Contents

Country Overview

Oman is an Arabian Peninsula state with coastlines on the Gulf of Oman and Arabian Sea and a strategic position beside the Strait of Hormuz. The Sultanate is governed by Sultan Haitham bin Tarik under its Basic Law, with an appointed State Council and an elected Shura Council. Oil, liquefied natural gas, shipping, tourism and expanding manufacturing shape the economy; Oman Vision 2040 guides diversification. National population counts include a substantial expatriate workforce and differ from international intercensal estimates.

Reference status: Contemporary country profile • Verified: November 6, 2026 • Source years and statistical or jurisdictional limitations are stated.

CapitalMuscatNational executive and administrative center [2]
Population5,442,883Oman Foreign Ministry, September 2026 [2]
GDPUS$109.6 billionWorld Bank, 2025 current dollars [7]
SultanHaitham bin TarikHead of state and government [2]
Goods exportsUS$65.06 billionWTO/UN Comtrade 2024 series [8]
World Heritage5 propertiesUNESCO, all cultural [16]

Data and status note: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs gives 5,442,883 residents in September 2026, while the World Bank estimates 5,494,691 for calendar 2025; these distinct series should not be merged. World Bank 2025 current-dollar GDP is approximately US$109.6 billion. WTO merchandise totals refer to 2024, and the “Other Countries, n.e.s.” export-partner category is a reporting aggregation rather than a named trading nation. For the Shura Council, the 2023 election filled 90 seats; older council pages mention 85 and should not supersede the contemporary Foreign Ministry and IPU record.

Identity & State Formation

Official name
Sultanate of Oman (Saltanat ʿUmān). [2]
Short name
Oman. [2]
Capital
Muscat. [2]
UN statistical region
Western Asia. [1]
ISO codes
OM / OMN / 512. [1]
National government
Hereditary monarchy under the Basic Statute of the State. [2] [4]
Head of state
Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, in office since January 11, 2020. [2] [3]
Head of government
The Sultan also chairs the Council of Ministers. [3]
Previous ruler
Sultan Qaboos bin Said reigned from 1970 until 2020. [3]
Contemporary reform program
Oman Vision 2040 sets long-term diversification priorities. [14]
Constitutional framework
Basic Statute originally issued in 1996; new statute promulgated in 2021. [4]
Official language
Arabic; English is widely used in business and services. [2]
National currency
Omani rial (OMR). [2] [12]
Currency subdivision
1,000 baisa to one rial. [2]
Monetary authority
Central Bank of Oman. [12]
Exchange rate regime
Omani rial has a long-standing fixed exchange-rate relationship with the US dollar. [12]
State emblem
Crossed swords, khanjar dagger and belt. [2]
National flag
White, red and green with the Omani national emblem. [2]
National day
November 18 is the traditional national-day date; official observances and holidays may change by decree. [3]
Maritime heritage
Omani seafaring connected the Arabian Peninsula with East Africa, India and the Indian Ocean. [16]
Islamic tradition
Ibadi Islam has had special historical influence on Omani institutions and scholarship. [3] [17]
UN admission
October 7, 1971. [18]
GCC membership
Founding member of Gulf Cooperation Council since 1981. [19]
WTO membership
Oman joined the World Trade Organization in 2000. [8]
Oman Council
Two bodies: appointed State Council and elected Shura Council. [9] [11]
National legislature caveat
The Sultan retains final authority over legislation; the two councils are not a sovereign parliamentary legislature. [9] [11] [4]
Administrative units
11 governorates. [5]
Wilayats
Governorates are subdivided into local wilayat districts. [5]
Population total
Includes Omani nationals and foreign residents; not a citizens-only count. [2] [5]
Tourism role
Landscapes, heritage sites and coastlines support developing visitor services. [14] [16]

