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Compare Oman (2001) - Antarctica (2005)

Compare Oman (2001) z Antarctica (2005)

 Oman (2001)Antarctica (2005)
 OmanAntarctica
Administrative divisions 6 regions (mintaqat, singular - mintaqah) and 2 governorates* (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah) Ad Dakhiliyah, Al Batinah, Al Wusta, Ash Sharqiyah, Az Zahirah, Masqat, Musandam*, Zufar*; note - the US Embassy in Oman reports that Masqat is a governorate, but this has not been confirmed by the US Board of Geographic Names (BGN) -
Age structure 0-14 years:
41.51% (male 554,727; female 533,627)

15-64 years:
56.12% (male 894,978; female 576,672)

65 years and over:
2.37% (male 32,863; female 29,331) (2001 est.)
-
Agriculture - products dates, limes, bananas, alfalfa, vegetables; camels, cattle; fish -
Airports 143 (2000 est.) there are no developed public access airports or landing facilities; 30 stations, operated by 16 national governments party to the Antarctic Treaty, have restricted aircraft landing facilities for either helicopters or fixed-wing aircraft; commercial enterprises operate two additional aircraft landing facilities; helicopter pads are available at 27 stations; runways at 15 locations are gravel, sea-ice, blue-ice, or compacted snow suitable for landing wheeled, fixed-wing aircraft; of these, one is greater than 3 km in length, six are between 2 km and 3 km in length, three are between 1 km and 2 km in length, three are less than 1 km in length, and two are of unknown length; snow surface skiways, limited to use by ski-equipped, fixed-wing aircraft, are available at another 15 locations; of these, four are greater than 3 km in length, three are between 2 km and 3 km in length, two are between 1 km and 2 km in length, two are less than 1 km in length, and four are of unknown length; aircraft landing facilities generally subject to severe restrictions and limitations resulting from extreme seasonal and geographic conditions; aircraft landing facilities do not meet ICAO standards; advance approval from the respective governmental or nongovernmental operating organization required for using their facilities; landed aircraft are subject to inspection in accordance with Article 7, Antarctic Treaty; guidelines for the operation of aircraft near concentrations of birds in Antarctica were adopted in 2004; relevant legal instruments and authorization procedures adopted by states party to the Antarctic Treaty regulating access to the Antarctic Treaty area, that is to all areas between 60 and 90 degrees of latitude South, have to be complied with (see information under "Legal System"); an Antarctic Flight Information Manual (AFIM) providing up-to-date details of Antarctic air facilities and procedures is maintained and published by the Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways total:
6

over 3,047 m:
4

2,438 to 3,047 m:
1

914 to 1,523 m:
1 (2000 est.)
-
Airports - with unpaved runways total:
137

over 3,047 m:
2

2,438 to 3,047 m:
6

1,524 to 2,437 m:
56

914 to 1,523 m:
37

under 914 m:
36 (2000 est.)
total: 20


over 3,047 m: 6


2,438 to 3,047 m: 3


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 4


under 914 m: 6 (2004 est.)
Area total:
212,460 sq km

land:
212,460 sq km

water:
0 sq km
total: 14 million sq km


land: 14 million sq km (280,000 sq km ice-free, 13.72 million sq km ice-covered) (est.)


note: fifth-largest continent, following Asia, Africa, North America, and South America, but larger than Australia and the subcontinent of Europe
Area - comparative slightly smaller than Kansas slightly less than 1.5 times the size of the US
Background 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. Speculation over the existence of a "southern land" was not confirmed until the early 1820s when British and American commercial operators and British and Russian national expeditions began exploring the Antarctic Peninsula region and other areas south of the Antarctic Circle. Not until 1840 was it established that Antarctica was indeed a continent and not just a group of islands. Several exploration "firsts" were achieved in the early 20th century. Following World War II, there was an upsurge in scientific research on the continent. A number of countries have set up year-round research stations on Antarctica. Seven have made territorial claims, but not all countries recognize these claims. In order to form a legal framework for the activities of nations on the continent, an Antarctic Treaty was negotiated that neither denies nor gives recognition to existing territorial claims; signed in 1959, it entered into force in 1961.
Birth rate 37.96 births/1,000 population (2001 est.) -
Budget revenues:
$4.7 billion

