Dialing code +968
ISO 2 code OM
ISO 3 code OMN
Capital Muscat
Main Language Arabic
Currency Rial (OMR)
GDP $67.0 billion 79th
Population 2,967,717 139th

Geography

Continent Asia
Location Middle East bordering the Arabian Sea Gulf of Oman and Persian Gulf between Yemen and UAE
Land 212,460 km2 85th
Terrain Central desert plain rugged mountains in north and south
Climate Dry desert; hot humid along coast; hot dry interior; strong southwest summer monsoon (May to September) in far south
Natural Hazards Central desert plain rugged mountains in north and south
Note: Strategic location on Musandam Peninsula adjacent to Strait of Hormuz a vital transit point for world crude oil

Neighbouring Countries

Saudi Arabia United Arab Emirates Yemen

History

The inhabitants of the area of Oman have long prospered on Indian Ocean trade. In the late 18th century a newly established 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 but it never became a British colony. In 1970 QABOOS bin Said al-Said overthrew the restrictive rule of his father; he has ruled as sultan ever since. His extensive modernization program has opened the country to the outside world while preserving the longstanding close ties with the UK. Oman's moderate independent foreign policy has sought to maintain good relations with all Middle Eastern countries.
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Demographics

Life Expectancy 74.16 years 81st
Median Age 18.8 years 172nd
Birth Rate 34.79 births/1,000 population 34th
Death Rate 3.65 births/1,000 population 197th
Sex Ratio 1.04 male(s)/female 6th
Literacy 81.4% 141st
Population

3.0 million

Transportation

Roadways 42300 km 84th
Railways None km
Airports 130 44th
Waterways None km
Heliports 2 46th
Airports paved 1 136th

Economy

Currency Rial (OMR)
GDP $67.0 billion 79th
GDP per capita (PPP) $20200 52nd