Geography & Population

Regional location
Southeastern portion of the Arabian Peninsula. [1]
Area
About 309,500 km², according to Oman’s Foreign Ministry. [2]
Northern neighbors
United Arab Emirates; Omani territory includes exclaves in and near the UAE. [2]
Western neighbors
Saudi Arabia and Yemen. [1]
Northern waters
Gulf of Oman. [2]
Eastern and southern waters
Arabian Sea, part of the northern Indian Ocean. [2]
Strategic strait
Musandam overlooks shipping approaches through the Strait of Hormuz. [21]
Musandam Peninsula
Mountainous northern exclave separated from the Omani mainland. [5]
Madha enclave
Omani exclave inside the UAE, with the UAE’s Nahwa enclave inside Madha. [5]
Major mountain chain
Al Hajar Mountains across the north. [15]
Highest mountain
Jabal Shams, generally cited at around 3,000 metres. [15]
Jabal Akhdar
Mountainous interior landscape noted for terraced farms and cooler upland climate. [15]
Interior plains
Dry gravel plains and desert basins dominate much of inland Oman. [15]
Rub’ al Khali
Empty Quarter desert extends into western interior Oman. [15]
Dhofar region
Southern governorate affected by the summer khareef monsoon. [15]
Salalah
Major southern urban center and port area in Dhofar. [21]
Muscat
Coastal capital backed by mountainous terrain. [2]
Sohar
Northern port and manufacturing center. [21]
Duqm
Arabian Sea port and industrial/logistics development area. [21]
Khasab
Administrative center of Musandam near the Strait of Hormuz. [5]
Coastal ecology
Beaches, rocky coasts and marine habitats support fishing and wildlife. [15]
Aflaj channels
Traditional gravity-fed irrigation systems distribute water in many oases. [16]
Wadis
Seasonal riverbeds carry flash floods after heavy rain. [15]
Water stress
Groundwater depletion and arid conditions create structural water challenges. [15]
Desalination
Seawater desalination is crucial to municipal drinking-water supply. [15] [14]
Cyclone exposure
Tropical cyclones can affect the Arabian Sea coast and Dhofar. [15]
Heat exposure
Extreme temperatures affect work, public health and electricity demand. [15]
2026 registered population
5,442,883 as of September 2026 in the Foreign Ministry’s national profile. [2]
2025 estimated population
World Bank reports 5,494,691; methodology and reference year differ. [7]
2025 national population
National statistical yearbook records about 5.4 million residents. [6]
2025 estimated life expectancy
WHO and World Bank series differ from Omani-national-only lifespan figures. [20] [7] [6]
Foreign resident population
Expatriates account for a large minority of the registered population. [5]
Muscat concentration
Capital governorate is the most populous and economically concentrated. [5]
Governorate count
11 governorates: Muscat, Dhofar, Musandam, Al Buraimi, Ad Dakhiliyah, North/South Al Batinah, North/South Ash Sharqiyah, Ad Dhahirah and Al Wusta. [5]
Environment priority
Coastal protection, groundwater conservation and flood preparedness are national issues. [15] [14]

Population series and statistical boundaries

Registered national series and international annual estimates use different reference periods and methods. [2] [7] [6]

Source Reference date Population
Oman Ministry of Foreign AffairsSeptember 20265,442,883
World Bank intercensal estimate20255,494,691
National Statistical Yearbook2025approximately 5.4 million

Selected governorates of Oman

Selected six of eleven governorates; not an exhaustive administrative listing. [5] [21]

Governorate Geographic role Major center
MuscatCapital and servicesMuscat
DhofarSouthern coast, khareefSalalah
MusandamStrait of Hormuz exclaveKhasab
North Al BatinahIndustry and tradeSohar
Al WustaDuqm coast and interiorDuqm
Ad DakhliyahInterior mountain-oasis zoneNizwa

