resources
natural hazards:
summer winds often raise large sandstorms and dust storms in interior
international agreements:
party to - Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ship Pollution, Whaling;
signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change
Note:
strategic location with small foothold on Musandam Peninsula
controlling Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude
oil

@Oman, People

Population:
1,701,470 (July 1994 est.)
note:
Oman's first census was concluded in December 1993; preliminary
figures give a population of 2,000,000, of whom about 500,000 are
expatriate workers; final evaluative figures are not yet available
Population growth rate:
3.46% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
40.38 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
5.77 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
36.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
67.79 years
male:
65.9 years
female:
69.77 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
6.53 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Omani(s)
adjective:
Omani
Ethnic divisions:
Arab, Baluchi, South Asian (Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan,
Bangladeshi)
Religions:
Ibadhi Muslim 75%, Sunni Muslim, Shi'a Muslim, Hindu
Languages:
Arabic (official), English, Baluchi, Urdu, Indian dialects
Literacy:
total population:
NA%
male:
NA%
female:
NA%
Labor force:
430,000 (est.)
by occupation:
agriculture 40% (est.)

@Oman, Government

Names:
conventional long form:
Sultanate of Oman
conventional short form:
Oman
local long form:
Saltanat Uman
local short form:
Uman
Digraph:
MU
Type:
monarchy
Capital:
Muscat
Administrative divisions:
there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US
Government, but there are 3 governorates (muhafazah, singular -
muhafazat); Masqat, Musandam, Zufar
Independence:
1650 (expulsion of the Portuguese)
National holiday:
National Day, 18 November (1940)
Constitution:
none
Legal system:
based on English common law and Islamic law; ultimate appeal to the
sultan; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
none
Executive branch:
chief of state and head of government:
Sultan and Prime Minister QABOOS bin Said Al Said (since 23 July 1970)
cabinet:
Cabinet
Legislative branch:
un