第 202 页

People Oman

Population:

3,311,640

note: includes 577,293 non-nationals (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 42.7% (male 721,796/female 692,699)

15-64 years: 54.5% (male 1,053,040/female 752,962)

65 years and over: 2.8% (male 51,290/female 39,853) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 18.9 years

male: 21.3 years

female: 16.6 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

3.19% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

35.26 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

3.68 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

0.33 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 1.4 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 1.29 male(s)/female

total population: 1.23 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 17.45 deaths/1,000 live births

male: 19.95 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 14.83 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 73.91 years

male: 71.64 years

female: 76.29 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

5.62 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

1,300 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

fewer than 200 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Omani(s)

adjective: Omani

Ethnic groups:

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

Religions:

Ibadhi Muslim 75%, other (includes Sunni Muslim, Shi'a Muslim, Hindu) 25%

Languages:

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

Literacy:

definition: NA

total population: 81.4%

male: 86.8%

female: 73.5% (2003 census)

Government Oman

Country name:

conventional long form: Sultanate of Oman

conventional short form: Oman

local long form: Saltanat Uman

local short form: Uman

former: Muscat and Oman

Government type:

monarchy

Capital:

name: Muscat

geographic coordinates: 23 37 N, 58 35 E

time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

5 regions (manatiq, singular - mintaqat) and 4 governorates* (muhafazat, singular - muhafazat) Ad Dakhiliyah, Al Batinah, Al Buraymi*, Al Wusta, Ash Sharqiyah, Az Zahirah, Masqat (Muscat)*, Musandam*, Zufar (Dhofar)*

Independence:

1650 (expulsion of the Portuguese)

National holiday:

Birthday of Sultan QABOOS, 18 November (1940)

Constitution:

none; note - on 6 November 1996, Sultan QABOOS issued a royal decree promulgating a basic law considered by the government to be a constitution which, among other things, 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

Legal system:

based on English common law and Islamic law; ultimate appeal to the monarch; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

21 years of age; universal; note - members of the military and security forces are not allowed to vote

Executive branch:

chief of state: Sultan and Prime Minister QABOOS bin Said al-Said (sultan since 23 July 1970 and prime minister since 23 July 1972); note - the monarch is both the chief of state and head of government

head of government: Sultan and Prime Minister QABOOS bin Said al-Said (sultan since 23 July 1970 and prime minister since 23 July 1972)

cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarch

elections: the monarch is hereditary

Legislative branch:

bicameral Majlis Oman consists of Majlis al-Dawla or upper chamber (70 seats; members appointed by the monarch; has advisory powers only) and Majlis al-Shura or lower chamber (84 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms; body has some limited power to propose legislation, but otherwise has only advisory powers)

elections: last held 27 October 2007 (next to be held in 2011)

election results: new candidates won 46 seats and 38 members of the outgoing Majlis kept their positions; none of the 20 female candidates were elected

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court

note: the nascent civil court system, administered by region, has judges who practice secular and Sharia law

Political parties and leaders:

none

Political pressure groups and leaders:

none

International organization participation:

ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, FAO, G-77, GCC, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Hunaina bint Sultan bin Ahmad al-MUGHAIRI

chancery: 2535 Belmont Road, NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone: [1] (202) 387-1980

FAX: [1] (202) 745-4933

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Gary A. GRAPPO

embassy: Jameat A'Duwal Al Arabiya Street, Al Khuwair area, Muscat

mailing address: P. O. Box 202, P.C. 115, Madinat Sultan Qaboos, Muscat

telephone: [968] 24-643-400

FAX: [968] 24-699771

Flag description:

three horizontal bands of white, red, and green of equal width with a broad, vertical, red band on the hoist side; the national emblem (a khanjar dagger in its sheath superimposed on two crossed swords in scabbards) in white is centered near the top of the vertical band

Economy Oman

Economy - overview:

Oman is a middle-income economy that is heavily dependent on dwindling oil resources, but sustained high oil prices in recent years have helped build Oman's budget and trade surpluses and foreign reserves. Oman joined the World Trade Organization in November 2000 and continues to liberalize its markets. It ratified a free trade agreement with the US in September 2006, and, through the Gulf Cooperation Council, seeks similar agreements with the EU, China and Japan. As a result of its dwindling oil resources, Oman is actively pursuing a development plan that focuses on diversification, industrialization, and privatization, with the objective of reducing the oil sector's contribution to GDP to 9 percent by 2020. Muscat is attempting to "Omanize" the labor force by replacing foreign expatriate workers with local workers. Oman actively seeks private foreign investors, especially in the industrial, information technology, tourism, and higher education fields. Industrial development plans focus on gas resources, metal manufacturing, petrochemicals, and international transshipment ports.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$61.61 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$40.06 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

6.4% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$24,000 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 2.2%

industry: 38.3%

services: 59.5% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

920,000 (2002 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: NA%

industry: NA%

services: NA%

Unemployment rate:

15% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA%

highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

5.5% (2007 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

20.3% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $13.99 billion

expenditures: $13.68 billion (2007 est.)