expenditures:
$5.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $490 million (1999)
-
Capital Muscat -
Climate dry desert; hot, humid along coast; hot, dry interior; strong southwest summer monsoon (May to September) in far south severe low temperatures vary with latitude, elevation, and distance from the ocean; East Antarctica is colder than West Antarctica because of its higher elevation; Antarctic Peninsula has the most moderate climate; higher temperatures occur in January along the coast and average slightly below freezing
Coastline 2,092 km 17,968 km
Constitution none; note - on 6 November 1996, Sultan QABOOS issued a royal decree promulgating a new basic law which, among other things, clarifies the royal succession, provides for a prime minister, bars ministers from holding interests in companies doing business with the government, establishes a bicameral legislature, and guarantees basic civil liberties for Omani citizens -
Country name conventional long form:
Sultanate of Oman

conventional short form:
Oman

local long form:
Saltanat Uman

local short form:
Uman

former:
Muscat and Oman
conventional long form: none


conventional short form: Antarctica
Currency Omani rial (OMR) -
Death rate 4.1 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.) -
Debt - external $4.5 billion (2000 est.) -
Diplomatic representation from the US chief of mission:
Ambassador John B. CRAIG

embassy:
Jameat A'Duwal Al Arabiya Street, Al Khuwair area, Muscat

mailing address:
international: P. O. Box 202, Code No. 115, Medinat Al-Sultan Qaboos, Muscat

telephone:
[968] 698989

FAX:
[968] 699189
-
Diplomatic representation in the US chief of mission:
Ambassador Abdallah bin Muhammad bin Aqil al-DHAHAB

chancery:
2535 Belmont Road, NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone:
[1] (202) 387-1980 through 1981, 1988

FAX:
[1] (202) 745-4933
-
Disputes - international boundary with the UAE has not been bilaterally defined; northern section in the Musandam Peninsula is an administrative boundary Antarctic Treaty freezes claims (see Antarctic Treaty Summary in Government type entry); Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, NZ, Norway, and UK claim land and maritime sectors (some overlapping) for a large portion of the continent; the US and many other states do not recognize these territorial claims and have made no claims themselves (the US and Russia reserve the right to do so); no claims have been made in the sector between 90 degrees west and 150 degrees west; several states with territorial claims in Antarctica have expressed their intention to submit data to the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf to extend their continental shelf claims to adjoining undersea ridges
Economic aid - recipient $76.4 million (1995) -
Economy - overview Oman's economic performance improved significantly in 2000 due largely to the upturn in oil prices. The government is moving ahead with privatization of its utilities, the development of a body of commercial law to facilitate foreign investment, and increased budgetary outlays. Oman continues to liberalize its markets and joined the World Trade Organization (WTrO) in November 2000. Fishing off the coast and tourism, both based abroad, account for the limited economic activity. Antarctic fisheries in 2000-01 (1 July-30 June) reported landing 112,934 metric tons. Unregulated fishing, particularly of Patagonian toothfish, is a serious problem. The Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources determines the recommended catch limits for marine species. A total of 13,571 tourists visited in the 2002-03 antarctic summer, up from the 11,588 visitors the previous year. Nearly all of them were passengers on commercial (nongovernmental) ships and several yachts that make trips during the summer. Most tourist trips last approximately two weeks.
Electricity - consumption 8.026 billion kWh (1999) -
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (1999) -
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (1999) -
Electricity - production 8.63 billion kWh (1999) -
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel:
100%

hydro:
0%

nuclear:
0%

other:
0% (1999)
-
Elevation extremes lowest point:
Arabian Sea 0 m

highest point:
Jabal Shams 2,980 m
lowest point: Bentley Subglacial Trench -2,555 m


highest point: Vinson Massif 4,897 m


note: the lowest known land point in Antarctica is hidden in the Bentley Subglacial Trench; at its surface is the deepest ice yet discovered and the world's lowest elevation not under seawater
Environment - current issues rising soil salinity; beach pollution from oil spills; very limited natural fresh water resources in 1998, NASA satellite data showed that the antarctic ozone hole was the largest on record, covering 27 million square kilometers; researchers in 1997 found that increased ultraviolet light passing through the hole damages the DNA of icefish, an antarctic fish lacking hemoglobin; ozone depletion earlier was shown to harm one-celled antarctic marine plants; in 2002, significant areas of ice shelves disintegrated in response to regional warming
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
-
Ethnic groups Arab, Baluchi, South Asian (Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan, Bangladeshi), African -
Exchange rates Omani rials per US dollar - 0.3845 (fixed rate since 1986) -
Executive branch chief of state:
Sultan and Prime Minister QABOOS bin Said Al Said (since 23 July 1970); note - the monarch is both the chief of state and head of government

