Overview
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
- Location
- Middle East, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, and Persian Gulf, between Yemen and the UAE
- Total Area
- 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
- Natural Resources
- petroleum, copper, asbestos, some marble, limestone, chromium, gypsum, natural gas
- Coastline
- 2,092 km
- Land Borders
- 1,561 km
People & Society
- Population
- 3,969,824 (2025 est.)
- Religions
- Muslim 85.9%, Christian 6.4%, Hindu 5.7%, other and unaffiliated 2% (2020 est.)
- Ethnic Groups
- Arab, Baluchi, South Asian (Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan, Bangladeshi), African
- Life Expectancy
- 77.4 years (2024 est.)
- Literacy Rate
- 97.3% (2022 est.)
- Urbanization
- 88.4% of total population (2023)
Government
- Government Type
- absolute monarchy
- Capital
- Muscat
- Independence
- 1650 (expulsion of the Portuguese)
- Constitution
- 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
- Legal System
- mixed system of Anglo-Saxon law and Islamic law
- Executive Branch
- Sultan and Prime Minister HAITHAM bin Tarik Al Said (since 11 January 2020)
Economy
- 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
- GDP (Official Rate)
- $106.943 billion (2024 est.)
- Major Industries
- crude oil production and refining, natural and liquefied natural gas production; construction, cement, copper, steel, chemicals, optic fiber