Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
11 (2023 est.)
Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total
562,000 (2023 est.)
Communications: Broadcast media
1 state-run TV broadcaster; TV stations transmitting from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Iran, and Yemen available via satellite TV; state-run radio operates multiple stations; first private radio station began operating in 2007, and several additional stations now operating (2019)
Communications: Internet country code
.om
Communications: Internet users: percent of population
95.25% (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
11 (2023 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions
579,000 (2023 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
121 (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions
6.35 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Agricultural products
vegetables, dates, milk, tomatoes, sorghum, chillies/peppers, goat milk, cucumbers/gherkins, cantaloupes/melons, cabbages (2023)
Economy: Average household expenditures: on alcohol and tobacco
0.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Economy: Average household expenditures: on food
18.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Economy: Budget: expenditures
$35.984 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Budget: revenues
$29.334 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2013
$5.288 billion (2013 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2014
$4.292 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2015
-$10.847 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2016
-$12.479 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2017
-$11.008 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2018
-$4.438 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2019
-$4.331 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2020
-$12.562 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2021
-$4.836 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2022
$4.362 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2023
$2.638 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2024
$3.069 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates
0.384500 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Currency
Omani rials (OMR) per US dollar -
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2013
0.384500 (2013 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2014
0.384500 (2014 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2015
0.384500 (2015 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2016
0.384500 (2016 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2017
0.384500 (2017 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2018
0.384500 (2018 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2019
0.384500 (2019 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2020
0.384500 (2020 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2021
0.384500 (2021 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2022
0.384500 (2022 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2023
0.384500 (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2024
0.384500 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exports - commodities
crude petroleum, refined petroleum, natural gas, semi-finished iron, fertilizers (2023)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2011
$49.534 billion (2011 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2014
$56.954 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2015
$39.082 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2016
$31.043 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2017
$36.965 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2018
$46.322 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2019
$43.584 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2020
$35.719 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2021
$46.572 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2022
$69.483 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2023
$64.749 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2024
$70.788 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: exports of goods and services
61.1% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: government consumption
19.1% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption
37.8% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: imports of goods and services
-44.8% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in fixed capital
24.3% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in inventories
2.4% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture
2.6% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: industry
54.2% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: services
46.5% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - per capita (PPP)
$41,740 (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (official exchange rate)
$106.943 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (purchasing power parity) - real
$220.452 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, cars, crude petroleum, iron ore, iron pipes (2023)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2010
$24.237 billion (2010 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2015
$36.778 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2016
$31.212 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2017
$34.960 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2018
$35.373 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2019
$32.570 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2020
$34.023 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2021
$37.216 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2022
$46.682 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2023
$47.412 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2024
$52.262 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Industrial production growth rate
0.2% (2024 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2015
0.07% (2015 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2016
1.11% (2016 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017
1.59% (2017 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018
0.89% (2018 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019
0.49% (2019 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020
-0.41% (2020 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021
1.68% (2021 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
2.51% (2022 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
0.95% (2023 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
0.59% (2024 est.)
Economy: Labor force
2.696 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2017
46.9% of GDP (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2014
$177.051 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2015
$150.900 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2016
$146.365 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2017
$152.545 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019
$171.027 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020
$159.026 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021
$174.254 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$188.169 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$190.403 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$193.591 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2015
5.02% (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2016
5.05% (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2017
0.30% (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2018
1.29% (2018 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2019
-1.13% (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2020
-3.38% (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2021
2.58% (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2022
7.99% (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2023
1.41% (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2024
1.63% (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2014
$44,236 (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2015
$36,058 (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2016
$33,334 (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2017
$33,619 (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2019
$37,251 (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2020
$35,163 (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2021
$38,719 (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2022
$42,616 (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2023
$41,945 (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2013
$39.0 million (2013 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2014
$39.0 million (2014 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2015
$39.0 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2020
$39.0 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2021
$39.0 million (2021 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2022
$39.0 million (2022 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2023
$39.0 million (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2024
$39.0 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2015
$17.544 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2016
$20.262 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2017
$16.089 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2018
$17.388 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2019
$16.662 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2020
$15.007 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021
$19.731 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
$17.606 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
$17.455 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024
$18.287 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2019
2.04% (2019 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2020
2.94% (2020 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2021
1.90% (2021 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2022
3.30% (2022 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2023
3.18% (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2024
3.20% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): female
30.9% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): male
11% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): total
13.9% (2024 est.)
