Oman

Absolute MonarchyPop4.0MGDP (PPP)$193.6BCI38Beta CP0.0→Beta

Oman

⌘K

Overview

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.

Geography

Area

Land: 309,500 sq km
Water: 0 sq km
Total: 309,500 sq km

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

Land Use

Other: 95.2% (2023 est.)
Forest: 0% (2023 est.)
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.)

Location: Middle East, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, and Persian Gulf, between Yemen and the UAE
Coastline: 2,092 km

Elevation

Lowest point: Arabian Sea 0 m
Highest point: Jabal Shams 3,004 m
Mean elevation: 310 m

Irrigated land: 1,162 sq km (2022)
Major aquifers: Arabian Aquifer System
Map references: Middle East

Land Boundaries

Total: 1,561 km
Border countries: Saudi Arabia 658 km; UAE 609 km; Yemen 294 km

Maritime Claims

Contiguous zone: 24 nm
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

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
Natural resources: petroleum, copper, asbestos, some marble, limestone, chromium, gypsum, natural gas
Area comparative: twice the size of Georgia
Geographic coordinates: 21 00 N, 57 00 E
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

People & Society

Literacy

Male: 98.6% (2022 est.)
Female: 94.9% (2022 est.)
Total population: 97.3% (2022 est.)

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.)

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
Total population: 1.16 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female

Birth rate: 20.65 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 3.17 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Median Age

Male: 28.1 years
Total: 27.5 years (2025 est.)
Female: 26.3 years

Population

Male: 2,130,080
Total: 3,969,824 (2025 est.)
Female: 1,839,744

Nationality

Noun: Omani(s)
Adjective: Omani

Tobacco Use

Male: 17.9% (2025 est.)
Total: 11.6% (2025 est.)
Female: 0.4% (2025 est.)

Urbanization

Urban population: 88.4% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 2.32% annual rate of change (2020-25 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)

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

Dependency Ratios

Total dependency ratio: 50.8 (2025 est.)
Youth dependency ratio: 44.6 (2025 est.)
Potential support ratio: 16.2 (2025 est.)
Elderly dependency ratio: 6.2 (2025 est.)

Physician density: 1.99 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

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.)

Net migration rate: -0.49 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Hospital bed density: 1.2 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.61 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Drinking Water Source

Improved: rural: rural: 76.3% of population (2022 est.)
Improved: total: total: 92.4% of population (2022 est.)
Improved: urban: urban: 94.7% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: rural: rural: 23.7% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: total: total: 7.6% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: urban: urban: 5.3% of population (2022 est.)

Education Expenditure

Education expenditure (% GDP): 4.3% of GDP (2022 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget): 14.2% national budget (2022 est.)

Infant Mortality Rate

Male: 15.1 deaths/1,000 live births
Total: 13.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Female: 12.6 deaths/1,000 live births

Population growth rate: 1.7% (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 1.27 (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

Life Expectancy at Birth

Male: 75.5 years
Female: 79.4 years
Total population: 77.4 years (2024 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio: 13 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Sanitation Facility Access

Improved: rural: rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Improved: total: total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Improved: urban: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: rural: rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: total: total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Alcohol Consumption Per Capita

Beer: 0.17 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Wine: 0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Total: 0.47 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Spirits: 0.29 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Major urban areas population: 1.650 million MUSCAT (capital) (2023)
Obesity adult prevalence rate: 27% (2016)
Currently married women (ages 15 49): 55.8% (2020 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 11.2% (2017 est.)

School Life Expectancy (Primary to Tertiary Education)

Male: 13 years (2021 est.)
Total: 13 years (2021 est.)
Female: 14 years (2021 est.)

