NAVIGATION
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NAVIGATION
Sultanate of Oman
Saltanat Uman
INTRODUCTION
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Background:
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In 1970, QABOOS bin Said Al Said ousted his father and has ruled as sultan ever since. His extensive modernization program has opened the country to the outside world and has preserved a long-standing political and military relationship with the UK. Oman's moderate, independent foreign policy has sought to maintain good relations with all Middle Eastern countries. |
GEOGRAPHY
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Location:
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Middle East, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, and Persian Gulf, between Yemen and UAE |
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Geographic coordinates:
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21 00 N, 57 00 E |
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Map references:
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Middle East |
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Area:
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total: 212,460 sq km
water: 0 sq km land: 212,460 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly smaller than Kansas |
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Land boundaries:
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total: 1,374 km
border countries: Saudi Arabia 676 km, UAE 410 km, Yemen 288 km |
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Coastline:
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2,092 km |
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Maritime claims:
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contiguous zone: 24 NM
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM |
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Climate:
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dry desert; hot, humid along coast; hot, dry interior; strong southwest summer monsoon (May to September) in far south |
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Terrain:
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central desert plain, rugged mountains in north and south |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Arabian Sea 0 m
highest point: Jabal Shams 2,980 m |
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Natural resources:
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petroleum, copper, asbestos, some marble, limestone, chromium, gypsum, natural gas |
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Land use:
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arable land: 0.08%
permanent crops: 0.22% other: 99.7% (1998 est.) |
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Irrigated land:
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620 sq km (1998 est.) |
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Natural hazards:
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summer winds often raise large sandstorms and dust storms in interior; periodic droughts |
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Environment - current issues:
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rising soil salinity; beach pollution from oil spills; very limited natural fresh water resources |
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, 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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Geography - note:
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strategic location on Musandam Peninsula adjacent to Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude oil |
PEOPLE
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Population:
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2,713,462
note: includes 527,078 non-nationals (July 2002 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 41.9% (male 579,065; female 556,923)
15-64 years: 55.7% (male 914,494; female 597,948) 65 years and over: 2.4% (male 34,555; female 30,477) (2002 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
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3.41% (2002 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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37.76 births/1,000 population (2002 est.) |
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Death rate:
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4.03 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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0.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.53 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.13 male(s)/female total population: 1.29 male(s)/female (2002 est.) |
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Infant mortality rate:
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21.77 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.) |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 72.31 years
female: 74.57 years (2002 est.) male: 70.15 years |
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Total fertility rate:
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5.99 children born/woman (2002 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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0.11% (1999 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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NA |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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NA |
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Nationality:
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noun: Omani(s)
adjective: Omani |
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Ethnic groups:
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Arab, Baluchi, South Asian (Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan, Bangladeshi), African |
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Religions:
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Ibadhi Muslim 75%, Sunni Muslim, Shi'a Muslim, Hindu |
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Languages:
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Arabic (official), English, Baluchi, Urdu, Indian dialects |
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Literacy:
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definition: NA
total population: approaching 80% male: NA% female: NA% |