Economy & International Trade

Economic model
Hydrocarbon-based open economy developing logistics, manufacturing, tourism and services. [7] [14]
2025 nominal GDP
World Bank reports approximately US$109.6 billion in current prices. [7]
2025 real GDP growth
World Bank reports around 2.4%. [7]
2025 GDP per capita
Around US$19,947 in current dollars. [7]
2025 consumer-price inflation
Approximately 1.0%, World Bank series. [7]
2025 modeled unemployment
Approximately 3.3%, ILO-modeled World Bank series. [7]
2024 life expectancy
World Bank reports about 80 years; all-resident methodology differs from national-only series. [7] [6]
2024 merchandise exports
US$65.062 billion in WTO/UN Comtrade data. [8]
2024 merchandise imports
US$43.467 billion in the same compilation. [8]
2024 goods trade surplus
Approximately US$21.596 billion using the 2024 WTO figures. [8]
Crude petroleum share
About 39.6% of 2024 merchandise exports. [8]
Light/refined petroleum share
About 21.8% in the WTO product category. [8]
Liquefied natural gas share
About 10.1% of exports. [8]
Top three hydrocarbon categories
Together account for roughly 71.5% of 2024 goods-export value. [8]
Iron ore products
Agglomerated iron ore and concentrates contributed about 2.7% of 2024 exports. [8]
Urea
Fertilizer exports contributed around 1.7% of total goods exports. [8]
Metals and chemicals
Steel, aluminum, methanol and plastics are important manufactured goods. [8]
Import supplier: UAE
Around 23.6% of 2024 merchandise imports. [8]
Import supplier: China
Around 11.0% of 2024 merchandise imports. [8]
Import supplier: Kuwait
Around 10.1% of 2024 merchandise imports. [8]
Import supplier: India
Around 9.0% of 2024 merchandise imports. [8]
Export destination limitation
WTO “Other Countries, n.e.s.” covers 68.4% of reported exports and should not be treated as a single country. [8]
Energy revenues
Oil and gas sales are major sources of budget and foreign-exchange revenue. [22] [13]
LNG industry
Production and export of liquefied natural gas serve overseas energy markets. [22] [8]
Duqm economic zone
Industrial and maritime development supports diversification along the Arabian Sea. [21] [14]
Port of Sohar
Gateway for industrial imports, manufacturing and regional distribution. [21]
Port of Salalah
Major container transshipment location on Arabian Sea routes. [21]
ASYAD Group
National logistics enterprise associated with integrated ports, transport and supply chains. [21]
Tourism strategy
Heritage, coastal resorts and nature tourism are targeted growth areas. [14]
Fisheries
Fishing and seafood processing are traditional coastal economic activities. [14]
Agriculture
Date palms, fruit, vegetables and livestock are important in irrigated areas. [16]
Financial sector
Central Bank of Oman oversees monetary conditions and domestic banking. [12]
Exchange-rate stability
Rial–US dollar peg supports transaction stability but limits independent exchange-rate adjustment. [12] [13]
Public finances
Hydrocarbon price swings influence state revenues and fiscal planning. [13]
Diversification plan
Oman Vision 2040 targets private investment, skills and non-oil sectors. [14]
Renewable potential
Solar and wind resources support energy transition and green-hydrogen ambitions. [14] [15]
Climate economic risk
Heat, water scarcity and coastal cyclones impose infrastructure adaptation costs. [15]
Data-year separation
WTO goods trade is calendar 2024; GDP is World Bank calendar 2025 and should not be merged into one-year ratios. [8] [7]

World Bank economic indicators

World Bank calendar-year series; values may be revised. [7]

Indicator Year Value
Nominal GDP, current US$2025US$109.6 billion
Real GDP growth20252.4%
GDP per capita, current US$2025US$19,947
Consumer inflation20251.0%
Unemployment, modeled ILO20253.3%

WTO merchandise trade and key exports, 2024

UN Comtrade/WTO HS 2022 product classifications; partner coverage includes aggregated destinations. [8]