Government

Civica · structure

How power is organised

ExecutiveLegislative

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 band

meaning: white stands for peace and prosperity, red for battles against foreign invaders, and green for the Jebel al Akhdar (Green Mountains) and fertility

Capital

Name: Muscat
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
Time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Geographic coordinates: 23 37 N, 58 35 E

Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal

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

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

Country Name

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
Local long form: Saltanat Uman
Local short form: Uman
Conventional long form: Sultanate of Oman
Conventional short form: Oman

Independence: 1650 (expulsion of the Portuguese)
Legal system: mixed system of Anglo-Saxon law and Islamic law
Government type: absolute monarchy

Judicial Branch

Highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of 5 judges)
Subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; Administrative Court; Courts of First Instance; sharia courts; magistrates' courts; military courts
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

Executive Branch

Note: note: the monarch is both chief of state and head of government
Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarch
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)

National holiday: National Day, 18 November
National color(s): red, white, green

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

Political parties: note: organized political parties are banned in Oman, and loyalties tend to form around tribal affiliations

Legislative Branch

Legislature name: Majles
Legislative structure: bicameral

National Anthem(s)

Title: "Nashid as-Salaam as-Sultani" (The Sultan's Anthem)
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
Lyrics/music: Rashid bin Uzayyiz al KHUSAIDI/James Frederick MILLS, arranged by Bernard EBBINGHAUS

National symbol(s): khanjar dagger on top of two crossed swords
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)

Legislative Branch Lower Chamber

Chamber name: Shura Council (Majles A'Shura)
Term in office: 4 years
Number of seats: 90 (all directly elected)
Electoral system: other systems
Scope of elections: full renewal
Most recent election date: 11/1/2023
Expected date of next election: October 2027
Percentage of women in chamber: 0%

Legislative Branch Upper Chamber

Chamber name: State Council (Majles Addawla)
Term in office: 4 years
Number of seats: 87 (all appointed)
Scope of elections: full renewal
Most recent election date: 10/29/2023
Expected date of next election: November 2027
Percentage of women in chamber: 20.9%

Diplomatic Representation in the US

Fax: [1] (202) 745-4933
Chancery: 2535 Belmont Road, NW, Washington, DC 20008
Telephone: [1] (202) 387-1980
Chief of mission: Ambassador Talal Sulaiman AL-RAHBI (since 24 July 2025)
Email address and website: washington@fm.gov.om

Embassy of the Sultanate of Oman, Washington, USA - FM.gov.om

Diplomatic Representation from the US

Fax: [968] 2464-3740
Embassy: P.C. 115, Madinat Al Sultan Qaboos, Muscat
Telephone: [968] 2464-3400
Mailing address: 6220 Muscat Place, Washington DC  20521
Chief of mission: Ambassador Ana ESCROGIMA (since 4 December 2023)
Email address and website: ConsularMuscat@state.gov

https://om.usembassy.gov/

International organisations: 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
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

Legislature

OMAN · LOWER HOUSE

Shura Council

90 seats · hover a seat for the party

Total seats

Majority line

Largest party

—

Parties

—

Upper house

OMAN · UPPER HOUSE

State Council

87 seats · hover a seat for the party

Total seats

Majority line

Largest party

—

Parties

—

Leaders

Current

HS
Haitham bin Tarik Al Said
- Head of StateSince 2020
- Head of GovernmentSince 2020

Economy

Budget

Revenues: $29.334 billion (2018 est.)
Expenditures: $35.984 billion (2018 est.)

Exports

Civica canonical (reconciled): $70.8B

Note: note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Exports 2021: $46.572 billion (2021 est.)
Exports 2022: $69.483 billion (2022 est.)
Exports 2023: $64.749 billion (2023 est.)

Imports

Civica canonical (reconciled): $52.3B

Note: note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Imports 2021: $37.216 billion (2021 est.)
Imports 2022: $46.682 billion (2022 est.)
Imports 2023: $47.412 billion (2023 est.)

Industries: crude oil production and refining, natural and liquefied natural gas production; construction, cement, copper, steel, chemicals, optic fiber
Labor force: 2.696 million (2024 est.)

Public Debt

Civica canonical (reconciled): 46.9% of GDP (2017 est.)

Note: note: excludes indebtedness of state-owned enterprises
Public debt 2017: 46.9% of GDP (2017 est.)

Remittances

Note: note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Remittances 2021: 0% of GDP (2021 est.)
Remittances 2022: 0% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2023: 0% of GDP (2023 est.)

