(pop. over 400 000)
Government:
Type: Monarchy
Independence: 1650 (expulsion of the Portuguese)
Constitution: On 6 November 1996, Sultan Qaboos issued a royal decree promulgating
the Basic Law which, 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.
Political parties: None
Geography:
Location: Middle East, Southeast Arabian Peninsula, bordering the Arabian Sea,
Gulf of Oman, and the Persian Gulf, between Yemen and UAE.
Area: 309,500 km² (119,498 sq. mi.)
Terrain: Central desert plain, rugged mountains in north and south.
Climate: Oman is hot, humid along the coast, hot and arid in the interior; from mid-June to mid-September monsoon in the far south.
People:
Nationality: Noun--Oman. Adjective--Omani
Population: 4,45 million (2020)
GNI per capita PPP: $ 41,680 (year)
Ethnic groups: Arab, Baluchi, East African (Zanzibar), South Asian (Indian, Pakistani,
Bangladeshi)
Religions: Ibadi Muslim 75%; Sunni Muslim, Shia Muslim, Hindu, Christian.
Languages: Arabic
(official), English, Baluchi, Urdu, Swahili, Hindi, and other Indian dialects.
Literacy: approx. 80% (total population)
Natural resources: Petroleum, copper, asbestos, some marble, limestone,
chromium, gypsum, natural gas.
Agriculture products: Dates, limes, bananas, alfalfa, vegetables; camels,
cattle; fish.
Industries: Crude oil production and refining, natural gas production,
construction, cement, copper.
Exports - commodities: petroleum, reexports, fish, metals, textiles
Exports - partners: China 46%,
India 8%,
Japan 6%,
South Korea 6%,
United Arab Emirates 6%,
Saudi Arabia 5% (2019)
Imports - commodities: machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, livestock, lubricants
Imports - partners: United Arab Emirates 36%, China 10%, Japan 7%, India 7%,
United States 5% (2019)
Currency: Rial Omani (OMR)
(Source: Oman Ministry of Information and others)
Oman in Figures
Oman key statistical data.