Energy: Coal: consumption
82,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: exports
70,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: imports
323,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - total population
100% (2022 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels
96% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: solar
3.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: wind
0.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: consumption
40.738 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: installed generating capacity
11.589 million kW (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: transmission/distribution losses
4.267 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Energy consumption per capita: Total energy consumption per capita 2023
296.586 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: consumption
28.646 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: exports
15.536 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: imports
1.924 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: production
41.726 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: proven reserves
651.287 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: crude oil estimated reserves
5.373 billion barrels (2021 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: refined petroleum consumption
218,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: total petroleum production
1.056 million bbl/day (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from coal and metallurgical coke
661,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from consumed natural gas
54.8 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from petroleum and other liquids
28.611 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions
84.073 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Climate
dry desert; hot, humid along coast; hot, dry interior; strong southwest summer monsoon (May to September) in far south
Environment: Environmental issues
limited natural freshwater resources; high levels of soil and water salinity in the coastal plains; beach pollution from oil spills; industrial effluents in the water table and aquifers; desertification due to high winds driving desert sand into arable lands
Environment: International environmental agreements: party to
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
Environment: International environmental agreements: signed, but not ratified
none of the selected agreements
Environment: Land use: agricultural land
4.8% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 0.3% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0.1% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 4.4% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: forest
0% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: other
95.2% (2023 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: agriculture
36.8 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: energy
673.6 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: other
9.9 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: waste
62.4 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Particulate matter emissions
34.9 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Environment: Total renewable water resources
1.4 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: agricultural
1.547 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: industrial
238 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: municipal
130 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
2.32% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: urban population
79.44% (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually
3.308 million tons (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: percent of municipal solid waste recycled
13.9% (2022 est.)
Geography: Area - comparative
twice the size of Georgia
Geography: Area: land
309,500 sq km
Geography: Area: water
0 sq km
Geography: Coastline
2,092 km
Geography: Elevation: highest point
Jabal Shams 3,004 m
Geography: Elevation: lowest point
Arabian Sea 0 m
Geography: Elevation: mean elevation
310 m
Geography: Geographic coordinates
21 00 N, 57 00 E
Geography: Geography - note
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
Geography: Irrigated land
1,162 sq km (2022)
Geography: Land boundaries: border countries
Saudi Arabia 658 km; UAE 609 km; Yemen 294 km
Geography: Land boundaries: total
1,561 km
Geography: Land use: agricultural land
4.8% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 0.3% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0.1% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 4.4% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: forest
0% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: other
95.2% (2023 est.)
