Introduction
<p>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.<br><br>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.</p>
Geography
- Land
- 309,500 sq km
- Total
- 309,500 sq km
- Water
- 0 sq km
twice the size of Georgia
dry desert; hot, humid along coast; hot, dry interior; strong southwest summer monsoon (May to September) in far south
2,092 km
Asia
- Highest point
- Jabal Shams 3,004 m
- Lowest point
- Arabian Sea 0 m
- Mean elevation
- 310 m
21 00 N, 57 00 E
consists of Oman proper and two northern exclaves, Musandam and Al Madhah; the former is a peninsula that occupies a strategic location adjacent to the Strait of Hormuz
1,162 sq km (2022)
- Border countries
- Saudi Arabia 658 km; UAE 609 km; Yemen 294 km
- number of neighbors
- 3
- Total
- 1,561 km
- Agricultural land
- 4.8% (2023 est.)
- Agricultural land: arable land
- arable land: 0.3% (2023 est.)
- Agricultural land: permanent crops
- permanent crops: 0.1% (2023 est.)
- Agricultural land: permanent pasture
- permanent pasture: 4.4% (2023 est.)
- arable land
- 0.28%
- Forest
- 0% (2023 est.)
- Other
- 95.2% (2023 est.)
- permanent crops
- 0.11%
No
Middle East, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, and Persian Gulf, between Yemen and the UAE
Arabian Aquifer System
- Google Maps
- https://goo.gl/maps/L2BoXoAwDDwWecnw5
- OpenStreetMap
- https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/305138
Middle East
- Contiguous zone
- 24 nm
- Exclusive economic zone
- 200 nm
- Territorial sea
- 12 nm
summer winds often raise large sandstorms and dust storms in interior; periodic droughts
petroleum, copper, asbestos, some marble, limestone, chromium, gypsum, natural gas
the vast majority of the population is located in and around the Al Hagar Mountains in the north; another smaller cluster is found around the city of Salalah in the far south; most of the country remains sparsely populated
Western Asia
central desert plain, rugged mountains in north and south
- UTC+04:00
- number of time zones
- 1
People and Society
- 0-14 years
- 29.8% (male 594,909/female 566,682)
- 15-64 years
- 66.2% (male 1,428,141/female 1,155,438)
- 65 years and over
- 4% (2024 est.) (male 73,076/female 83,746)
- Beer
- 0.17 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
- Other alcohols
- 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
- Spirits
- 0.29 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
- Total
- 0.47 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
- Wine
- 0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
20.65 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
11.2% (2017 est.)
55.8% (2020 est.)
- 3.17 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
- adult female
- 37 per 1,000
- adult male
- 58 per 1,000
- Elderly dependency ratio
- 6.2 (2025 est.)
- Potential support ratio
- 16.2 (2025 est.)
- Total dependency ratio
- 50.8 (2025 est.)
- Youth dependency ratio
- 44.6 (2025 est.)
- improved total
- 91.1%
- Improved: rural
- rural: 76.3% of population (2022 est.)
- Improved: total
- total: 92.4% of population (2022 est.)
- Improved: urban
- urban: 94.7% of population (2022 est.)
- Unimproved: rural
- rural: 23.7% of population (2022 est.)
- Unimproved: total
- total: 7.6% of population (2022 est.)
- Unimproved: urban
- urban: 5.3% of population (2022 est.)
- Education expenditure (% GDP)
- 4.3% of GDP (2022 est.)
- Education expenditure (% national budget)
- 14.2% national budget (2022 est.)
4 % of GDP
Arab, Baluchi, South Asian (Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan, Bangladeshi), African
1.27 (2025 est.)
- 3 % of GDP
- Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
- 4.4% of GDP (2021)
- Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
- 8.3% of national budget (2022 est.)
0.1%
1.2 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)
- Female
- 12.6 deaths/1,000 live births
- Male
- 15.1 deaths/1,000 live births
- neonatal
- 5 deaths/1,000 live births
- Total
- 13.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
- Languages
- Arabic (official), English, Baluchi, Swahili, Urdu, Indian dialects
- Major-language sample(s)
- <br>كتاب حقائق العالم، المصدر الذي لا يمكن الاستغناء عنه للمعلومات الأساسية (Arabic)<br><br>The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
- number of languages
- 1
- Female
- 79.4 years
- Male
- 75.5 years
- Total population
- 77.4 years (2024 est.)
- Female
- 94.9% (2022 est.)
- Male
- 98.6% (2022 est.)
- Total population
- 97.3% (2022 est.)
1.650 million MUSCAT (capital) (2023)
13 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
- Female
- 26.3 years
- Male
- 28.1 years
- Total
- 27.5 years (2025 est.)
