Legend:
 Definition
 Field Listing
 Rank Order
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Background:
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In 1970, QABOOS bin Said Al Said ousted his father and has ruled as sultan ever since. His extensive modernization program has opened the country to the outside world and has preserved a long-standing political and military relationship with the UK. Oman's moderate, independent foreign policy has sought to maintain good relations with all Middle Eastern countries.
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Location:
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Middle East, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, and Persian Gulf, between Yemen and UAE
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Geographic coordinates:
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21 00 N, 57 00 E
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Map references:
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Middle East
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Area:
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total: 212,460 sq km
land: 212,460 sq km
water: 0 sq km
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Area - comparative:
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slightly smaller than Kansas
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Land boundaries:
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total: 1,374 km
border countries: Saudi Arabia 676 km, UAE 410 km, Yemen 288 km
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Coastline:
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2,092 km
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Maritime claims:
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territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
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Climate:
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dry desert; hot, humid along coast; hot, dry interior; strong southwest summer monsoon (May to September) in far south
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Terrain:
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central desert plain, rugged mountains in north and south
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Arabian Sea 0 m
highest point: Jabal Shams 2,980 m
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Natural resources:
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petroleum, copper, asbestos, some marble, limestone, chromium, gypsum, natural gas
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Land use:
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arable land: 0.12%
permanent crops: 0.14%
other: 99.74% (2001)
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Irrigated land:
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620 sq km (1998 est.)
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Natural hazards:
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summer winds often raise large sandstorms and dust storms in interior; periodic droughts
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Environment - current issues:
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rising soil salinity; beach pollution from oil spills; very limited natural fresh water resources
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
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Geography - note:
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strategic location on Musandam Peninsula adjacent to Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude oil
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Population:
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2,903,165
note: includes 577,293 non-nationals (July 2004 est.)
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 42.4% (male 628,078; female 603,829)
15-64 years: 55.1% (male 955,765; female 643,687)
65 years and over: 2.5% (male 38,761; female 33,045) (2004 est.)
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Median age:
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total: 19.3 years
male: 22.1 years
female: 16.4 years (2004 est.)
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Population growth rate:
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3.35% (2004 est.)
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Birth rate:
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37.12 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
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Death rate:
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3.91 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
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Net migration rate:
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0.28 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
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Sex ratio:
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at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.49 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.17 male(s)/female
total population: 1.27 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
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Infant mortality rate:
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total: 20.26 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 23.18 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 17.19 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 72.85 years
male: 70.66 years
female: 75.16 years (2004 est.)
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Total fertility rate:
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5.9 children born/woman (2004 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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0.1% (2001 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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1,300 (2001 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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NA
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Nationality:
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noun: Omani(s)
adjective: Omani
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Ethnic groups:
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Arab, Baluchi, South Asian (Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan, Bangladeshi), African
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Religions:
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Ibadhi Muslim 75%, Sunni Muslim, Shi'a Muslim, Hindu
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Languages:
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Arabic (official), English, Baluchi, Urdu, Indian dialects
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Literacy:
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definition: NA
total population: 75.8%
male: 83.1%
female: 67.2% (2003 est.)
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Sultanate of Oman
conventional short form: Oman
local long form: Saltanat Uman
local short form: Uman
former: Muscat and Oman
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Government type:
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monarchy
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Capital:
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Muscat
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Administrative divisions:
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5 regions (manatiq, singular - mintaqat) and 3 governorates* (muhafazat, singular - muhafazat) Ad Dakhiliyah, Al Batinah, Al Wusta, Ash Sharqiyah, Az Zahirah, Masqat*, Musandam*, Zufar*
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Independence:
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1650 (expulsion of the Portuguese)
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National holiday:
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Birthday of Sultan QABOOS, 18 November (1940)
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Constitution:
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none; note - on 6 November 1996, Sultan QABOOS issued a royal decree promulgating a new basic law 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
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Legal system:
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based on English common law and Islamic law; ultimate appeal to the monarch; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
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Suffrage:
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in Oman's most recent elections in 2000, limited to approximately 175,000 Omanis chosen by the government to vote in elections for the Majlis al-Shura
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Executive branch:
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chief of state: Sultan and Prime Minister QABOOS bin Said Al Said (since 23 July 1970); 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 (since 23 July 1970); note - the monarch is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarch
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary
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Legislative branch:
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bicameral Majlis Oman consists of an upper chamber or Majlis al-Dawla (48 seats; members appointed by the monarch; has advisory powers only) and a lower chamber or Majlis al-Shura (83 seats; members elected by limited suffrage for three-year term, however, the monarch makes final selections and can negate election results; body has some limited power to propose legislation, but otherwise has only advisory powers)
elections: last held 4 October 2003 (next to be held NA 2006)
election results: NA
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme Court
note: the nascent civil court system, administered by region, has non-Islamic judges as well as traditional Islamic judges
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Political parties and leaders:
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none
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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none
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International organization participation:
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ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, FAO, G-77, GCC, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, LAS, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador Muhammad bin Ali bin Thani al-KHUSSAIBY
chancery: 2535 Belmont Road, NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 387-1980 through 1981, 1988
FAX: [1] (202) 745-4933
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador Richard Lewis BALTIMORE III
embassy: Jameat A'Duwal Al Arabiya Street, Al Khuwair area, Muscat
mailing address: P. O. Box 202, P.C. 115, Madinat Al-Sultan Qaboos, Muscat
telephone: [968] 698989, extension 203
FAX: [968] 699771
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Flag description:
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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
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Economy - overview:
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Oman is a small, well-off middle Eastern economy with large oil and gas resources, a substantial trade surplus, and low inflation. 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. In order to reduce unemployment and limit dependence on foreign countries, the government is encouraging the replacement of expatriate workers with local people, i.e., the process of Omanization. Training in information technology, business management, and English support this objective. Industrial development plans focus on gas resources.
