In March 2015 the ruler of Oman, Sultan Qaboos binSaid, returned to the country after having spent morethan eight months in Germany, where he reportedly
had been receiving treatment for an unspecified illness.Details of his condition were closely guarded; Omani offi-cials never confirmed that he was ill, although he seemedto acknowledge the widespread reports of his illness dur-ing a televised speech in late 2014. The long absence ofthe sultan—who has ruled in Oman since 1970—set off awave of anxiety about who would succeed him, especial-ly since he is unmarried and has nochildren.
Vital statisticsBirth rate per 1,000 population (2014): 24.4(world avg. 19.5).
Death rate per 1,000 population (2014): 3.4(world avg. 8.1).
Life expectancy at birth (2014): male 73.3years; female 77.2 years.
DemographyPopulation (2015): 3,096,000.Density (2015): persons per sq mi25.9, persons per sq km 10.0.
Sex distribution (2014): male 54.62%;female 45.38%.
Population projection: (2020)3,424,000; (2030) 4,055,000.
National economyBudget (2012). Revenue: RO 14,080,300,000 (oil revenue 74.1%; natur-
al gas revenue 11.2%; nontax revenue 8.2%; other taxrevenue 6.5%). Expenditures: RO 13,555,000,000 (cur-rent expenditure 64.7%, of which defense 35.0%, edu-cation 9.1%; capital expenditure 21.3%, of which oil-,gas-related 8.7%; other 14.0%).
Public debt (2010): U.S.$2,938,800,000.Gross national income (GNI; 2012): U.S.$83,686,000,000(U.S.$25,250 per capita); purchasing power parity GNI(U.S.$52,170 per capita).
Average household size (2003): 6.8.Production (metric tons except as noted). Agriculture,forestry, fishing (2012): dates 270,000, bananas 63,000,tomatoes 55,000, sorghum (2013) 41,500, chilies and
peppers 13,500, eggplants 10,000, mangoes, mangosteens, and guavas9,000, lemons and limes 6,650, okra 4,200, tobacco 1,200; livestock(number of live animals; 2013) 1,790,000 goats, 408,000 sheep, 350,000cattle, 135,000 camels; roundwood (2013) 42,690 cu m, of which fuel-wood 100%; fisheries production 191,731 (from aquaculture, negligi-ble). Mining and quarrying (2012): limestone 6,453,600; marble1,126,000; chromite 554,800; copper (metal content) 2,000. Manu-facturing (value added in U.S.$’000,000; 2010): refined petroleumproducts 2,446; chemicals and chemical products 1,030; cement, bricks,and ceramics 675; base metals 669; fabricated metal products 534;food products and beverages 402. Energy production (consumption):electricity (kW-hr; 2012) 24,365,000,000 ([2011] 21,354,000,000), bysource (2012): fossil fuels 100%; coal, none (none); crude petroleum(barrels; 2013–14) 346,000,000 ([2011] 68,100,000); petroleum products(metric tons; 2011) 9,157,000 (6,540,000); natural gas (cu m; 2012)35,940,000,000 (17,530,000,000).
Population economically active (2013): total (2009) 1,085,600; participa-tion rates: age 15 and over, male 64.1%; female 20.5%; unemployed(2004) 15%.
Land use as % of total land area (2011): in temporary crops or left fal-low 0.1%, in permanent crops 0.1%, in pasture 5.5%, forest area0.01%.
MilitaryTotal active duty personnel (November 2014):
42,600 (army 58.7%, navy 9.9%, air force11.7%, royal household 15.0%, foreignforces serving within Omani military com-mand 4.7%).16 Military expenditure as per-centage of GDP (2014): 12.0%; per capitaexpenditure U.S.$2,988.
Foreign trade13
Imports (2013): RO 13,201,100,000 (mineral prod-ucts 27.5%, transportation equipment 18.0%,machinery and apparatus 15.6%, base and fabricat-ed metals 10.4%, chemicals and chemical products7.6%). Major import sources:
Exports (2013): RO 21,697,000,000 (crude petrole-um 56.9%, LNG 7.7%, mineral products 5.9%,chemicals and chemical products 3.7%). Major export destinations14:
Transport and communicationsTransport. Railroads: none. Roads(2012): total length 37,425 mi,60,230 km (paved 51%). Vehicles(20084): passenger cars 453,362;trucks and buses 139,728.
Education and healthLiteracy (2010): percentage of total populationage 15 and over literate 86.9%; males literate90.2%; females literate 81.8%.
Health (2012): physicians 5,615 (1 per 513 per-sons); hospital beds 6,179 (1 per 466 persons);infant mortality rate per 1,000 live births(2013) 14.5.
1All appointed by sultan; extent of authority was unclear in 2015. 2Many ministries are located in adja-cent Bawshar. 3Approximate; no comprehensive survey of surface area has ever been carried out inOman. 4January 1. 5Within Muscat urban agglomeration. 6Summed total equals 119,525 sq mi (309,568sq km). 7Total includes 123,021 persons of unspecified location. 8Blacks originally from Zanzibar.9Employed only; includes 424,178 expatriate workers and 312,446 Omani workers. 10Oil and natural gasexcludes refined petroleum products; Manufacturing includes refined petroleum products. 11Taxes lesssubsidies and less imputed bank service charges. 12Detail does not add to total given because of round-ing. 13Imports c.i.f.; exports f.o.b. 14Excluding petroleum-related exports. 15Subscribers. 16Foreigntroops (November 2013): U.K. 80.
Internet resources for further information:• National Centre for Statistics and Information www.ncsi.gov.om• Central Bank of Oman www.cbo.gov.om
Structure of gross national product and labour force2012 2003
in value % of total labour % of labourRO ’000,000 value force9 force9
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 333.4 1.1 58,114 7.9Oil and natural gas 15,677.710 52.210
