2535 Belmont Road, NW,

Washington DC 20008

Telephone: (202) 387-1980

Fax: (202) 745-4933

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Country Information

Key Data

Region
Middle East

Population
2,446,645 (July 2000 Estimate)

Area Total
212,460 km

Area Land
212,460 km

Coastline
2,092 km

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

Languages
Arabic (official)
English
Baluchi
Urdu
Indian dialects

Currency
1 Omani rial (RO$) = 1,000 baiza

Holiday
National Day, 18 November (1940)

Boundaries
Saudi Arabia
676 km

United Arab Emirates
410 km

Yemen
288 km

Ethnic Divisions
Omani Arab 74 %
South Asian 21 %
Other 4 %
Egyptian 2 %

Religions
Ibadhi Muslim 75 %
Sunni Muslim, Shi'a Muslim, and Hindu 25 %

Largest Cities
City Population
Sur
53,504
Muscat
40,856

People
About half of the population of Oman lives in the capital city of Muscat, and on the Batinah coastal, plain northwest of the capital; about 200,000 live in the Dhofar (southern) region; and about 30,000 live in the remote Musandam peninsula on the Strait of Hormuz.

History
Muscat and Oman (as the country was called before 1970) was converted to Islam in the seventh century A.D., during the lifetime of Muhammad.

Economy
Economic performance is closely tied to the fortunes of the oil industry.

Agriculture
The agriculture sector in Oman contributes 3% of the GDP and employs an estimated 9.1% of the labor force.

Energy
Oman is a major energy exporter.

Metals
Commercially viable mineral ventures in Oman include the mining of chromite, the refining of copper with gold and silver as byproducts, and the producing of crushed and dimension stone and sand and gravel. The Petroleum and Mineral Law of Oman, effective since January 1, 1975, governed mineral activities in the country.

Environment
Oman's geographic landscape is such that its limited water resources present the most pressing challenge.