Exchange Rates

Currency: Omani rials (OMR) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2020: 0.384 (2020 est.)
Exchange rates 2021: 0.384 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2022: 0.384 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2023: 0.384 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2024: 0.384 (2024 est.)

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

Unemployment Rate

Civica canonical (reconciled): 3.3%

Note: note: % of labor force seeking employment
Unemployment rate 2022: 3.3% (2022 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023: 3.2% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2024: 3.2% (2024 est.)

Exports partners: China 43%, India 6%, Saudi Arabia 5%, UAE 5%, South Africa 4% (2023)
Imports partners: UAE 25%, Saudi Arabia 12%, India 8%, China 7%, Qatar 5% (2023)

Real GDP Per Capita

Civica canonical (reconciled): $41,740

Note: note: data in 2021 dollars
Real GDP per capita 2022: $39,800 (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023: $37,700 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2024: $36,700 (2024 est.)

Real GDP Growth Rate

Civica canonical (reconciled): 1.6%

Note: note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
Real GDP growth rate 2022: 8% (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023: 1.2% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2024: 1.7% (2024 est.)

Agricultural products: vegetables, dates, milk, tomatoes, sorghum, chillies/peppers, goat milk, cucumbers/gherkins, cantaloupes/melons, cabbages (2023)
Exports commodities: crude petroleum, refined petroleum, natural gas, semi-finished iron, fertilizers (2023)
Imports commodities: refined petroleum, cars, crude petroleum, iron ore, iron pipes (2023)

Current Account Balance

Civica canonical (reconciled): $3.1B

Note: note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
Current account balance 2021: -$4.836 billion (2021 est.)
Current account balance 2022: $4.362 billion (2022 est.)
Current account balance 2023: $2.638 billion (2023 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate): $106.943 billion (2024 est.)

GDP Composition, BY End Use

Note: note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection
Household consumption: 37.8% (2023 est.)
Government consumption: 19.1% (2023 est.)
Investment in inventories: 2.4% (2023 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 24.3% (2023 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 61.1% (2023 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -44.8% (2023 est.)

Average Household Expenditures

On food: 18.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
On alcohol and tobacco: 0.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)

Civica canonical (reconciled): 0.6%

Note: note: annual % change based on consumer prices
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021: 1.7% (2021 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 2.5% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 1% (2023 est.)

Industrial production growth rate: 0.2% (2024 est.)

Real GDP (Purchasing Power Parity)

Civica canonical (reconciled): $193.591 billion (2024 est.)

Note: note: data in 2021 dollars
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $188.169 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $190.403 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $193.591 billion (2024 est.)

Youth Unemployment Rate (Ages 15 24)

Male: 11% (2024 est.)
Note: note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
Total: 13.9% (2024 est.)
Female: 30.9% (2024 est.)

Reserves of Foreign Exchange and Gold

Note: note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $17.606 billion (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $17.455 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $18.287 billion (2024 est.)

GDP Composition, BY Sector of Origin

Note: note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
Industry: 54.2% (2024 est.)
Services: 46.5% (2024 est.)
Agriculture: 2.6% (2024 est.)

Energy

Coal

Exports: 70,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Imports: 323,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Consumption: 82,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum

Total petroleum production: 1.056 million bbl/day (2023 est.)
Crude oil estimated reserves: 5.373 billion barrels (2021 est.)
Refined petroleum consumption: 218,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Electricity

Consumption: 40.738 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Installed generating capacity: 11.589 million kW (2023 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 4.267 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Natural Gas

Exports: 15.536 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Imports: 1.924 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Production: 41.726 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Consumption: 28.646 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Proven reserves: 651.287 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Electricity Access

Electrification total population: 100% (2022 est.)

Energy Consumption Per Capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 296.586 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Electricity Generation Sources

Wind: 0.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Solar: 3.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Fossil fuels: 96% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Communications

Internet Users

Percent of population: 95% (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

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.)

Broadband Fixed Subscriptions

Total: 562,000 (2023 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 11 (2023 est.)