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GDP:
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purchasing power parity - $36.7 billion (2004 est.)
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GDP - real growth rate:
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1.1% (2004 est.)
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $13,100 (2004 est.)
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 3.1%
industry: 42.1%
services: 54.8% (2004 est.)
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Investment (gross fixed):
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13% of GDP (2004 est.)
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Population below poverty line:
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NA
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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-0.3% (2004 est.)
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Labor force:
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920,000 (2002 est.)
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture NA, industry NA, services NA
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Unemployment rate:
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NA
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Budget:
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revenues: $8.218 billion
expenditures: $7.766 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)
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Public debt:
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15.6% of GDP (2004 est.)
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Agriculture - products:
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dates, limes, bananas, alfalfa, vegetables; camels, cattle; fish
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Industries:
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crude oil production and refining, natural gas production, construction, cement, copper
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Industrial production growth rate:
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0.2% (2004 est.)
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Electricity - production:
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9.274 billion kWh (2001)
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Electricity - consumption:
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8.625 billion kWh (2001)
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Electricity - exports:
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0 kWh (2001)
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Electricity - imports:
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0 kWh (2001)
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Oil - production:
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963,800 bbl/day (2004 est.)
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Oil - consumption:
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53,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
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Oil - exports:
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NA (2001)
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Oil - imports:
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NA (2001)
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Oil - proved reserves:
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5.703 billion bbl (2004)
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Natural gas - production:
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13.77 billion cu m (2001 est.)
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Natural gas - consumption:
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6.34 billion cu m (2001 est.)
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Natural gas - exports:
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7.43 billion cu m (2001 est.)
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Natural gas - imports:
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0 cu m (2001 est.)
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Natural gas - proved reserves:
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846.4 billion cu m (2004)
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Current account balance:
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$2.173 billion (2004 est.)
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Exports:
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$11.7 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
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Exports - commodities:
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petroleum, reexports, fish, metals, textiles
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Exports - partners:
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South Korea 18.7%, China 18.5%, Japan 16.2%, Thailand 12.2%, UAE 7.8%, Iran 4.1% (2003)
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Imports:
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$5.659 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
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Imports - commodities:
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machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, livestock, lubricants
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Imports - partners:
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UAE 21.6%, Japan 17.1%, US 6.2%, UK 5.6%, Germany 4.4%, India 4.4% (2003)
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Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:
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$3.594 billion (2004 est.)
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Debt - external:
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$5.973 billion (2004 est.)
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$76.4 million (1995)
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Currency:
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Omani rial (OMR)
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Currency code:
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OMR
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Exchange rates:
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Omani rials per US dollar - 0.3845 (2003), 0.3845 (2002), 0.3845 (2001), 0.3845 (2000), 0.3845 (1999)
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Fiscal year:
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calendar year
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Telephones - main lines in use:
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233,900 (2002)
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
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464,900 (2002)
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Telephone system:
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general assessment: modern system consisting of open-wire, microwave, and radiotelephone communication stations; limited coaxial cable
domestic: open-wire, microwave, radiotelephone communications, and a domestic satellite system with 8 earth stations
international: country code - 968; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat
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Radio broadcast stations:
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AM 3, FM 9, shortwave 2 (1999)
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Television broadcast stations:
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13 (plus 25 low-power repeaters) (1999)
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Internet country code:
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.om
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Internet hosts:
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726 (2003)
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Internet users:
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180,000 (2002)
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Highways:
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total: 34,965 km
paved: 9,673 km (including 550 km of expressways)
unpaved: 25,292 km (2001)
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Pipelines:
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gas 3,599 km; oil 3,187 km (2003)
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Ports and harbors:
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Matrah, Mina' al Fahl, Mina' Raysut
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Merchant marine:
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total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 15,430 GRT/6,360 DWT
by type: passenger 2
registered in other countries: 1 (2003 est.)
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Airports:
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135 (2003 est.)
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total: 6
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2003 est.)
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total: 129
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 52
914 to 1,523 m: 34
under 914 m: 35 (2003 est.)
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Heliports:
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1 (2003 est.)
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Disputes - international:
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boundary agreement signed and ratified with UAE in 2003 for entire border, including Oman's Musandam Peninsula and Al Madhah enclaves
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This page was last updated on 30 November, 2004
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