head of government:
Sultan and Prime Minister QABOOS bin Said Al Said (since 23 July 1970); note - the monarch is both the chief of state and head of government

cabinet:
Cabinet appointed by the monarch

elections:
none; the monarch is hereditary
-
Exports $11.1 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.) -
Exports - commodities petroleum, reexports, fish, metals, textiles -
Exports - partners Japan 27%, China 12%, Thailand 18%, UAE 12%, South Korea 12%, US (1999) -
Fiscal year calendar year -
Flag description three horizontal bands of white, red, and green of equal width with a broad, vertical, red band on the hoist side; the national emblem (a khanjar dagger in its sheath superimposed on two crossed swords in scabbards) in white is centered at the top of the vertical band -
GDP purchasing power parity - $19.6 billion (2000 est.) -
GDP - composition by sector agriculture:
3%

industry:
40%

services:
57% (1999 est.)
-
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $7,700 (2000 est.) -
GDP - real growth rate 4.6% (2000 est.) -
Geographic coordinates 21 00 N, 57 00 E 90 00 S, 0 00 E
Geography - note strategic location on Musandam Peninsula adjacent to Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude oil the coldest, windiest, highest (on average), and driest continent; during summer, more solar radiation reaches the surface at the South Pole than is received at the Equator in an equivalent period; mostly uninhabitable
Heliports 1 (2000 est.) 27 stations have restricted helicopter landing facilities (helipads) (2004 est.)
Highways total:
32,800 km

paved:
9,840 km (including 550 km of expressways)

unpaved:
22,960 km (1996)
-
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%:
NA%

highest 10%:
NA%
-
Imports $4.5 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.) -
Imports - commodities machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, livestock, lubricants -
Imports - partners UAE 26% (largely reexports), Japan 16%, UK 9%, Italy 7%, Germany 6%, US (1999) -
Independence 1650 (expulsion of the Portuguese) -
Industrial production growth rate 4% (2000 est.) -
Industries crude oil production and refining, natural gas production, construction, cement, copper -
Infant mortality rate 22.52 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) -
Inflation rate (consumer prices) -0.8% (2000 est.) -
International organization participation ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO -
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 1 (2000) -
Irrigated land 580 sq km (1993 est.) 0 sq km
Judicial branch Supreme Court

note:
the nascent civil court system, administered by region, has non-Islamic judges as well as traditional Islamic judges
-
Labor force 850,000 (1997 est.) -
Labor force - by occupation agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA% -
Land boundaries total:
1,374 km

border countries:
Saudi Arabia 676 km, UAE 410 km, Yemen 288 km
0 km


note: see entry on Disputes - international
Land use arable land:
0%

permanent crops:
0%

permanent pastures:
5%

forests and woodland:
0%

other:
95% (1993 est.)
arable land: 0%


permanent crops: 0%


other: 100% (ice 98%, barren rock 2%) (2001)
Languages Arabic (official), English, Baluchi, Urdu, Indian dialects -
Legal system based on English common law and Islamic law; ultimate appeal to the monarch; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction Antarctica is administered through meetings of the consultative member nations; decisions from these meetings are carried out by these member nations (with respect to their own nationals and operations) in accordance with their own national laws; US law, including certain criminal offenses by or against US nationals, such as murder, may apply extra-territorially; some US laws directly apply to Antarctica; for example, the Antarctic Conservation Act, 16 U.S.C. section 2401 et seq., provides civil and criminal penalties for the following activities, unless authorized by regulation of statute: the taking of native mammals or birds; the introduction of nonindigenous plants and animals; entry into specially protected areas; the discharge or disposal of pollutants; and the importation into the US of certain items from Antarctica; violation of the Antarctic Conservation Act carries penalties of up to $10,000 in fines and one year in prison; the National Science Foundation and Department of Justice share enforcement responsibilities; Public Law 95-541, the US Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978, as amended in 1996, requires expeditions from the US to Antarctica to notify, in advance, the Office of Oceans, Room 5805, Department of State, Washington, DC 20520, which reports such plans to other nations as required by the Antarctic Treaty; for more information, contact Permit Office, Office of Polar Programs, National Science Foundation, Arlington, Virginia 22230; telephone: (703) 292-8030, or visit their website at www.nsf.gov; more generally, access to the Antarctic Treaty area, that is to all areas between 60 and 90 degrees latitude South, is subject to a number of relevant legal instruments and authorization procedures adopted by the states party to the Antarctic Treaty.
Legislative branch bicameral Majlis Oman consists of an upper chamber or Majlis al-Dawla (48 seats; members appointed by the monarch; has advisory powers only) and a lower chamber or Majlis al-Shura (83 seats; members elected by limited suffrage, however, the monarch makes final selections and can negate election results; body has some limited power to propose legislation, but otherwise has only advisory powers)

