THE WORLD FACTBOOK — Reference Edition 2026

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.

Location: Middle East, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, and Persian Gulf, between Yemen and the UAE
Geographic coordinates: 21 00 N, 57 00 E
Map references: Middle East
Area: total: 309,500 sq km
land: 309,500 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: twice the size of Georgia
Land boundaries: total: 1,561 km
border countries: Saudi Arabia 658 km; UAE 609 km; Yemen 294 km
Coastline: 2,092 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate: dry desert; hot, humid along coast; hot, dry interior; strong southwest summer monsoon (May to September) in far south
Terrain: central desert plain, rugged mountains in north and south
Elevation: highest point: Jabal Shams 3,004 m
lowest point: Arabian Sea 0 m
mean elevation: 310 m
Natural resources: petroleum, copper, asbestos, some marble, limestone, chromium, gypsum, natural gas
Land use: agricultural land: 4.8% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 0.3% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.1% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 4.4% (2023 est.)
forest: 0% (2023 est.)
other: 95.2% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 1,162 sq km (2022)
Major aquifers: Arabian Aquifer System
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
Natural hazards: summer winds often raise large sandstorms and dust storms in interior; periodic droughts
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

Population: total: 3,969,824 (2025 est.)
male: 2,130,080
female: 1,839,744
Nationality: noun: Omani(s)
adjective: Omani
Ethnic groups: Arab, Baluchi, South Asian (Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan, Bangladeshi), African
Languages: Languages: Arabic (official), English, Baluchi, Swahili, Urdu, Indian dialects
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.
Religions: Muslim 85.9%, Christian 6.4%, Hindu 5.7%, other and unaffiliated 2% (2020 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 29.8% (male 594,909/female 566,682)
15-64 years: 66.2% (male 1,428,141/female 1,155,438)
65 years and over: 4% (2024 est.) (male 73,076/female 83,746)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 50.8 (2025 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 44.6 (2025 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 6.2 (2025 est.)
potential support ratio: 16.2 (2025 est.)
Median age: total: 27.5 years (2025 est.)
male: 28.1 years
female: 26.3 years
Population growth rate: 1.7% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 20.65 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 3.17 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.49 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
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
Urbanization: urban population: 88.4% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 2.32% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 1.650 million MUSCAT (capital) (2023)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.24 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female
total population: 1.16 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 13 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 13.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
male: 15.1 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 12.6 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.4 years (2024 est.)
male: 75.5 years
female: 79.4 years
Total fertility rate: 2.61 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 1.27 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source: improved: urban: urban: 94.7% of population (2022 est.)
improved: rural: rural: 76.3% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total: total: 92.4% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban: urban: 5.3% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural: rural: 23.7% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total: total: 7.6% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 4.4% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 8.3% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 1.99 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Hospital bed density: 1.2 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)
Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
improved: rural: rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total: total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural: rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total: total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 27% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita: total: 0.47 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer: 0.17 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 0.29 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use: total: 11.6% (2025 est.)
male: 17.9% (2025 est.)
female: 0.4% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 11.2% (2017 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 55.8% (2020 est.)
Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% GDP): 4.3% of GDP (2022 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget): 14.2% national budget (2022 est.)
Literacy: total population: 97.3% (2022 est.)
male: 98.6% (2022 est.)
female: 94.9% (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 13 years (2021 est.)
male: 13 years (2021 est.)
female: 14 years (2021 est.)

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
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
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: dry desert; hot, humid along coast; hot, dry interior; strong southwest summer monsoon (May to September) in far south
Land use: agricultural land: 4.8% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 0.3% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.1% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 4.4% (2023 est.)
forest: 0% (2023 est.)
other: 95.2% (2023 est.)
Urbanization: urban population: 88.4% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 2.32% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions: 84.073 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 661,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 28.611 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from consumed natural gas: 54.8 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 34.9 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Methane emissions: energy: 673.6 kt (2022-2024 est.)
agriculture: 36.8 kt (2019-2021 est.)
waste: 62.4 kt (2019-2021 est.)
other: 9.9 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 3.308 million tons (2024 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 13.9% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal: municipal: 130 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
industrial: 238 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
agricultural: 1.547 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 1.4 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Country name: conventional long form: Sultanate of Oman
conventional short form: Oman
local long form: Saltanat Uman
local short form: Uman
former: Sultanate of Muscat and Oman
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 type: absolute 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)
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
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)
Legal system: mixed system of Anglo-Saxon law and Islamic law
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
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
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no
citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Oman
dual citizenship recognized: no
residency requirement for naturalization: unknown
Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Sultan and Prime Minister HAITHAM bin Tarik Al Said (since 11 January 2020)
head of government: Sultan and Prime Minister HAITHAM bin Tarik Al Said (since 11 January 2020)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarch
Legislative branch: legislature name: Majles
legislative structure: bicameral
Legislative branch - lower chamber: chamber name: Shura Council (Majles A'Shura)
number of seats: 90 (all directly elected)
electoral system: other systems
scope of elections: full renewal
term in office: 4 years
most recent election date: 11/1/2023
percentage of women in chamber: 0%
expected date of next election: October 2027
Legislative branch - upper chamber: chamber name: State Council (Majles Addawla)
number of seats: 87 (all appointed)
scope of elections: full renewal
term in office: 4 years
most recent election date: 10/29/2023
percentage of women in chamber: 20.9%
expected date of next election: November 2027
Judicial branch: highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of 5 judges)
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
subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; Administrative Court; Courts of First Instance; sharia courts; magistrates' courts; military courts
Political parties: note: organized political parties are banned in Oman, and loyalties tend to form around tribal affiliations
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Talal Sulaiman AL-RAHBI (since 24 July 2025)
chancery: 2535 Belmont Road, NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 387-1980
FAX: [1] (202) 745-4933
email address and website: washington@fm.gov.omEmbassy of the Sultanate of Oman, Washington, USA - FM.gov.om
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Ana ESCROGIMA (since 4 December 2023)
embassy: P.C. 115, Madinat Al Sultan Qaboos, Muscat
mailing address: 6220 Muscat Place, Washington DC 20521
telephone: [968] 2464-3400
FAX: [968] 2464-3740
email address and website: ConsularMuscat@state.govhttps://om.usembassy.gov/
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
Independence: 1650 (expulsion of the Portuguese)
National holiday: National Day, 18 November
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 bandmeaning: white stands for peace and prosperity, red for battles against foreign invaders, and green for the Jebel al Akhdar (Green Mountains) and fertility
National symbol(s): khanjar dagger on top of two crossed swords
National color(s): red, white, green
National anthem(s): title: "Nashid as-Salaam as-Sultani" (The Sultan's Anthem)
lyrics/music: Rashid bin Uzayyiz al KHUSAIDI/James Frederick MILLS, arranged by Bernard EBBINGHAUS
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
National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 5 (all cultural)
selected World Heritage Site locales: Bahla Fort; Archaeological Sites of Bat; Land of Frankincense; Aflaj Irrigation Systems of Oman; Ancient Qalhat

