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Middle East :: Oman
page last updated on April 28, 2010
Flag of Oman
(CONTAINS DESCRIPTION)
Location of Oman
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Map of Oman
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of Oman
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Introduction ::Oman
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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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Geography ::Oman
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Middle East, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, and Persian Gulf, between Yemen and UAE
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21 00 N, 57 00 E
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total: 309,500 sq km
country comparison to the world: 70
land: 309,500 sq km
water: 0 sq km
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slightly smaller than Kansas
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total: 1,374 km
border countries: Saudi Arabia 676 km, UAE 410 km, Yemen 288 km
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2,092 km
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territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
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Current Weather
dry desert; hot, humid along coast; hot, dry interior; strong southwest summer monsoon (May to September) in far south
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central desert plain, rugged mountains in north and south
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lowest point: Arabian Sea 0 m
highest point: Jabal Shams 2,980 m
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petroleum, copper, asbestos, some marble, limestone, chromium, gypsum, natural gas
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arable land: 0.12%
permanent crops: 0.14%
other: 99.74% (2005)
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720 sq km (2003)
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1 cu km (1997)
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total: 1.36 cu km/yr (7%/2%/90%)
per capita: 529 cu m/yr (2000)
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summer winds often raise large sandstorms and dust storms in interior; periodic droughts
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rising soil salinity; beach pollution from oil spills; limited natural fresh water resources
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party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
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strategic location on Musandam Peninsula adjacent to Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude oil
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People ::Oman
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2,967,717
country comparison to the world: 136
note: includes 577,293 non-nationals (July 2010 est.)
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0-14 years: 31.6% (male 481,010/female 456,931)
15-64 years: 65.4% (male 1,109,404/female 830,930)
65 years and over: 3% (male 45,920/female 43,522) (2010 est.)
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total: 23.9 years
male: 25.4 years
female: 22.1 years (2010 est.)
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1.996% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
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23.9 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
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3.47 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 213
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-0.48 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
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urban population: 72% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
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at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.34 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.06 male(s)/female
total population: 1.23 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
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total: 16 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 119
male: 16.28 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 15.71 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
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total population: 73.97 years
country comparison to the world: 105
male: 72.15 years
female: 75.88 years (2010 est.)
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2.87 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
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0.1% (2001 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148
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1,300 (2001 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141
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fewer than 200 (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
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noun: Omani(s)
adjective: Omani
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Arab, Baluchi, South Asian (Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan, Bangladeshi), African
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Ibadhi Muslim 75%, other (includes Sunni Muslim, Shia Muslim, Hindu) 25%
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Arabic (official), English, Baluchi, Urdu, Indian dialects
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definition: NA
total population: 81.4%
male: 86.8%
female: 73.5% (2003 census)
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total: 12 years
male: 12 years
female: 11 years (2006)
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4% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 102
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Government ::Oman
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conventional long form: Sultanate of Oman
conventional short form: Oman
local long form: Saltanat Uman
local short form: Uman
former: Muscat and Oman
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monarchy
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name: Muscat
geographic coordinates: 23 37 N, 58 35 E
time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
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5 regions (manatiq, singular - mintaqat) and 4 governorates* (muhafazat, singular - muhafazat) Ad Dakhiliyah, Al Batinah, Al Buraymi*, Al Wusta, Ash Sharqiyah, Az Zahirah, Masqat (Muscat)*, Musandam*, Zufar (Dhofar)*
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1650 (expulsion of the Portuguese)
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Birthday of Sultan QABOOS, 18 November (1940)
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none; note - on 6 November 1996, Sultan QABOOS issued a royal decree promulgating a basic law considered by the government to be a constitution which, among other things, clarifies the royal succession, provides for a prime minister, bars ministers from holding interests in companies doing business with the government, establishes a bicameral legislature, and guarantees basic civil liberties for Omani citizens
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based on English common law and Islamic law; ultimate appeal to the monarch; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
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21 years of age; universal; note - members of the military and security forces are not allowed to vote
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chief of state: Sultan and Prime Minister QABOOS bin Said al-Said (sultan since 23 July 1970 and prime minister since 23 July 1972); note - the monarch is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: Sultan and Prime Minister QABOOS bin Said al-Said (sultan since 23 July 1970 and prime minister since 23 July 1972)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarch
(For more information visit the World Leaders website Opens in New Window)
elections: the monarchy is hereditary
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bicameral Majlis Oman consists of Majlis al-Dawla or upper chamber (71 seats; members appointed by the monarch; has only advisory powers and Majlis al-Shura or lower chamber (84 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms; body has only advisory powers)
elections: last held on 27 October 2007 (next to be held in 2011)
election results: new candidates won 46 seats and 38 members of the outgoing Majlis kept their positions; none of the 20 female candidates was elected
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Supreme Court
note: the nascent civil court system, administered by region, has judges who practice secular and sharia law
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none
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none
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ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
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chief of mission: Ambassador Hunaina bint Sultan bin Ahmad al-MUGHAIRI
chancery: 2535 Belmont Road, NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 387-1980
FAX: [1] (202) 745-4933
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chief of mission: Ambassador Richard J. SCHMIERER
embassy: Jameat A'Duwal Al Arabiya Street, Al Khuwair area, Muscat
mailing address: P. O. Box 202, P.C. 115, Madinat Sultan Qaboos, Muscat
telephone: [968] 24-643-400
FAX: [968] 24-699771
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three horizontal bands of white, red, and green of equal width with a broad, vertical, red band on the hoist side; the national emblem (a khanjar dagger in its sheath superimposed on two crossed swords in scabbards) in white is centered near the top of the vertical band
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Economy ::Oman
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Oman is a middle-income economy that is heavily dependent on dwindling oil resources. Because of declining reserves, Muscat has actively pursued a development plan that focuses on diversification, industrialization, and privatization, with the objective of reducing the oil sector's contribution to GDP to 9% by 2020. Tourism and gas-based industries are key components of the government's diversification strategy. By using enhanced oil recovery techniques, Oman succeeded in increasing oil production in 2009, giving the country more time to diversify. The drop in oil prices in 2008 and the global financial crisis reduced Oman's budget surplus in 2009 and slowed the pace of investment and development projects, but GDP growth still was positive, in part because Muscat implemented an expansionary fiscal policy.