6 births/1,000 women 15-19
- Adjective
- Omani
- Noun
- Omani(s)
-0.49 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
27% (2016)
1.99 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
- Female
- 1,839,744
- Male
- 2,130,080
- Total
- 3,969,824 (2025 est.)
1.7% (2025 est.)
- Muslim 85.9%, Christian 6.4%, Hindu 5.7%, other and unaffiliated 2% (2020 est.)
- note
- <strong>note:</strong> Omani citizens represent approximately 56.4% of the population and are overwhelming Muslim (Ibadhi and Sunni sects each constitute about 45% and Shia about 5%); Christians, Hindus, and Buddhists account for roughly 5% of Omani citizens
- Improved: rural
- rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
- Improved: total
- total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
- Improved: urban
- urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
- Unimproved: rural
- rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
- Unimproved: total
- total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
- Unimproved: urban
- urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
- Female
- 14 years (2021 est.)
- Male
- 13 years (2021 est.)
- Total
- 13 years (2021 est.)
- 0-14 years
- 1.05 male(s)/female
- 15-64 years
- 1.24 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over
- 0.87 male(s)/female
- At birth
- 1.05 male(s)/female
- Total population
- 1.16 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
- Female
- 0.4% (2025 est.)
- Male
- 17.9% (2025 est.)
- Total
- 11.6% (2025 est.)
2.61 children born/woman (2025 est.)
- Rate of urbanization
- 2.32% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
- Urban population
- 88.4% of total population (2023)
- measles
- 99%
Government
11 governorates (<em>muhafazat</em>, singular - <em>muhafaza</em>); Ad Dakhiliyah, Al Buraymi, Al Wusta, Az Zahirah, Janub al Batinah (Al Batinah South), Janub ash Sharqiyah (Ash Sharqiyah South), Masqat (Muscat), Musandam, Shamal al Batinah (Al Batinah North), Shamal ash Sharqiyah (Ash Sharqiyah North), Zufar (Dhofar)
- Etymology
- the name derives from the Arabic name for the city, Masqat, which is said to mean "hidden" and refers to the range of hills that isolate the port city from the rest of the country
- Geographic coordinates
- 23 37 N, 58 35 E
- Name
- Muscat
- Time difference
- UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
- Citizenship by birth
- no
- Citizenship by descent only
- the father must be a citizen of Oman
- Dual citizenship recognized
- no
- Residency requirement for naturalization
- unknown
- svg
- https://mainfacts.com/media/images/coats_of_arms/om.svg
- Amendment process
- promulgated by the sultan or proposed by the Council of Oman and drafted by a technical committee as stipulated by royal decree and then promulgated through royal decree
- History
- 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
- alternative spellings
- OM, Sultanate of Oman, Salṭanat ʻUmān
- Conventional long form
- Sultanate of Oman
- Conventional short form
- Oman
- Etymology
- the origin of the name is uncertain, but it may date back at least 2,000 years, with an "Omana" mentioned by Pliny the Elder (1st century A.D.) and an "Omanon" by Ptolemy (2nd century A.D.); it is said to derive from Oman ben Ibrahim al Khalil (Oman ben Kahtan), who founded the state
- FIFA code
- OMA
- Former
- Sultanate of Muscat and Oman
- Local long form
- Saltanat Uman
- local long form (ara)
- سلطنة عمان
- Local short form
- Uman
- Chief of mission
- Ambassador Ana ESCROGIMA (since 4 December 2023)
- Email address and website
- <br>ConsularMuscat@state.gov<br><br>https://om.usembassy.gov/
- Embassy
- P.C. 115, Madinat Al Sultan Qaboos, Muscat
- FAX
- [968] 2464-3740
- Mailing address
- 6220 Muscat Place, Washington DC 20521
- Telephone
- [968] 2464-3400
- Chancery
- 2535 Belmont Road, NW, Washington, DC 20008
- Chief of mission
- Ambassador Talal Sulaiman AL-RAHBI (since 24 July 2025)
- Email address and website
- <br>washington@fm.gov.om<br><br>Embassy of the Sultanate of Oman, Washington, USA - FM.gov.om
- FAX
- [1] (202) 745-4933
- Telephone
- [1] (202) 387-1980
- Cabinet
- Cabinet appointed by the monarch
- Chief of state
- Sultan and Prime Minister HAITHAM bin Tarik Al Said (since 11 January 2020)
- Head of government
- Sultan and Prime Minister HAITHAM bin Tarik Al Said (since 11 January 2020)
- Note
- <strong>note:</strong> the monarch is both chief of state and head of government
<strong>description:</strong> three equal horizontal bands of white (top), red, and green, with a vertical red band on the left side; the national emblem (a <em>khanjar</em> dagger in its sheath on top of crossed swords in scabbards) in white is centered near the top of the vertical band<br><br><strong>meaning:</strong> white stands for peace and prosperity, red for battles against foreign invaders, and green for the Jebel al Akhdar (Green Mountains) and fertility
The flag of Oman features a red vertical band on the hoist side that takes up about one-fourth the width of the field, and three equal horizontal bands of white, red and green adjoining the vertical band. At the top of the vertical band is the white emblem of Oman.
