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Sultanate of Oman
Country Overview
Head of State: Sultan Qaboos bin Sa'id
Independence: 1650 (end of Portuguese rule)
Population: 2,903,165
note: includes 577,293 non-nationals (July 2004 est.)
Location/Size: Southeast Arabian Peninsula/82,030 sq. mi. (about the size of Kansas)
Major Cities: Muscat (capital), Salalah, Sur, al-Khasab
Languages: Arabic (official), English
Ethnic Groups: Arab, Baluchi, South Asian (Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan, Bangladeshi), African
Religion: Muslim (Ibadi -- 75%, Sunni, Shi'a), Hindu
Defense (8/98): Army (43,500), Navy (4,200), Air Force (4,100), Royal Household (6,500)
Economic Overview
Currency: Omani Rial
Exchange Rate (9/02): $1 = 0.386 Omani Rial
Nominal Gross Domestic Product (GDP) (2001E): $20.9 billion (2002E): $21.9 billion
Real GDP Growth Rate (2001): 3.3% (2002E): 3.0%
Inflation Rate (consumer prices)(2001E): -1.1% (2002E): 0.9%
Major Trading Partners: Japan, United Arab Emirates, South Korea, United Kingdom, United States, Thailand
Merchandise Trade Balance (2001E): $3.1 billion (2002E): $2.8 billion
Major Export Products: Petroleum, fish, processed copper, textiles
Major Import Products: Machinery, transportation equipment, manufactured goods, food, livestock, lubricants
Monetary Reserves (2002E, non-gold): $2.4 billion
Total External Debt (2002E): $2.9 billion
Society
Population : 2,903,165
Population growth rate: 3.35% (2004 est.)
Birth rate: 37.12 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate: 3.91 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Education: Free public schools consist of primary level of six years, lower secondary level of three years, and upper secondary level of three years. Most teachers (60 percent) foreign.
Health: Improvement and expansion of health care facilities major ongoing government priority. In 1994 infant mortality estimated at thirty-seven per 1,000. In 1994 life expectancy at birth sixty-eight years on average, with sixty-six years for males and seventy years for females.
Ethnic Groups: Most Omanis are Arabs, although numerous citizens of non-Arab African origin. Foreign community includes Egyptians, Pakistanis, Indians, and others.
Religion: Most Omanis are Muslims; Ibadis constitute largest group
Economy
Gross Domestic Product (GDP): purchasing power parity - $36.7 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 1.1% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $13,100 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 3.1%
industry: 42.1%
services: 54.8% (2003 est.)
Oil - production: 963,800 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Exports: $11.7 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.) Exports – commodities include: petroleum, re exports, fish, metals, textiles. Exports – partners include : Japan 22.4%, South Korea 20.5%, China 17.7%, Thailand 12.6%, US 6.7%, Taiwan 5.6% (2003 est.)
Imports: $5.659 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.) Imports – commodities include: machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, livestock, lubricants Imports – partners include: UAE 27.4%, Japan 16.8%, UK 7.5%, US 5.6%, Germany 4.5% (2003 est.)
Agriculture and Fishing: Contributed about 3.8 percent of GDP in 1991.
Currency and Exchange Rate: Omani rials per US dollar - 0.3845 (2003), 0.3845 (2002), 0.3845 (2001), 0.3845 (2000), 0.3845 (1999)
Transportation And Telecommunications
Transportation:
Highway:
total: 34,965 km
paved: 9,673 km (including 550 km of expressways)
unpaved: 25,292 km (2001)
Expressway from Muscat along Gulf of Oman runs to Dubayy in United Arab Emirates. Major airport As Sib International Airport near Muscat. Major port Mina Qabus, near Muscat, being expanded in 1994.
Telecommunications: Telecommunications internationally via satellites; domestic telephone service very limited but being expanded. Televisions available throughout Oman, but radio broadcast facilities limited.
Government And Politics
Government: Sultan Qabus ibn Said ibn Taimur Al Said as head of state and prime minister presides over Council of Ministers. Consultative Council has advisory role but no legislative powers. No constitution.
Politics: No political parties. Important political actors are persons close to sultan, including Western-educated administrators and special advisers.
Foreign Relations: Member of United Nations and its specialized agencies, League of Arab States, Organization of the Islamic Conference, and Gulf Cooperation Council. June 1980 agreement allows United States use of military facilities in Oman
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