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$69.48 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
$67.65 billion (2008 est.)
$63.58 billion (2007 est.)
note: data are in 2009 US dollars
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$52.95 billion (2009 est.)
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2.7% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
6.4% (2008 est.)
5.8% (2007 est.)
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$23,900 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
$23,700 (2008 est.)
$22,700 (2007 est.)
note: data are in 2009 US dollars
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agriculture: 2.1%
industry: 36.3%
services: 61.6% (2009 est.)
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968,800
country comparison to the world: 142
note: about 60% of the labor force is non-national (2007)
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agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
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15% (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150
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NA%
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lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
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31.4% of GDP (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22
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revenues: $18.75 billion
expenditures: $18.35 billion (2009 est.)
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2.8% of GDP (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
2.8% of GDP (2008 est.)
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5.3% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148
12.5% (2008 est.)
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0.91% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 133
1.98% (31 December 2007)
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7.1% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 123
7.29% (31 December 2007)
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$5.25 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 59
$5.044 billion (31 December 2007)
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$14.57 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 52
$11.04 billion (31 December 2007)
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$17.83 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 68
$13.88 billion (31 December 2007)
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$14.91 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 63
$23.06 billion (31 December 2007)
$16.16 billion (31 December 2006)
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dates, limes, bananas, alfalfa, vegetables; camels, cattle; fish
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crude oil production and refining, natural and liquefied natural gas (LNG) production; construction, cement, copper, steel, chemicals, optic fiber
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3.4% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
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13.58 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
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11.36 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
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0 kWh (2008 est.)
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0 kWh (2008 est.)
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806,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25
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81,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
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593,700 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25
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17,290 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118
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5.5 billion bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23
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24 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29
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13.46 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
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10.89 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18
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350 million cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
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849.5 billion cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29
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$612 million (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45
$5.523 billion (2008 est.)
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$29.34 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60
$37.72 billion (2008 est.)
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petroleum, reexports, fish, metals, textiles
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China 31.7%, South Korea 17%, UAE 11.7%, Japan 11%, Thailand 7.1% (2008)
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$18.41 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
$20.71 billion (2008 est.)
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machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, livestock, lubricants
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UAE 27.2%, Japan 15.6%, US 5.7%, China 4.6%, India 4.5%, South Korea 4.2%, Germany 4.2% (2008)
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$13.58 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
$11.58 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
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$7.474 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90
$7.68 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
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$NA
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$NA
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Omani rials (OMR) per US dollar - 0.3845 (2009), 0.3845 (2008), 0.3845 (2007), 0.3845 (2006), 0.3845 (2005)
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Communications ::Oman
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274,200 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 116
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3.219 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 105
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general assessment: modern system consisting of open-wire, microwave, and radiotelephone communication stations; limited coaxial cable; domestic satellite system with 8 earth stations
domestic: fixed-line and mobile-cellular subscribership both increasing with fixed-line phone service gradually being introduced to remote villages using wireless local loop systems
international: country code - 968; the Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG) and the SEA-ME-WE-3 submarine cable provide connectivity to Asia, the Middle East, and Europe; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Indian Ocean), 1 Arabsat (2007)
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AM 3, FM 9, shortwave 2 (1999)
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13 (plus 25 repeaters) (1999)
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.om
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6,346 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 133
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465,000 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 110
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Transportation ::Oman
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128 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 45
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total: 10
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2009)
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total: 118
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 52
914 to 1,523 m: 33
under 914 m: 25 (2009)
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3 (2009)
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gas 4,209 km; oil 3,558 km; refined products 263 km (2009)
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total: 42,300 km
country comparison to the world: 85
paved: 16,500 km (includes 550 km of expressways)
unpaved: 25,800 km (2005)
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total: 3
country comparison to the world: 142
by type: chemical tanker 1, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 1
registered in other countries: 2 (Panama 2) (2008)
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Mina' Qabus, Salalah
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Military ::Oman
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Sultan's Armed Forces (SAF): Royal Army of Oman, Royal Navy of Oman, Royal Air Force of Oman (al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Sultanat) (2010)
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18-30 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2008)
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males age 16-49: 964,200
females age 16-49: 714,421 (2010 est.)
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males age 16-49: 816,579
females age 16-49: 622,927 (2010 est.)
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male: 31,827
female: 30,148 (2010 est.)
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11.4% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1
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Transnational Issues ::Oman
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boundary agreement reportedly signed and ratified with UAE in 2003 for entire border, including Oman's Musandam Peninsula and Al Madhah exclave, but details of the alignment have not been made public
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