.7% of population

urban: 2.7% of population

rural: 5.3% of population

total: 3.3% of population (2015 est.)

0.16% (2014 est.)

2,400 (2014 est.)

less than 100 (2014 est.)

26.5% (2014)

9.7% (2014)

5% of GDP (2013)

absolute monarchy

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)

1996 (the Basic Law of the Sultanate of Oman serves as the constitution); amended by royal decree in 2011 (2016)

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 cannot vote

none; note - organized political parties are legally banned in Oman, and loyalties tend to form around tribal affiliations

none

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, 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

Oman is heavily dependent on its dwindling oil resources, which generate 84% of government revenue. In 2015, low global oil prices drove Oman’s budget deficit to $6.5 billion, or nearly 11% of GDP. Oman has limited foreign assets and is issuing debt to cover its deficit.

Oman is using enhanced oil recovery techniques to boost production and 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 from 46% at present to 9% by 2020. Tourism and gas-based industries are key components of the government's diversification strategy.

Muscat also is focused on creating more jobs to employ the rising number of Omanis entering the workforce. Increases in social welfare benefits, however, particularly since the Arab Spring, dating to 2011, have challenged the government's ability to effectively balance its budget, as oil prices decline. Omani officials intend to reduce social entitlements to cut the deficit but have faced stiff public opposition to spending cuts, hindering their implementation.

$171.4 billion (2015 est.)

$164.6 billion (2014 est.)

$159.9 billion (2013 est.)

$58.49 billion (2015 est.)

4.1% (2015 est.)

2.9% (2014 est.)

4.7% (2013 est.)

$44,600 (2015 est.)

$44,300 (2014 est.)

$44,500 (2013 est.)

13.8% of GDP (2015 est.)

26.9% of GDP (2014 est.)

32.5% of GDP (2013 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

1.3% (2015 est.)

968,800

15% (2004 est.)

NA%

40.3% of GDP (2015 est.)

-20.6% of GDP (2015 est.)

8.3% of GDP (2015 est.)

4.9% of GDP (2014 est.)

calendar year

0.1% (2015 est.)

1% (2014 est.)

2% (31 December 2010)

0.05% (31 December 2009)

4.76% (31 December 2015 est.)

5.08% (31 December 2014 est.)

$13.96 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$12.5 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$39.85 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$35.8 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$45.1 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$33.69 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$20.19 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$19.07 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$20.27 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

-$7.373 billion (2015 est.)

$4.699 billion (2014 est.)

$34.43 billion (2015 est.)

$53.22 billion (2014 est.)

petroleum, reexports, fish, metals, textiles

China 35.4%, UAE 15.3%, South Korea 6.8%, Saudi Arabia 5.8%, Pakistan 4.2% (2015)

$28.27 billion (2015 est.)

$27.89 billion (2014 est.)

machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, livestock, lubricants

UAE 29.7%, Japan 10.2%, US 7.5%, China 6.7%, India 6.3% (2015)

$17.54 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$16.32 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$12.94 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$10.66 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$NA

$NA

Omani rials (OMR) per US dollar -

0.3845 (2015 est.)

0.3845 (2014 est.)

0.3845 (2013 est.)

0.3845 (2012 est.)

0.3845 (2011 est.)

28 billion kWh (2014 est.)

25 billion kWh (2014 est.)

0 kWh (2013 est.)

0 kWh (2013 est.)

8.2 million kW (2014 est.)

100% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

982,000 bbl/day (2015 est.)

806,000 bbl/day (2013 est.)

7,060 bbl/day (2013 est.)

5.3 billion bbl (1 January 2016 es)

158,600 bbl/day (2013 est.)

160,000 bbl/day (2014 est.)

33,450 bbl/day (2013 est.)

14,810 bbl/day (2013 est.)

30.9 billion cu m (2014 est.)

22.6 billion cu m (2014 est.)

10.27 billion cu m (2014 est.)

1.97 billion cu m (2014 est.)

688.1 billion cu m (1 January 2016 es)

69 million Mt (2013 est.)

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)

.om

A4O (2016)

132 (2013)

3 (2013)

condensate 106 km; gas 4,224 km; oil 3,558 km; oil/gas/water 33 km; refined products 264 km (2013)

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)

12.75% of GDP (2016)

14.58% of GDP (2015)

11.8% of GDP (2014)

15% of GDP (2013)

8.61% of GDP (2012)