Measure or item 2024 value Share of exports
Total goods exportsUS$65.062 billion100%
Total goods importsUS$43.467 billion—
Crude petroleumUS$25.769 billion39.6%
Light petroleum oilsUS$14.171 billion21.8%
Liquefied natural gasUS$6.575 billion10.1%
Agglomerated iron oresUS$1.756 billion2.7%

People & Society

Official language
Arabic. [2]
Widely used language
English is common in commerce, education and expatriate services. [2]
Other languages
Baluchi, Swahili and South Asian languages are used in parts of the population. [3] [17]
Religious setting
Islam is the state religion under Oman’s legal framework. [2] [4]
Ibadi heritage
Ibadi Islam has long shaped Omani religious and political traditions. [3]
Other Muslim traditions
Sunni and Shia Muslim communities are present. [3]
Non-Muslim communities
Foreign residents include Hindu, Christian, Buddhist and other communities. [5]
Population composition
Citizens and expatriate workers form distinct statistical categories. [5]
2026 national estimate
September population 5,442,883 includes non-citizens. [2]
2025 World Bank estimate
5,494,691, not a citizen-only statistic. [7]
2025 Omani life expectancy
National yearbook gives 77.5 years for Omani nationals; not the full-resident World Bank measure. [6]
Healthcare
Public and private providers operate national and regional health services. [20]
Education
Government schools, private schools and universities serve nationals and resident communities. [3]
Sultan Qaboos University
Major public university based near Muscat. [3]
Vocational skills
Training and workforce nationalization are priorities of Vision 2040. [14]
Omanization
Policies seek to increase Omani nationals’ participation in private-sector employment. [14]
Foreign labor
International migrant workers contribute substantially to construction, households, services and industry. [5]
Traditional dress
Dishdasha and kumma or mussar headwear are associated with Omani male dress. [17]
Khanjar
Curved traditional dagger symbolizes national identity. [2] [17]
Frankincense tradition
Dhofar frankincense production and trading shaped regional commerce. [16]
Date cultivation
Date palm growing is an established oasis agricultural practice. [16] [17]
Aflaj water management
Community-operated irrigation channels are associated with rural settlement. [16]
Dhow heritage
Shipbuilding and maritime trade link Oman to Indian Ocean cultures. [17]
Cuisine
Rice, meat, fish, spices and dates appear in diverse regional dishes. [17]
Coffee hospitality
Omani coffee and dates are common elements of hospitality. [17]
Music and dance
Traditional regional performance is represented in UNESCO intangible heritage programs. [17]
Craft traditions
Weaving, silversmithing, boatbuilding and pottery have historical significance. [17]
Built heritage
Forts and trading towns preserve political and maritime history. [16]
Desert communities
Pastoral and oasis livelihoods vary across inland settlements. [15] [17]
Dhofar khareef
Seasonal green landscapes and visitors mark the southern summer monsoon. [15]
Social services
Population growth and migration affect schools, housing and clinics. [5] [20]
Cultural change
Urbanization and tourism connect historic traditions with modern consumer services. [14]
Gender participation
Women participate in education, employment and appointed state institutions. [11] [14]
Environmental education
Water conservation and coastal protection are important civic concerns. [15]