- svg
- https://flagcdn.com/om.svg
absolute monarchy
1650 (expulsion of the Portuguese)
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, CAEU, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
- Highest court(s)
- Supreme Court (consists of 5 judges)
- Judge selection and term of office
- judges nominated by the 9-member Supreme Judicial Council (chaired by the monarch) and appointed by the monarch; judges appointed for life
- Subordinate courts
- Courts of Appeal; Administrative Court; Courts of First Instance; sharia courts; magistrates' courts; military courts
mixed system of Anglo-Saxon law and Islamic law
- Legislative structure
- bicameral
- Legislature name
- Majles
- Chamber name
- Shura Council (Majles A'Shura)
- Electoral system
- other systems
- Expected date of next election
- October 2027
- Most recent election date
- 11/1/2023
- Number of seats
- 90 (all directly elected)
- Percentage of women in chamber
- 0%
- Scope of elections
- full renewal
- Term in office
- 4 years
- Chamber name
- State Council (Majles Addawla)
- Expected date of next election
- November 2027
- Most recent election date
- 10/29/2023
- Number of seats
- 87 (all appointed)
- Percentage of women in chamber
- 20.9%
- Scope of elections
- full renewal
- Term in office
- 4 years
red, white, green
- Selected World Heritage Site locales
- Bahla Fort; Archaeological Sites of Bat; Land of Frankincense; Aflaj Irrigation Systems of Oman; Ancient Qalhat
- Total World Heritage Sites
- 5 (all cultural)
- National Day, 18 November
- note
- <strong>note:</strong> celebrates Oman's independence from Portugal in 1650 and the birthday of Sultan QABOOS bin Said al Said, who reigned from 1970 to 2020
khanjar dagger on top of two crossed swords
<strong>note:</strong> organized political parties are banned in Oman, and loyalties tend to form around tribal affiliations
Sunday
- 21 years of age; universal
- note
- <strong>note:</strong> members of the military and security forces by law cannot vote
Yes
Economy
- vegetables, dates, milk, tomatoes, sorghum, chillies/peppers, goat milk, cucumbers/gherkins, cantaloupes/melons, cabbages (2023)
- note
- <b>note:</b> top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
- On alcohol and tobacco
- 0.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
- On food
- 18.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
- Expenditures
- $35.984 billion (2018 est.)
- Revenues
- $29.334 billion (2018 est.)
- code
- OMR
- name
- Omani rial (OMR) [ر.ع.]
- $3.07 billion
- Current account balance 2021
- -$4.836 billion (2021 est.)
- Current account balance 2022
- $4.362 billion (2022 est.)
- Current account balance 2023
- $2.638 billion (2023 est.)
- Note
- <b>note:</b> balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
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
- Currency
- Omani rials (OMR) per US dollar -
- Exchange rates 2020
- 0.384 (2020 est.)
- Exchange rates 2021
- 0.384 (2021 est.)
- Exchange rates 2022
- 0.384 (2022 est.)
- Exchange rates 2023
- 0.384 (2023 est.)
- Exchange rates 2024
- 0.384 (2024 est.)
- $70.79 billion
- Exports 2021
- $46.572 billion (2021 est.)
- Exports 2022
- $69.483 billion (2022 est.)
- Exports 2023
- $64.749 billion (2023 est.)
- Note
- <b>note:</b> balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
- crude petroleum, refined petroleum, natural gas, semi-finished iron, fertilizers (2023)
- note
- <b>note:</b> top five export commodities based on value in dollars
- China 43%, India 6%, Saudi Arabia 5%, UAE 5%, South Africa 4% (2023)
- note
- <b>note:</b> top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
- net inflows
- $12.47 billion
- Exports of goods and services
- 61.1% (2023 est.)
- Government consumption
- 19.1% (2023 est.)
- Household consumption
- 37.8% (2023 est.)
- Imports of goods and services
- -44.8% (2023 est.)
- Investment in fixed capital
- 24.3% (2023 est.)