Geography: Major aquifers
Arabian Aquifer System
Geography: Map references
Middle East
Geography: Maritime claims: contiguous zone
24 nm
Geography: Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone
200 nm
Geography: Maritime claims: territorial sea
12 nm
Geography: Natural hazards
summer winds often raise large sandstorms and dust storms in interior; periodic droughts
Geography: Population distribution
the vast majority of the population is located in and around the Al Hagar Mountains in the north; another smaller cluster is found around the city of Salalah in the far south; most of the country remains sparsely populated
Geography: Terrain
central desert plain, rugged mountains in north and south
Government: Administrative divisions
11 governorates ( muhafazat , singular - muhafaza ); 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)
Government: Capital: etymology
the name derives from the Arabic name for the city, Masqat, which is said to mean "hidden" and refers to the range of hills that isolate the port city from the rest of the country
Government: Capital: geographic coordinates
23 37 N, 58 35 E
Government: Capital: time difference
UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by birth
no
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by descent only
the father must be a citizen of Oman
Government: Citizenship: dual citizenship recognized
no
Government: Citizenship: residency requirement for naturalization
unknown
Government: Constitution: amendment process
promulgated by the sultan or proposed by the Council of Oman and drafted by a technical committee as stipulated by royal decree and then promulgated through royal decree
Government: Constitution: history
promulgated by royal decree 6 November 1996 (the Basic Law of the Sultanate of Oman serves as the constitution); amended by royal decree in 2011
Government: Country name: conventional short form
Oman
Government: Country name: etymology
the origin of the name is uncertain, but it may date back at least 2,000 years, with an "Omana" mentioned by Pliny the Elder (1st century A.D.) and an "Omanon" by Ptolemy (2nd century A.D.); it is said to derive from Oman ben Ibrahim al Khalil (Oman ben Kahtan), who founded the state
Government: Country name: former
Sultanate of Muscat and Oman
Government: Country name: local long form
Saltanat Uman
Government: Country name: local short form
Uman
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission
Ambassador Ana ESCROGIMA (since 4 December 2023)
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: email address and website
ConsularMuscat@state.gov https://om.usembassy.gov/
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy
P.C. 115, Madinat Al Sultan Qaboos, Muscat
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: FAX
[968] 2464-3740
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: mailing address
6220 Muscat Place, Washington DC 20521
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: telephone
[968] 2464-3400
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chancery
2535 Belmont Road, NW, Washington, DC 20008
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission
Ambassador Talal Sulaiman AL-RAHBI (since 24 July 2025)
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: email address and website
washington@fm.gov.om Embassy of the Sultanate of Oman, Washington, USA - FM.gov.om
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: FAX
[1] (202) 745-4933
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: telephone
[1] (202) 387-1980
Government: Executive branch: cabinet
Cabinet appointed by the monarch
Government: Executive branch: chief of state
Sultan and Prime Minister HAITHAM bin Tarik Al Said (since 11 January 2020)
Government: Executive branch: head of government
Sultan and Prime Minister HAITHAM bin Tarik Al Said (since 11 January 2020)
Government: Flag
description: three equal horizontal bands of white (top), red, and green, with a vertical red band on the left side; the national emblem (a khanjar dagger in its sheath on top of crossed swords in scabbards) in white is centered near the top of the vertical band meaning: white stands for peace and prosperity, red for battles against foreign invaders, and green for the Jebel al Akhdar (Green Mountains) and fertility
Government: International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Government: International organization participation
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, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Government: Judicial branch: highest court(s)
Supreme Court (consists of 5 judges)
Government: Judicial branch: judge selection and term of office
judges nominated by the 9-member Supreme Judicial Council (chaired by the monarch) and appointed by the monarch; judges appointed for life
Government: Judicial branch: subordinate courts
Courts of Appeal; Administrative Court; Courts of First Instance; sharia courts; magistrates' courts; military courts
Government: Legal system
mixed system of Anglo-Saxon law and Islamic law
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: chamber name
Shura Council (Majles A'Shura)
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: electoral system
other systems
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: expected date of next election
October 2027
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: most recent election date
11/1/2023
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: number of seats
90 (all directly elected)
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: percentage of women in chamber
0%
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: scope of elections
full renewal
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: term in office
4 years
