Oman Facts

by countryaah · Published June 3, 2019 · Updated April 26, 2020

Oman, state on the eastern tip of the Arabian Peninsula; 212 450 km², 4.8 million residents (2019).Oman borders on the northwest to the United Arab Emirates, on the west to Saudi Arabia and on the southwest to Yemen, and on the north coast to the Gulf of Oman and in the east to the Indian Ocean. Also included is the Oman enclave Ruus al-Jibal at the far end of the Musandam Peninsula between the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf. The capital is Muscat (1.3 million residents in the metropolitan area, 2015).

Country facts

Salṭanat ˙Umān / Sultanate of Oman
Country abbreviation: OM
Area: 212 450 km²
Population (2019): 4.8 million residents
Capital: Nutmeg
Main languages: Arabic
State: Sultanate
Head of State and Head of Government: Haitham bin Tariq al-Said (Sultan)
Per capita GDP (2018): US $ 16,419
GNI per capita (2018): US $ 15,110
Currency unit: 1 rial = 1 000 baisa
Currency code: OMR
Country number (telephony): 968
Internet domain name: about
Time difference compared to Sweden: +3
National Day: November 18 (Sultan’s Birthday)

Nature

Land use: agricultural land (0.3%), other (99.7%)
Highest mountain: Jabal al-Akhdar (3,018 m asl)

Population

Population density (2019): 22 residents per km²
Natural population growth (2019): 1.8%; birth number 20 ‰, death number 2 ‰
Age structure (2019): 0-14 years (22%), 15-64 (75%), 65- (3%)
Average life expectancy (2019): men 76 years, women 80 years
Infant mortality (2019): 9 per 1,000 live births
Population forecast 2050: 7 million residents
HDI (2017): 0.821 (place 48 of 189)
Urbanization rate (2019): 85%
Most populous cities (2015): Muscat (1.3 million residents in the metropolitan area), Salala (310 900 residents)

Business

Industry’s contribution to GDP (2017): agriculture (2%), industry (46%), service (52%)
Exports of goods (2017): US $ 103,300 million
Main export products: oil, natural gas, fish
Main exporting countries: China, United Arab Emirates, South Korea
Imports of goods (2017): US $ 24,120 million
Main import products: machinery, transport, food
Main Importing Countries: United Arab Emirates, USA, Brazil
Railway network: nothing in operation

Most of Oman is the stone desert. To the south of the wooded al-Hajar mountain range, a large stone desert spreads with several oases. The stone desert turns west into the huge sand desert Rub al-Khali with up to 150 m high sand dunes. Further south, a relatively fertile coastal plain is spreading. Oman has a steep and desert climate.

The country is ruled by a sultan who has absolute power, legislates through decrees, appoints the government and himself is both prime minister, foreign, defense and finance minister. A parliament with lower house ( Majlis al-Shura ) and upper house ( Majlis al-Dawla ) has advisory function in legislative and development issues.

Oman has built up a mixed economy with elements of both private and public companies. The economy, which has grown rapidly but unevenly since the 1960s, is heavily dependent on oil and gas exports, but in recent years efforts have been made to modernize and diversify the economy. Lack of water and highly variable rainfall makes farming unsafe, and irrigation is necessary.