elections:
last held NA September 2000 (next to be held NA September 2003)

election results:
NA; note - two women were elected for the first time to Majlis al-Shura, about 100,000 people voted
-
Life expectancy at birth total population:
72.04 years

male:
69.9 years

female:
74.29 years (2001 est.)
-
Literacy definition:
NA

total population:
approaching 80%

male:
NA%

female:
NA%
-
Location Middle East, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, and Persian Gulf, between Yemen and UAE continent mostly south of the Antarctic Circle
Map references Middle East Antarctic Region
Maritime claims contiguous zone:
24 NM

exclusive economic zone:
200 NM

territorial sea:
12 NM
Australia, Chile, and Argentina claim Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) rights or similar over 200 nm extensions seaward from their continental claims, but like the claims themselves, these zones are not accepted by other countries; 20 of 27 Antarctic consultative nations have made no claims to Antarctic territory (although Russia and the US have reserved the right to do so) and do not recognize the claims of the other nations; also see the Disputes - international entry
Merchant marine total:
4 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 18,167 GRT/11,307 DWT

ships by type:
cargo 2, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 1 (2000 est.)
-
Military - note - the Antarctic Treaty prohibits any measures of a military nature, such as the establishment of military bases and fortifications, the carrying out of military maneuvers, or the testing of any type of weapon; it permits the use of military personnel or equipment for scientific research or for any other peaceful purposes
Military branches Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary (includes Royal Oman Police) -
Military expenditures - dollar figure $2.4 billion (FY00) -
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 13% (FY00) -
Military manpower - availability males age 15-49:
771,919 (2001 est.)
-
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49:
429,811 (2001 est.)
-
Military manpower - military age 14 years of age -
Military manpower - reaching military age annually males:
26,469 (2001 est.)
-
National holiday Birthday of Sultan QABOOS, 18 November (1940) -
Nationality noun:
Omani(s)

adjective:
Omani
-
Natural hazards summer winds often raise large sandstorms and dust storms in interior; periodic droughts katabatic (gravity-driven) winds blow coastward from the high interior; frequent blizzards form near the foot of the plateau; cyclonic storms form over the ocean and move clockwise along the coast; volcanism on Deception Island and isolated areas of West Antarctica; other seismic activity rare and weak; large icebergs may calve from ice shelf
Natural resources petroleum, copper, asbestos, some marble, limestone, chromium, gypsum, natural gas iron ore, chromium, copper, gold, nickel, platinum and other minerals, and coal and hydrocarbons have been found in small uncommercial quantities; none presently exploited; krill, finfish, and crab have been taken by commercial fisheries
Net migration rate 0.48 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) -
Pipelines crude oil 1,300 km; natural gas 1,030 km -
Political parties and leaders none -
Political pressure groups and leaders none -
Population 2,622,198

note:
includes 527,078 non-nationals (July 2001 est.)
no indigenous inhabitants, but there are both permanent and summer-only staffed research stations