Government & Institutions

Government type
Hereditary monarchy under Oman’s Basic Law. [4] [2]
Sultan
Haitham bin Tarik, head of state since January 2020. [2]
Executive branch
Sultan chairs the Council of Ministers and appoints ministers. [3]
Basic Statute
Royal Decree No. 6/2021 superseded the earlier 1996 statute. [4]
Succession framework
2021 constitutional reform established formal succession arrangements. [4]
Oman Council
Majlis Oman consists of the State Council and Shura Council. [9] [11]
Shura Council
Elected advisory and legislative-review chamber, 90 members in the 2023 term. [9] [10]
Shura election
October 29, 2023. [10]
Shura member selection
Direct voting in wilayat constituencies; non-party candidates. [10] [9]
Shura election turnout
Around 65.88% of registered voters, IPU report. [10]
Shura female elected
No woman won a seat in the October 2023 election, IPU report. [10]
State Council
Members appointed by royal decree, rather than elected. [11]
State Council count
Foreign Ministry public profile lists 86 appointed members; membership can change. [11]
Council legislative role
Both councils review or amend draft laws before royal approval. [9] [11]
Final law approval
Sultan’s assent is required for legislation to take effect. [9]
Political parties
Political parties do not compete in the national Shura electoral system. [10]
Voting eligibility
Omani citizens aged 21 and over may vote subject to law. [9]
Wilayat representation
Seats are allocated by wilayat and population rules. [9]
Council of Ministers
Cabinet directs departments and implementation under Sultan. [3]
Judiciary
Courts operate under Basic Law and statutory procedures. [4]
Public administration
Civil service, ministries and governorate authorities implement policy. [3]
Governorates
Eleven administrative governorates. [5]
Local units
Wilayats form subdivisions of governorates. [5]
Capital administration
Muscat governorate contains principal state institutions. [5]
Foreign affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs administers diplomacy and consular work. [2]
Defense and security
Armed forces and internal security operate under state leadership. [3]
Budget policy
Ministries oversee public revenues, spending and diversification goals. [13] [14]
Central bank
Central Bank of Oman responsible for monetary and banking oversight. [12]
Consultative authority
Elected Shura powers are substantial in review but less than those of a sovereign parliamentary cabinet system. [9] [11]
Women's institutional participation
Women have been appointed to the State Council; electoral representation differs by chamber. [11] [10]
Election-cycle caution
Next Shura elections are not counted as completed until formally held and published. [10]
Government data caution
Use the 2023 IPU 90-seat result over obsolete pre-2023 council descriptions. [10]

Oman Council institutional structure

The Shura count reflects 2023 election reporting, not older 85-seat page text. [10] [9] [11]

Body Selection Reference size
Majlis A’Shura (Shura Council)Elected by eligible citizens90 seats, 2023 election
Majlis A’Dawla (State Council)Appointed by SultanForeign Ministry states 86 members
Sultan / Council of MinistersHereditary and appointed executiveRoyal assent to legislation

International Profile

United Nations
Oman joined on October 7, 1971. [18]
UN statistical region
Western Asia. [1]
Gulf Cooperation Council
Founding GCC member since 1981. [19]
Arab League
Member of the League of Arab States. [3]
WTO
Member since 2000. [8]
Indian Ocean role
Maritime routes link Oman with South Asia and East Africa. [21]
Strait of Hormuz
Geopolitical position near the strait affects shipping and energy security. [21]
Regional mediation
Oman is recognized for quiet diplomacy between regional and global rivals. [2]
Yemen neighbor
Land border and humanitarian ties with Yemen are strategically important. [2]
United Arab Emirates
Shared borders, infrastructure links and regional commerce. [19]
Saudi Arabia
Important land-border and GCC trade partner. [19]
Iran
Across Gulf of Oman/Strait of Hormuz, with diplomatic and economic connections. [2]
India
Longstanding Indian Ocean trading relationships and contemporary commerce. [21]
United States
Bilateral cooperation includes trade, maritime security and diplomacy. [2]
World Heritage total
Five UNESCO World Heritage properties; all classified cultural. [16]
Bahla Fort
Inscribed 1987. [16]
Bat, Al-Khutm and Al-Ayn
Bronze Age archaeological sites inscribed 1988. [16]
Land of Frankincense
Inscribed 2000; includes Dhofar incense-route heritage. [16]
Aflaj Irrigation Systems
Inscribed 2006. [16]
Ancient City of Qalhat
Inscribed 2018. [16]
Tentative list
Seven tentative World Heritage nominations, not inscribed properties. [16]
Intangible heritage
UNESCO tracks Omani intangible elements separately from listed monuments. [17]
Environmental cooperation
Coastal and marine conservation support climate and biodiversity goals. [15]
Vision 2040 external investment
National strategy promotes logistics and international investment. [14]
International trade note
WTO country/category tables and national customs data can differ by reporting system. [8]
Strategic trade caveat
Oman’s “Other Countries, n.e.s.” category aggregates unspecified destinations; it is not a single market. [8]
Global image
International coverage should distinguish Oman’s monarchy and consultative councils from parliamentary systems. [3] [9]