Economic overview: high-income, oil-based economy; large welfare system; growing government debt; citizenship-based labor force growth policy; US free trade agreement; diversifying portfolio; high female labor force participation
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $193.591 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $190.403 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $188.169 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2024: 1.7% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023: 1.2% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2022: 8% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2024: $36,700 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023: $37,700 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2022: $39,800 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $106.943 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 1% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 2.5% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021: 1.7% (2021 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 2.6% (2024 est.)
industry: 54.2% (2024 est.)
services: 46.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 37.8% (2023 est.)
government consumption: 19.1% (2023 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 24.3% (2023 est.)
investment in inventories: 2.4% (2023 est.)
exports of goods and services: 61.1% (2023 est.)
imports of goods and services: -44.8% (2023 est.)
Agricultural products: vegetables, dates, milk, tomatoes, sorghum, chillies/peppers, goat milk, cucumbers/gherkins, cantaloupes/melons, cabbages (2023)
Industries: crude oil production and refining, natural and liquefied natural gas production; construction, cement, copper, steel, chemicals, optic fiber
Industrial production growth rate: 0.2% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 2.696 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2024: 3.2% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023: 3.2% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2022: 3.3% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): total: 13.9% (2024 est.)
male: 11% (2024 est.)
female: 30.9% (2024 est.)
Average household expenditures: on food: 18.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
on alcohol and tobacco: 0.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Remittances: Remittances 2023: 0% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2022: 0% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2021: 0% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget: revenues: $29.334 billion (2018 est.)
expenditures: $35.984 billion (2018 est.)
Public debt: Public debt 2017: 46.9% of GDP (2017 est.)
Current account balance: Current account balance 2023: $2.638 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance 2022: $4.362 billion (2022 est.)
Current account balance 2021: -$4.836 billion (2021 est.)
Exports: Exports 2023: $64.749 billion (2023 est.)
Exports 2022: $69.483 billion (2022 est.)
Exports 2021: $46.572 billion (2021 est.)
Exports - partners: China 43%, India 6%, Saudi Arabia 5%, UAE 5%, South Africa 4% (2023)
Exports - commodities: crude petroleum, refined petroleum, natural gas, semi-finished iron, fertilizers (2023)
Imports: Imports 2023: $47.412 billion (2023 est.)
Imports 2022: $46.682 billion (2022 est.)
Imports 2021: $37.216 billion (2021 est.)
Imports - partners: UAE 25%, Saudi Arabia 12%, India 8%, China 7%, Qatar 5% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, cars, crude petroleum, iron ore, iron pipes (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $18.287 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $17.455 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $17.606 billion (2022 est.)
Exchange rates: Currency: Omani rials (OMR) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2024: 0.384 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates 2023: 0.384 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2022: 0.384 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2021: 0.384 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2020: 0.384 (2020 est.)

Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity: installed generating capacity: 11.589 million kW (2023 est.)
consumption: 40.738 billion kWh (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 4.267 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 96% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
solar: 3.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
wind: 0.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal: consumption: 82,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
exports: 70,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
imports: 323,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum: total petroleum production: 1.056 million bbl/day (2023 est.)
refined petroleum consumption: 218,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves: 5.373 billion barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas: production: 41.726 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
consumption: 28.646 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
exports: 15.536 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
imports: 1.924 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
proven reserves: 651.287 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita: Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 296.586 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 579,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 11 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 6.35 million (2024 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 121 (2024 est.)
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)
Internet country code: .om
Internet users: percent of population: 95% (2024 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 562,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 11 (2023 est.)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: A4O
Airports: 37 (2025)
Heliports: 20 (2025)
Merchant marine: total: 57 (2023)
by type: general cargo 11, other 46
Ports: total ports: 7 (2024)
large: 0
medium: 1
small: 4
very small: 2
ports with oil terminals: 6
key ports: Duqm, Khawr Khasab, Mina Al Fahl, Mina Raysut, Sohar

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 ForcesRoyal Oman Police (ROP): Civil Defense, Immigration, Infrastructure Security Police, Coast Guard Police, Special Security Police, Special Task Force (2024)
Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2024: 6% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military Expenditures 2023: 5.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military Expenditures 2022: 5.5% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military Expenditures 2021: 8% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military Expenditures 2020: 11% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 40,000 active Sultan's Armed Forces (2025)
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 service age and obligation: 18-25 for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription (2025)
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 regionOman'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)

Terrorist group(s): Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)

Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees: 714 (2024 est.)

Oman