Public debt:

3.8% of GDP (2007 est.)

Agriculture - products:

dates, limes, bananas, alfalfa, vegetables; camels, cattle; fish

Industries:

crude oil production and refining, natural and liquefied natural gas (LNG) production; construction, cement, copper, steel, chemicals, optic fiber

Industrial production growth rate:

3.2% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

11.89 billion kWh (2005)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100%

hydro: 0%

nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

8.661 billion kWh (2005)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2005)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2005)

Oil - production:

740,000 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - consumption:

66,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - exports:

733,100 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - imports:

15,440 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - proved reserves:

4.85 billion bbl (2007 est.)

Natural gas - production:

18.98 billion cu m (2005 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

8.795 billion cu m (2005 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

10.19 billion cu m (2005 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2005)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

795.2 billion cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Current account balance:

$3.996 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$22.89 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

petroleum, reexports, fish, metals, textiles

Exports - partners:

China 23.6%, South Korea 17.9%, Japan 10.9%, Thailand 10.7%, South Africa 7.7%, UAE 6.3% (2006)

Imports:

$11 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, livestock, lubricants

Imports - partners:

UAE 22.5%, Japan 16.5%, US 8.1%, Germany 5.4%, India 4.4% (2006)

Economic aid - recipient:

$30.68 million (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$9.524 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$5.297 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$NA

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$16.16 billion (2006)

Currency (code):

Omani rial (OMR)

Currency code:

OMR

Exchange rates:

Omani rials per US dollar - 0.3845 (2007), 0.3845 (2006), 0.3845 (2005), 0.3845 (2004), 0.3845 (2003)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications Oman

Telephones - main lines in use:

278,300 (2006)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

1.818 million (2006)

Telephone system:

general assessment: modern system consisting of open-wire, microwave, and radiotelephone communication stations; limited coaxial cable

domestic: fixed-line and mobile-cellular subscribership both increasing; open-wire, microwave, radiotelephone communications, and a domestic satellite system with 8 earth stations

international: country code - 968; the Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG) and the SEA-ME-WE-3 submarine cable provide connectivity to Asia, the Middle East, and Europe; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Indian Ocean), 1 Arabsat

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 3, FM 9, shortwave 2 (1999)

Radios:

1.4 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

13 (plus 25 repeaters) (1999)

Televisions:

1.6 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.om

Internet hosts:

3,763 (2007)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:

319,200 (2006)

Transportation Oman

Airports:

137 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 7

over 3,047 m: 4

2,438 to 3,047 m: 1

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 130

over 3,047 m: 2

2,438 to 3,047 m: 8

1,524 to 2,437 m: 51

914 to 1,523 m: 35

under 914 m: 34 (2007)

Heliports:

2 (2007)

Pipelines:

gas 4,126 km; oil 3,558 km (2007)

Roadways:

total: 34,965 km

paved: 9,673 km (includes 550 km of expressways)

unpaved: 25,292 km (2001)

Merchant marine:

total: 2 ships (1000 GRT or over) 12,155 GRT/7,244 DWT

by type: chemical tanker 1, passenger 1

registered in other countries: 1 (Panama 1) (2007)

Ports and terminals:

Mina' Qabus, Salalah

Military Oman

Military branches:

Sultan's Armed Forces (SAF): Royal Army of Oman, Royal Navy of Oman, Royal Air Force of Oman (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

18-30 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 802,455

females age 16-49: 626,841 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 663,881

females age 16-49: 543,410 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

males age 16-49: 34,238

females age 16-49: 33,139 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

11.4% (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues Oman

Disputes - international:

boundary agreement reportedly signed and ratified with UAE in 2003 for entire border, including Oman's Musandam Peninsula and Al Madhah exclave, but details of the alignment have not been made public

Trafficking in persons:

current situation: Oman is a destination country for men and women primarily from Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan who migrate willingly, but some of whom become victims of trafficking when subjected to conditions of involuntary servitude as domestic workers and laborers; mistreatment includes non-payment of wages, restrictions on movement and withholding of passports, threats, and physical or sexual abuse; Oman may also be a destination country for women from Asia, Eastern Europe, and North Africa for commercial sexual exploitation

tier rating: Tier 3 - Oman was rated as Tier 3 for the second consecutive year because it did not report any law enforcement efforts to prosecute and punish trafficking offenses in 2007 and continues to lack victim protection services or a systematic procedure to identify victims of trafficking (2008)

This page was last updated on 15 July, 2008

The World Factbook

Pacific Ocean

Introduction Pacific Ocean

Background:

The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the world's five oceans (followed by the Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, Southern Ocean, and Arctic Ocean). Strategically important access waterways include the La Perouse, Tsugaru, Tsushima, Taiwan, Singapore, and Torres Straits. The decision by the International Hydrographic Organization in the spring of 2000 to delimit a fifth ocean, the Southern Ocean, removed the portion of the Pacific Ocean south of 60 degrees south.

Geography Pacific Ocean

Location:

body of water between the Southern Ocean, Asia, Australia, and the Western Hemisphere

Geographic coordinates:

0 00 N, 160 00 W