Oman’s five UNESCO World Heritage properties

Complete current UNESCO inscribed list; seven tentative nominations are separate. [16]

Property Category Inscription
Bahla FortCultural1987
Archaeological Sites of Bat, Al-Khutm and Al-AynCultural1988
Land of FrankincenseCultural2000
Aflaj Irrigation Systems of OmanCultural2006
Ancient City of QalhatCultural2018

Sources and Methodology

Country references prioritize Oman’s Foreign Ministry and National Centre for Statistics and Information alongside World Bank, WTO/UN Comtrade, IPU, IMF, and UNESCO. September 2026 registered residents are not directly interchangeable with World Bank annual model estimates. GDP is current-dollar nominal output, not PPP; WTO goods statistics represent 2024 rather than the World Bank’s 2025 economic year. Council information is subject to royal decree and membership changes, and the 2023 election’s 90 seats are the best-dated reference for the elected Shura chamber.

Editorial cutoff: November 6, 2026 (Pacific Time). All stated population counts, prices, elections, and legal statuses have specific reference dates or qualifications. This page should be updated following major new statistical releases or changes of government.

  1. UN Statistics Division — M49 regional classification — Western Asia classification and ISO identifiers.
  2. Oman Ministry of Foreign Affairs — Key facts, September 2026 — official name, capital, Sultan, September 2026 population, area, currency.
  3. Oman Ministry of Foreign Affairs — Government and state institutions — monarchy, Basic Law and national institutions.
  4. Oman Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs — Royal Decree 6/2021 Basic Statute — Basic Law and government framework.
  5. National Centre for Statistics and Information — Oman data portal — population registrations, governorates, indicators and national reports.
  6. NCSI — Statistical Yearbook 2026, Issue 54 — 2025 population and life expectancy estimates.
  7. World Bank — Oman country data — 2025 population, GDP, growth, inflation, unemployment and life expectancy.
  8. WTO Tariff & Trade Data — Oman member profile — 2024 merchandise export/import values and product/partner shares.
  9. Oman Ministry of Foreign Affairs — Majlis A’Shura — Shura Council membership and legislative role.
  10. Inter-Parliamentary Union — Oman 2023 Shura Council election — 2023 election, 90 seats, turnout and gender results.
  11. Oman Ministry of Foreign Affairs — Majlis A’Dawla — appointed State Council and legislative processes.
  12. Central Bank of Oman — official portal — Omani rial, exchange-rate arrangement and monetary policy.
  13. IMF — Oman 2026 economic and financial indicators — growth, public finances, fiscal exposure and forecasts.
  14. Oman Vision 2040 — official program — economic diversification and national development agenda.
  15. World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal — Oman — climate, heat, cyclones, water and extreme weather.
  16. UNESCO World Heritage Centre — Oman — five inscribed cultural properties and seven tentative nominations.
  17. UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage — Oman — listed intangible elements and traditional practices.
  18. United Nations — Member States — October 7, 1971 UN admission.
  19. Gulf Cooperation Council — official website — GCC membership and regional cooperation.
  20. World Health Organization — Oman country profile — health and population indicators.
  21. ASYAD Group — Oman logistics and ports — Duqm, Sohar, Salalah and transport infrastructure.
  22. Ministry of Energy and Minerals — Oman — hydrocarbon sector and energy transition.