Transport

Ports

Large: 0
Small: 4
Medium: 1
Key ports: Duqm, Khawr Khasab, Mina Al Fahl, Mina Raysut, Sohar
Very small: 2
Total ports: 7 (2024)
Ports with oil terminals: 6

Airports: 37 (2025)
Heliports: 20 (2025)

Merchant Marine

Total: 57 (2023)
BY type: general cargo 11, other 46

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: A4O

Environment

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

Land Use

Other: 95.2% (2023 est.)
Forest: 0% (2023 est.)
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.)

Urbanization

Urban population: 88.4% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 2.32% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Methane Emissions

Other: 9.9 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste: 62.4 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Energy: 673.6 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Agriculture: 36.8 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.)

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

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.)

Carbon Dioxide Emissions

Total emissions: 84.073 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
From consumed natural gas: 54.8 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.)

Particulate matter emissions: 34.9 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 1.4 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

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

Military & Security

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 region

Oman'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)

Military Expenditures

Civica canonical (reconciled): 5.6%

Military expenditures 2020: 11% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military expenditures 2021: 8% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures 2022: 5.5% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures 2023: 5.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures 2024: 6% of GDP (2024 est.)

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 Forces

Royal Oman Police (ROP): Civil Defense, Immigration, Infrastructure Security Police, Coast Guard Police, Special Security Police, Special Task Force (2024)
Military service age and obligation: 18-25 for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription (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 and security service personnel strengths: approximately 40,000 active Sultan's Armed Forces (2025)

Terrorism

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

Transnational Issues

Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons

Refugees: 714 (2024 est.)

Scores & Rankings

ScoreValueGlobal rankTrendAs of

Civica Index38.0 / 100as of 2024-Q4119 / 1902024-Q4

V-Dem Liberal Democracy0.14as of 2024-Q4122 / 1702024-Q4

Freedom House StatusNot Free (25/100)as of 2024-Q4—2024-Q4

Press Freedom (RSF)Partly free (50/100)as of 2024—2024

Cite this page

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Civica. (2026). Civica Atlas — Oman — vintage 2026-Q1: Oman factbook. Civica Atlas. Retrieved May 7, 2026, from https://civicaatlas.org/factbook/oman

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Sources: FAO FAOSTAT, ILO ILOSTAT, IMF (WEO), UN Statistics Division, UNDP HDR, UNESCO Institute for Statistics, V-Dem, WHO Global Health Observatory, World Bank, WTO Stats, CIA World Factbook, Wikidata

Oman

Area

Land Use

Elevation

Land Boundaries

Maritime Claims

Literacy

Languages

Sex Ratio

Median Age

Population

Nationality

Tobacco Use

Urbanization

Age Structure

Dependency Ratios

Health Expenditure

Drinking Water Source

Education Expenditure

Infant Mortality Rate

Life Expectancy at Birth

Sanitation Facility Access

Alcohol Consumption Per Capita

School Life Expectancy (Primary to Tertiary Education)

How power is organised

Capital

Citizenship

Constitution

Country Name

Judicial Branch

Executive Branch

National Heritage

Legislative Branch

National Anthem(s)

Legislative Branch Lower Chamber

Legislative Branch Upper Chamber

Diplomatic Representation in the US

Diplomatic Representation from the US

Shura Council

State Council

Current

Haitham bin Tarik Al Said

Budget

Exports

Imports

Public Debt

Remittances

Exchange Rates

Unemployment Rate

Real GDP Per Capita

Real GDP Growth Rate

Current Account Balance

GDP Composition, BY End Use

Average Household Expenditures

Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)

Real GDP (Purchasing Power Parity)

Youth Unemployment Rate (Ages 15 24)

Reserves of Foreign Exchange and Gold

GDP Composition, BY Sector of Origin

Coal

Petroleum

Electricity

Natural Gas

Electricity Access

Energy Consumption Per Capita

Electricity Generation Sources

Internet Users

Telephones Fixed Lines

Telephones Mobile Cellular

Broadband Fixed Subscriptions

Ports

Merchant Marine

Land Use

Urbanization

Methane Emissions

Waste and Recycling

Total Water Withdrawal

Carbon Dioxide Emissions

International Environmental Agreements

Military Expenditures