Country Facts - Oman

The People

Nationality

Omani(s)

Ethnic Composition

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

Religious Composition

Ibadhi Muslim 75%
Also: Sunni Muslim, Shi'a Muslim, Hindu.

Languages Spoken

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

Education and Literacy

Since 1970, the government has made education a high priority in order to enhance the domestic workforce. In 1986, Oman's first university opened. Students are awarded yearly government scholarships for study abroad. Literacy is at 80 percent.

Labor Force

Total: 920,000 (2002)

Geography

Land Mass Total

82,031 sq mi (212,460 sq km)

Land

82,031 sq mi (212,460 sq km)

Land Boundaries

Total: 853 mi (1,374 km)
Border countries: Saudi Arabia 420 mi (676 km), UAE 254 mi (410 km), Yemen 178 mi (288 km)

Coastline

1,299 mi (2,092 km)

Maritime claim

Contiguous zone: 24 nm
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate/Weather

Dry desert; hot, humid along coast; hot, dry interior; strong southwest summer monsoon (May to September) in far south.

Terrain

Vast central desert plain, rugged mountains in north and south.

Elevation extremes

Lowest: Arabian Sea 0 ft (0 m)
Highest: Jabal Shams 9,776 ft (2,980 m)

Natural Resources

Petroleum, copper, asbestos, some marble, limestone, chromium, gypsum, natural gas.

Land use

Arable land	0%
Permanent crops	0%
Other	100%

(1998)

Natural hazards

Summer winds often raise large sandstorms and dust storms in interior; periodic droughts.

Environment - current issues

Rising soil salinity; beach pollution from oil spills; very limited natural freshwater resources.

Geography Note

Strategic location on Musandam Peninsula adjacent to Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude oil.

Demographics

Population

2,713,462 (July 2002)
Note: includes 527,078 non-nationals.

Age structure

0-14 years:	41.9%	Male: 579,065	Female: 556,923
15-64 years:	55.7%	Male: 914,494	Female: 597,948
65 years and over:	2.4%	Male: 34,555	Female: 30,477

(2002))

Growth Rate

3.41% (2002)

Life Expectancy

72.31 years (2002)
female: 74.57 years
male: 70.15 years

GDP Per Capita

Purchasing power parity
US$8,200 (2001)

Infant Mortality

21.77 deaths/1,000 live births (2002)

Sex ratio

At birth:	1.05 male(s)/female
Under 15 years:	1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years:	1.53 male(s)/female
65 years and over:	1.13 male(s)/female
Total population:	1.29 male(s)/female

(2002)

Net migration rate

0.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002)

Economy & Trade

Oman's economic performance improved significantly in 2000 due largely to the upturn in oil prices. The government is moving ahead with privatization of its utilities, the development of a body of commercial law to facilitate foreign investment, and increased budgetary outlays. Oman continues to liberalize its markets and joined the World Trade Organization (WTO) in November 2000. GDP growth improved in 2001 despite the global slowdown. By 2002, GDP growth was at 2.9 percent, although predictions for 2003 are as low as 1 percent due to regional conflicts. Oman remains outside of OPEC and can, thus, fluctuate its petroleum output at will for its own benefit. Oman also remains a strong player in the related LNG market.

Unemployment

N/A

Inflation Rate

1% (2001)

Industries

Crude oil production and refining, natural gas production, construction, cement, copper.

Exports

US$10.9 billion (f.o.b., 2001)

Imports

US$5.4 billion (f.o.b., 2001)

Total Trade

Purchasing power parity
GDP US$21.5 billion (2001)

Top Export Partners

Japan 21%, Thailand 18%, China 16%, South Korea 12%, UAE 12%, US 3% (2001)

Top Import Partners

UAE 23% (largely re-exports), Japan 16%, UK 13%, Italy 7%, Germany 5%, US 5% (2001)

Top Exports

Petroleum, reexports, fish, metals, textiles.

Top Imports

Machinery, transportation equipment, manufactured goods, food, livestock, lubricants.

Debt - external

US$5.3 billion (2000)

Economic aid

US$76.4 million (1995)

Fiscal Year:

Calendar year

Business Workweek

	Saturday - Thursday (Islamic workweek)	Friday
Offices	Saturday to Wednesday 8a.m. to 1p.m. and 4p.m. to 7p.m. Thursday 8a.m. to 1p.m. These hours are slightly reduced during the Holy Month of Fasting, Ramadan.	Closed
Retail	8a.m. to noon or 1p.m., 4p.m. to 8p.m. Some retail outlets are also open Thursday for slightly shorter hours. Souks are open Sunday to Thursday 8a.m. to 11a.m. and 4p.m. to 7p.m.	Most retail outlets are closed on Friday.
Banks	Saturday to Wednesday 8a.m. to noon and Thursday 8a.m. to 11:30a.m.	Closed
Government	Saturday to Wednesday 7:30a.m. to 2:30p.m. During Ramadan, offices open and close one hour later than usual.	Closed

Holidays

Official Holidays

Holidays	2003	2004	2005
New Year's Day	January 1	January 1	January 1
Festival of Sacrifice (Eid Al Adha)¹	February 12	February 2	January 21
Islamic New Year²	March 5	February 22	February 10
Birthday of Prophet Mohammad (Mawlid an Nabi)³	May 14	May 2	April 21
Start of Ramadan*¹	October 27	October 15	October 4
National Day	November 18	November 18	November 18
Birthday of HM Sultan Qaboos	November 19	November 19	November 19
End of Ramadan (Eid Al Fatr)*²	November 26	November 14	November 3
Bank Holiday	December 31	December 31	December 31

¹	Culmination of the Haj or Holy Pilgrimage.
²	The lunar Islamic Hijra calendar is made up of 12 months, each month alternating between 29 and 30 days per month, culminating in a total of 354 days per year. The Hijra calendar is based on the cycles of the moon and annually moves 11 days backward through the seasons.
³	The Birthday of the Prophet Mohammad is celebrated on the twelfth day in the month of Rabi'l of the Islamic calendar.
*¹	Ramadan (the month of fasting) begins with the first appearance of the new moon in the ninth month of the lunar Islamic Hijra calendar, and lasts 30 days. Dates for the start of Ramadan will vary from country to country, depending on the first appearance of the moon.
*²	Feasting that officially marks the end of Ramadan, and commonly lasts for 3 days.

Country information used by permission of World Trade Press