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: chamber name
State Council (Majles Addawla)
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: expected date of next election
November 2027
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: most recent election date
10/29/2023
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: number of seats
87 (all appointed)
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: percentage of women in chamber
20.9%
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: scope of elections
full renewal
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: term in office
4 years
Government: Legislative branch: legislative structure
bicameral
Government: Legislative branch: legislature name
Majles
Government: National anthem(s): history
adopted 1932; new lyrics written after QABOOS bin Said al Said came to power in 1970; first performed by the band of the HMS Hawkins as a salute to the Sultan during a 1932 visit to Muscat; the ship's bandmaster did the arrangement
Government: National anthem(s): lyrics/music
Rashid bin Uzayyiz al KHUSAIDI/James Frederick MILLS, arranged by Bernard EBBINGHAUS
Government: National color(s)
red, white, green
Government: National heritage: selected World Heritage Site locales
Bahla Fort; Archaeological Sites of Bat; Land of Frankincense; Aflaj Irrigation Systems of Oman; Ancient Qalhat
Government: National heritage: total World Heritage Sites
5 (all cultural)
Government: National holiday
National Day, 18 November
Government: National symbol(s)
khanjar dagger on top of two crossed swords
Government: Political parties
note: organized political parties are banned in Oman, and loyalties tend to form around tribal affiliations
Government: Suffrage
21 years of age; universal
Introduction: Background
The inhabitants of the area of present-day 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 ruled as sultan for the next five decades. His extensive modernization program opened the country to the outside world. He prioritized strategic ties to the UK and US, and his moderate, independent foreign policy allowed Oman to maintain good relations with its neighbors and avoid external entanglements. In 2011, the popular uprisings that swept the Middle East and North Africa inspired demonstrations in Oman that called for more jobs and economic benefits and an end to corruption. In response, QABOOS implemented economic and political reforms such as granting Oman’s legislative body more power and authorizing direct elections for its lower house. Additionally, the sultan increased unemployment benefits and issued a royal directive mandating a national public- and private-sector job creation plan. 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 2012. QABOOS, Oman's longest reigning monarch, died in 2020. His cousin, HAYTHAM bin Tariq Al Said, former Minister of Heritage and Culture, was sworn in as Oman's new sultan the same day.
Military and Security: Military - note
the Sultan's Armed Forces (SAF) are responsible for defending the country, ensuring internal security, and protecting the monarchy; it trains with foreign partners such as the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, the UK, and the US; the SAF has a security relationship with the British military going back to the 18th century; today, the SAF and the British maintain a joint training base in Oman, and the British military uses the facilities at Al Duqm Port; in 2019, the US obtained access to the port, expanding on previous military cooperation agreements in 2014, 2010, and 1980; Oman also allows other nations to use some of its maritime facilities, including China; the SAF is part of the Peninsula Shield Forces, a joint military force established by the GCC countries with the aim of maintaining security and stability in the region Oman's naval forces conduct maritime security operations along the country’s long coastline, including patrolling, ensuring freedom of navigation in the key naval chokepoint of the Strait of Hormuz, and countering piracy and smuggling; Oman participates in the US-led, multinational Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), which operates multinational task forces conducting maritime security in regional waters (2025)
Military and Security: Military and security forces
Sultan's Armed Forces (SAF): Royal Army of Oman (RAO), Royal Navy of Oman (RNO), Royal Air Force of Oman (RAFO), Royal Guard of Oman (RGO), Sultan's Special Forces Royal Oman Police (ROP): Civil Defense, Immigration, Infrastructure Security Police, Coast Guard Police, Special Security Police, Special Task Force (2024)
Military and Security: Military and security service personnel strengths
approximately 40,000 active Sultan's Armed Forces (2025)
Military and Security: Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the SAF's inventory includes a mix of older and some more modern weapons systems from a variety of suppliers, particularly the UK and the US; other suppliers have included China, EU countries, South Africa, and Türkiye (2025)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2015
9.57% (2015 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2016
10.56% (2016 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2017
8.41% (2017 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2018
8.27% (2018 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2019
7.44% (2019 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2020
8.03% (2020 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2021
6.62% (2021 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2022
5.26% (2022 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2023
5.53% (2023 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2024
5.59% (2024 est.)