- Investment in inventories
- 2.4% (2023 est.)
- Note
- <b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection
- Agriculture
- 2.6% (2024 est.)
- Industry
- 54.2% (2024 est.)
- Note
- <b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
- Services
- 46.5% (2024 est.)
- $106.943 billion (2024 est.)
- note
- <b>note:</b> data in current dollars at official exchange rate
$20,285
$100.97 billion
$19,520
25 % of GDP
- $52.26 billion
- Imports 2021
- $37.216 billion (2021 est.)
- Imports 2022
- $46.682 billion (2022 est.)
- Imports 2023
- $47.412 billion (2023 est.)
- Note
- <b>note:</b> balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
- refined petroleum, cars, crude petroleum, iron ore, iron pipes (2023)
- note
- <b>note:</b> top five import commodities based on value in dollars
- UAE 25%, Saudi Arabia 12%, India 8%, China 7%, Qatar 5% (2023)
- note
- <b>note:</b> top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
- 0.2% (2024 est.)
- note
- <b>note:</b> annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
crude oil production and refining, natural and liquefied natural gas production; construction, cement, copper, steel, chemicals, optic fiber
- 0.59%
- Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021
- 1.7% (2021 est.)
- Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
- 2.5% (2022 est.)
- Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
- 1% (2023 est.)
- Note
- <b>note:</b> annual % change based on consumer prices
- 2.696 million (2024 est.)
- note
- <b>note:</b> number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
- total
- 2.84 million persons
- agriculture
- 5.95%
- industry
- 39.44%
- services
- 54.62%
- Note
- <strong>note:</strong> excludes indebtedness of state-owned enterprises
- Public debt 2017
- 46.9% of GDP (2017 est.)
- $220.45 billion
- Note
- <b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars
- Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
- $188.169 billion (2022 est.)
- Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
- $190.403 billion (2023 est.)
- Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
- $193.591 billion (2024 est.)
- 1.63%
- Note
- <b>note:</b> annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
- Real GDP growth rate 2022
- 8% (2022 est.)
- Real GDP growth rate 2023
- 1.2% (2023 est.)
- Real GDP growth rate 2024
- 1.7% (2024 est.)
- $41,740
- Note
- <b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars
- Real GDP per capita 2022
- $39,800 (2022 est.)
- Real GDP per capita 2023
- $37,700 (2023 est.)
- Real GDP per capita 2024
- $36,700 (2024 est.)
- $39.01 million
- Note
- <b>note:</b> personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
- Remittances 2021
- 0% of GDP (2021 est.)
- Remittances 2022
- 0% of GDP (2022 est.)
- Remittances 2023
- 0% of GDP (2023 est.)
- $18.29 billion
- Note
- <b>note:</b> holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
- Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
- $17.606 billion (2022 est.)
- Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
- $17.455 billion (2023 est.)
- Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024
- $18.287 billion (2024 est.)
- 3.25%
- Note
- <b>note:</b> % of labor force seeking employment
- Unemployment rate 2022
- 3.3% (2022 est.)
- Unemployment rate 2023
- 3.2% (2023 est.)
- Unemployment rate 2024
- 3.2% (2024 est.)
- Female
- 30.9% (2024 est.)
- Male
- 11% (2024 est.)
- Note
- <b>note:</b> % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
- Total
- 13.9% (2024 est.)
Energy
- Consumption
- 82,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
- Exports
- 70,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
- Imports
- 323,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
- Consumption
- 40.738 billion kWh (2023 est.)
- consumption per capita
- 8,158 kWh
- Installed generating capacity
- 11.589 million kW (2023 est.)
- Transmission/distribution losses
- 4.267 billion kWh (2023 est.)
- Electrification - total population
- 100% (2022 est.)
- Fossil fuels
- 96% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
- hydroelectric
- 0%
- nuclear
- 0%
- renewable
- 1.95%
- Solar
- 3.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
- Wind
- 0.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
- 5,867 kg of oil equivalent
- Total energy consumption per capita 2023
- 296.586 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
- Consumption
- 28.646 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
- Exports
- 15.536 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
- Imports
- 1.924 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
- Production
- 41.726 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
- Proven reserves
- 651.287 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
- Crude oil estimated reserves
- 5.373 billion barrels (2021 est.)
- Refined petroleum consumption
- 218,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
- Total petroleum production
- 1.056 million bbl/day (2023 est.)
0.1%
Communications
- per 100 inhabitants
- 11 per 100
- Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
- 11 (2023 est.)
- Total
- 562,000 (2023 est.)
