Strait of Hormuz (17% of world's oil production transits this point going
from Persian Gulf to Arabian Sea)

*Oman, People

Population:
1,643,579 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
3.46% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
40.56 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
5.94 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
38.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
67.32 years
male:
65.47 years
female:
69.27 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
6.58 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Omani(s)
adjective:
Omani
Ethnic divisions:
Arab, Balochi, Zanzibari, South Asian (Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi)
Religions:
Ibadhi Muslim 75%, Sunni Muslim, Shi'a Muslim, Hindu
Languages:
Arabic (official), English, Balochi, Urdu, Indian dialects
Literacy:
total population:
NA%
male:
NA%
female:
NA%
Labor force:
430,000
by occupation:
agriculture 40% (est.)

*Oman, Government

Names:
conventional long form:
Sultanate of Oman
conventional short form:
Oman
local long form: Saltanat Uman
local short form:
Uman
Digraph:
MU
Type:
absolute monarchy with residual UK influence
Capital:
Muscat
Administrative divisions:
there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US
Government, but there are 3 governorates (muhafazah, singular - muhafazat);
Musqat, Musandam, Zufar
Independence:
1650 (expulsion of the Portuguese)
Constitution:
none
Legal system:
based on English common law and Islamic law; ultimate appeal to the sultan;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday:
National Day, 18 November
Political parties and leaders:
none
Other political or pressure groups:
outlawed Popular Front for the Liberation of Oman (PFLO), based in Yemen
Suffrage:
none
Elections:
elections scheduled for October 1992
Executive branch:
sultan, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly
Judicial branch:
none; traditional Islamic judges and a nascent civil court system
Leaders:
Chief of State and Head of Government:
Sultan and Prime Minister QABOOS bin Sa'id Al Sa'id (since 23 July 1970)
Member of:
ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD,
IFC, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IS