er monsoon
(May to September) in far south

Terrain: central desert plain, rugged mountains in north and south

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Arabian Sea 0 m highest point: Jabal
Shams 2,980 m

Natural resources: petroleum, copper, asbestos, some marble, limestone,
chromium, gypsum, natural gas

Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (1998 est.)

Irrigated land: 620 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards: summer winds often raise large sandstorms and dust
storms in interior; periodic droughts

Environment - current issues: rising soil salinity; beach pollution
from oil spills; very limited natural fresh water resources

Environment - international agreements: 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

Geography - note: strategic location on Musandam Peninsula adjacent to
Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude oil

People Oman

Population: 2,713,462 note: includes 527,078 non-nationals (July
2002 est.)

Age structure: 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.)

Population growth rate: 3.41% (2002 est.)

Birth rate: 37.76 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Death rate: 4.03 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Net migration rate: 0.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Sex ratio: 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.)

Infant mortality rate: 21.77 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: 74.57 years (2002 est.) male: Total fertility
rate: 5.99 children born/woman (2002 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.11% (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA

Nationality: noun: Omani(s) adjective: Omani

Ethnic groups: Arab, Baluchi, South Asian (Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan,
Bangladeshi), African

Religions: Ibadhi Muslim 75%, Sunni Muslim, Shi'a Muslim, Hindu

Languages: Arabic (official), English, Baluchi, Urdu, Indian dialects

Literacy: definition: NA total population: approaching 80% male: NA%
female: NA%

Government Om