1 state-run TV broadcaster; TV stations transmitting from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Iran, and Yemen available via satellite TV; state-run radio operates multiple stations; first private radio station began operating in 2007, and several additional stations now operating (2019)
.om
- Percent of population
- 95% (2024 est.)
###
+968
- Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
- 11 (2023 est.)
- Total subscriptions
- 579,000 (2023 est.)
- subscriptions per 100
- 135 per 100
- Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
- 121 (2024 est.)
- Total subscriptions
- 6.35 million (2024 est.)
Transportation
- passengers carried
- 8.7 million passengers
- registered carrier departures
- 63,371 departures
37 (2025)
A4O
Right
20 (2025)
- By type
- general cargo 11, other 46
- Total
- 57 (2023)
- Key ports
- Duqm, Khawr Khasab, Mina Al Fahl, Mina Raysut, Sohar
- Large
- 0
- Medium
- 1
- Ports with oil terminals
- 6
- Small
- 4
- Total ports
- 7 (2024)
- Very small
- 2
OM
Military and Security
- armored vehicles
- tanks
the Sultan's Armed Forces (SAF) are responsible for defending the country, ensuring internal security, and protecting the monarchy; it trains with foreign partners such as the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, the UK, and the US; the SAF has a security relationship with the British military going back to the 18th century; today, the SAF and the British maintain a joint training base in Oman, and the British military uses the facilities at Al Duqm Port; in 2019, the US obtained access to the port, expanding on previous military cooperation agreements in 2014, 2010, and 1980; Oman also allows other nations to use some of its maritime facilities, including China; the SAF is part of the Peninsula Shield Forces, a joint military force established by the GCC countries with the aim of maintaining security and stability in the region<br><br>Oman's naval forces conduct maritime security operations along the country’s long coastline, including patrolling, ensuring freedom of navigation in the key naval chokepoint of the Strait of Hormuz, and countering piracy and smuggling; Oman participates in the US-led, multinational Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), which operates multinational task forces conducting maritime security in regional waters (2025)
- Sultan's Armed Forces (SAF): Royal Army of Oman (RAO), Royal Navy of Oman (RNO), Royal Air Force of Oman (RAFO), Royal Guard of Oman (RGO), Sultan's Special Forces<br><br>Royal Oman Police (ROP): Civil Defense, Immigration, Infrastructure Security Police, Coast Guard Police, Special Security Police, Special Task Force (2024)
- active duty personnel
- 47,000
- note
- <strong>note:</strong> in addition to its policing duties, the ROP conducts many administrative functions similar to the responsibilities of a Ministry of Interior in other countries
- percent of total labor force
- 2.12 %
approximately 40,000 active Sultan's Armed Forces (2025)
the SAF's inventory includes a mix of older and some more modern weapons systems from a variety of suppliers, particularly the UK and the US; other suppliers have included China, EU countries, South Africa, and Türkiye (2025)
- 6 % of GDP
- current USD
- $5,988,296,489
- Military Expenditures 2020
- 11% of GDP (2020 est.)
- Military Expenditures 2021
- 8% of GDP (2021 est.)
- Military Expenditures 2022
- 5.5% of GDP (2022 est.)
- Military Expenditures 2023
- 5.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
- Military Expenditures 2024
- 6% of GDP (2024 est.)
- percent of central government expenditure
- 20.13 %
- percent of GDP
- 5.59 % of GDP
- 18-25 for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription (2025)
- note
- <strong>note: </strong>women have served since 2011
- PowerIndex score
- 1.8823
Transnational Issues
- Refugees
- 714 (2024 est.)
Terrorism
- Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)
- note
- <strong>note: </strong>details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide
Environment
- From coal and metallurgical coke
- 661,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
- From consumed natural gas
- 54.8 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
- From petroleum and other liquids
- 28.611 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
- Total emissions
- 84.073 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
limited natural freshwater resources; high levels of soil and water salinity in the coastal plains; beach pollution from oil spills; industrial effluents in the water table and aquifers; desertification due to high winds driving desert sand into arable lands
- Party to
- Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
- Signed, but not ratified
- none of the selected agreements
- Agriculture
- 36.8 kt (2019-2021 est.)
- Energy
- 673.6 kt (2022-2024 est.)
- Other
- 9.9 kt (2019-2021 est.)
- Waste
- 62.4 kt (2019-2021 est.)
34.9 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
18 % of total land area
2 % of total
1.4 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
- 117 % of internal resources
- Agricultural
- 1.547 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
- Industrial
- 238 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
- Municipal
- 130 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
- Municipal solid waste generated annually
- 3.308 million tons (2024 est.)
- Percent of municipal solid waste recycled
- 13.9% (2022 est.)