Military and Security: Military service age and obligation
18-25 for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription (2025)
People and Society: Age structure: 0-14 years
29.8% (male 594,909/female 566,682)
People and Society: Age structure: 15-64 years
66.2% (male 1,428,141/female 1,155,438)
People and Society: Age structure: 65 years and over
4% (2024 est.) (male 73,076/female 83,746)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: beer
0.17 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: other alcohols
0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: spirits
0.29 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: total
0.47 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: wine
0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Birth rate
20.65 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Children under the age of 5 years underweight
11.2% (2017 est.)
People and Society: Current health expenditure
3.49% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Currently married women (ages 15-49)
55.8% (2020 est.)
People and Society: Death rate
3.17 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: elderly dependency ratio
6.2 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: potential support ratio
16.2 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio
50.8 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: youth dependency ratio
44.6 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: rural
rural: 76.3% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: total
total: 92.4% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: urban
urban: 94.7% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: rural
rural: 23.7% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: total
total: 7.6% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: urban
urban: 5.3% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% GDP)
4.3% of GDP (2022 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% national budget)
14.2% national budget (2022 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditures
4.38% (2022 est.)
People and Society: Ethnic groups
Arab, Baluchi, South Asian (Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan, Bangladeshi), African
People and Society: Gross reproduction rate
1.27 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
4.4% of GDP (2021)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
8.3% of national budget (2022 est.)
People and Society: HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
0.10% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Hospital bed density
1.0 beds/1,000 population (2023 est.)
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: female
12.6 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: male
15.1 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: total
13.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
People and Society: Languages: Languages
Arabic (official), English, Baluchi, Swahili, Urdu, Indian dialects
People and Society: Languages: major-language sample(s)
كتاب حقائق العالم، المصدر الذي لا يمكن الاستغناء عنه للمعلومات الأساسية (Arabic) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: female
82.0 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: male
78.7 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: female
94.9% (2022 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: male
98.6% (2022 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: total population
97.34% (2022 est.)
People and Society: Major urban areas - population
1.650 million MUSCAT (capital) (2023)
People and Society: Maternal mortality ratio
13 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
People and Society: Median age: female
26.3 years
People and Society: Median age: male
28.1 years
People and Society: Nationality: adjective
Omani
People and Society: Net migration rate
-0.49 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Obesity - adult prevalence rate
27% (2016)
People and Society: Physician density
1.99 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
People and Society: Population
5,281,538 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Population distribution
the vast majority of the population is located in and around the Al Hagar Mountains in the north; another smaller cluster is found around the city of Salalah in the far south; most of the country remains sparsely populated
People and Society: Population growth rate
1.7% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Population: female
1,839,744
People and Society: Population: male
2,130,080
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: rural
rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: total
total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: urban
urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: rural
rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: total
total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: urban
urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): female
14 years (2021 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): male
13 years (2021 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total
13 years (2021 est.)
People and Society: Sex ratio: 0-14 years
1.05 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 15-64 years
1.24 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 65 years and over
0.87 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: at birth
1.05 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: total population
1.16 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: female
0.4% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: male
17.9% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: total
11.6% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Total fertility rate
2.51 children born/woman (2024 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
2.32% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: urban population
79.44% (2024 est.)
Terrorism: Terrorist group(s)
Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees
714 (2024 est.)
Transportation: Airports
37 (2025)
Transportation: Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
A4O
Transportation: Heliports
20 (2025)
Transportation: Merchant marine: by type
general cargo 11, other 46
Transportation: Merchant marine: total
57 (2023)
Transportation: Ports: key ports
Duqm, Khawr Khasab, Mina Al Fahl, Mina Raysut, Sohar
Transportation: Ports: large
0
Transportation: Ports: medium
1
Transportation: Ports: ports with oil terminals
6
Transportation: Ports: small
4
Transportation: Ports: total ports
7 (2024)
Transportation: Ports: very small
2
Warning: Some information might be outdated or incorrect, please check statistics before using(most of the economical stats are correct, its mostly the Population stats that are incorrect). Some dates are listed but some are missed, if you have any issues please report it to the Github at github.com.