note: 26 nations, all signatory to the Antarctic Treaty, operate seasonal (summer) and year-round research stations on the continent and in its surrounding oceans; the population of persons doing and supporting science on the continent and its nearby islands south of 60 degrees south latitude (the region covered by the Antarctic Treaty) varies from approximately 4,000 in summer to 1,000 in winter; in addition, approximately 1,000 personnel including ship's crew and scientists doing onboard research are present in the waters of the treaty region; summer (January) population - 3,687 total; Argentina 302, Australia 201, Belgium 13, Brazil 80, Bulgaria 16, Chile 352, China 70, Finland 11, France 100, Germany 51, India 60, Italy 106, Japan 136, South Korea 14, Netherlands 10, NZ 60, Norway 40, Peru 28, Poland 70, Russia 254, South Africa 80, Spain 43, Sweden 20, UK 192, US 1,378 (1998-99); winter (July) population - 964 total; Argentina 165, Australia 75, Brazil 12, Chile 129, China 33, France 33, Germany 9, India 25, Japan 40, South Korea 14, NZ 10, Poland 20, Russia 102, South Africa 10, UK 39, US 248 (1998-99); research stations operated within the Antarctic Treaty area (south of 60 degrees south) by members of the Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs (COMNAP): year-round stations - 38 total; Argentina 6, Australia 3, Brazil 1, Chile 4, China 2, France 1, Germany 1, India 1, Japan 1, South Korea 1, NZ 1, Poland 1, Russia 6, South Africa 1, Ukraine 1, UK 2, US 3, Uruguay 1, Italy and France jointly 1 (2005); summer-only stations - 34 total; Argentina 8, Australia 2, Bulgaria 1, Chile 5, Ecuador 1, Finland 1, Germany 2, Italy 1, Japan 3, Norway 2, Peru 1, Russia 2, South Africa 1, Spain 2, Sweden 1, UK 1 (2004-2005); in addition, during the austral summer some nations have numerous occupied locations such as tent camps, summer-long temporary facilities, and mobile traverses in support of research
Population below poverty line NA% -
Population growth rate 3.43% (2001 est.) -
Ports and harbors Matrah, Mina' al Fahl, Mina' Raysut there are no developed ports and harbors in Antarctica; most coastal stations have offshore anchorages, and supplies are transferred from ship to shore by small boats, barges, and helicopters; a few stations have a basic wharf facility; US coastal stations include McMurdo (77 51 S, 166 40 E), Palmer (64 43 S, 64 03 W); government use only except by permit (see Permit Office under "Legal System"); all ships at port are subject to inspection in accordance with Article 7, Antarctic Treaty; offshore anchorage is sparse and intermittent; relevant legal instruments and authorization procedures adopted by the states party to the Antarctic Treaty regulating access to the Antarctic Treaty area, to all areas between 60 and 90 degrees of latitude South, have to be complied with (see "Legal System") (2004)
Radio broadcast stations AM 3, FM 9, shortwave 2 (1999) AM NA, FM 2, shortwave 1


note: information for US bases only (2002)
Radios 1.4 million (1997) -
Railways 0 km -
Religions Ibadhi Muslim 75%, Sunni Muslim, Shi'a Muslim, Hindu -
Sex ratio at birth:
1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years:
1.04 male(s)/female

15-64 years:
1.55 male(s)/female

65 years and over:
1.12 male(s)/female

total population:
1.3 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
-
Suffrage in Oman's most recent elections in 2000, limited to approximately 175,000 Omanis chosen by the government to vote in elections for the Majlis ash-Shura -
Telephone system general assessment:
modern system consisting of open wire, microwave, and radiotelephone communication stations; limited coaxial cable

domestic:
open wire, microwave, radiotelephone communications, and a domestic satellite system with 8 earth stations

international:
satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat
general assessment: local systems at some research stations


domestic: NA


international: country code - 672; via satellite (mobile Inmarsat and Iridium system) from some research stations
Telephones - main lines in use 201,000 (1997) 0


note: information for US bases only (2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular 59,822 (1997) NA
Television broadcast stations 13 (plus 25 low-power repeaters) (1999) 1 (cable system with six channels; American Forces Antarctic Network-McMurdo)


note: information for US bases only (2002)
Terrain central desert plain, rugged mountains in north and south about 98% thick continental ice sheet and 2% barren rock, with average elevations between 2,000 and 4,000 meters; mountain ranges up to nearly 5,000 meters; ice-free coastal areas include parts of southern Victoria Land, Wilkes Land, the Antarctic Peninsula area, and parts of Ross Island on McMurdo Sound; glaciers form ice shelves along about half of the coastline, and floating ice shelves constitute 11% of the area of the continent
Total fertility rate 6.04 children born/woman (2001 est.) -
Unemployment rate NA% -
Waterways none -
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