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Compare Oman (2001) - Southern Ocean (2002)

Compare Oman (2001) z Southern Ocean (2002)

 Oman (2001)Southern Ocean (2002)
 OmanSouthern Ocean
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.) -
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.)
-
Area total:
212,460 sq km

land:
212,460 sq km

water:
0 sq km
total: 20.327 million sq km


note: includes Amundsen Sea, Bellingshausen Sea, part of the Drake Passage, Ross Sea, a small part of the Scotia Sea, Weddell Sea, and other tributary water bodies
Area - comparative slightly smaller than Kansas slightly more than twice 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. A decision by the International Hydrographic Organization in the spring of 2000 delimited a fifth world ocean - the Southern Ocean - from the southern portions of the Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, and Pacific Ocean. The Southern Ocean extends from the coast of Antarctica north to 60 degrees south latitude, which coincides with the Antarctic Treaty Limit. The Southern Ocean is now the fourth largest of the world's five oceans (after the Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, and Indian Ocean, but larger than the Arctic Ocean).
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 sea temperatures vary from about 10 degrees Celsius to -2 degrees Celsius; cyclonic storms travel eastward around the continent and frequently are intense because of the temperature contrast between ice and open ocean; the ocean area from about latitude 40 south to the Antarctic Circle has the strongest average winds found anywhere on Earth; in winter the ocean freezes outward to 65 degrees south latitude in the Pacific sector and 55 degrees south latitude in the Atlantic sector, lowering surface temperatures well below 0 degrees Celsius; at some coastal points intense persistent drainage winds from the interior keep the shoreline ice-free throughout the winter
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
-
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 defers claims (see Antarctica entry), but Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, NZ, Norway, and UK assert claims (some overlapping), including the continental shelf in the Southern Ocean; several states have expressed an interest in extending those continental shelf claims under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (LOS) to include undersea ridges; the US and most other states do not recognize the land or maritime claims of other states and have made no claims themselves (the US and Russia have reserved the right to do so); no formal claims have been made in the sector between 90 degrees west and 150 degrees west
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. Fisheries in 2000-01 (1 July to 30 June) landed 112,934 metric tons, of which 87% was krill and 11% Patagonian toothfish. International agreements were adopted in late 1999 to reduce illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, which in the 2000-01 season landed, by one estimate, 8,376 metric tons of Patagonian and antarctic toothfish. In the 2000-01 antarctic summer 12,248 tourists, most of them seaborne, visited the Southern Ocean and Antarctica, compared to 14,762 the previous year.
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: -7,235 m at the southern end of the South Sandwich Trench


highest point: sea level 0 m
Environment - current issues rising soil salinity; beach pollution from oil spills; very limited natural fresh water resources increased solar ultraviolet radiation resulting from the Antarctic ozone hole in recent years, reducing marine primary productivity (phytoplankton) by as much as 15% and damaging the DNA of some fish; illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing in recent years, especially the landing of an estimated five to six times more Patagonian toothfish than the regulated fishery, which is likely to affect the sustainability of the stock; large amount of incidental mortality of seabirds resulting from long-line fishing for toothfish


note: the now-protected fur seal population is making a strong comeback after severe overexploitation in the 18th and 19th centuries
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
the Southern Ocean is subject to all international agreements regarding the world's oceans; in addition, it is subject to these agreements specific to the Antarctic region: International Whaling Commission (prohibits commercial whaling south of 40 degrees south [south of 60 degrees south between 50 degrees and 130 degrees west]); Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Seals (limits sealing); Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (regulates fishing)


note: many nations (including the US) prohibit mineral resource exploration and exploitation south of the fluctuating Polar Front (Antarctic Convergence) which is in the middle of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current and serves as the dividing line between the very cold polar surface waters to the south and the warmer waters to the north
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 65 00 S, 0 00 E (nominally), but the Southern Ocean has the unique distinction of being a large circumpolar body of water totally encircling the continent of Antarctica; this ring of water lies between 60 degrees south latitude and the coast of Antarctica, and encompasses 360 degrees of longitude
Geography - note strategic location on Musandam Peninsula adjacent to Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude oil the major chokepoint is the Drake Passage between South America and Antarctica; the Polar Front (Antarctic Convergence) is the best natural definition of the northern extent of the Southern Ocean; it is a distinct region at the middle of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current that separates the very cold polar surface waters to the south from the warmer waters to the north; the Front and the Current extend entirely around Antarctica, reaching south of 60 degrees south near New Zealand and near 48 degrees south in the far South Atlantic coinciding with the path of the maximum westerly winds
Heliports 1 (2000 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.) -
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
-
Land use arable land:
0%

permanent crops:
0%

permanent pastures:
5%

forests and woodland:
0%

other:
95% (1993 est.)
-
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 -
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 body of water between 60 degrees south latitude and Antarctica
Map references Middle East Antarctic Region
Maritime claims contiguous zone:
24 NM

exclusive economic zone:
200 NM

territorial sea:
12 NM
-
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 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 huge icebergs with drafts up to several hundred meters; smaller bergs and iceberg fragments; sea ice (generally 0.5 to 1 meter thick) with sometimes dynamic short-term variations and with large annual and interannual variations; deep continental shelf floored by glacial deposits varying widely over short distances; high winds and large waves much of the year; ship icing, especially May-October; most of region is remote from sources of search and rescue
Natural resources petroleum, copper, asbestos, some marble, limestone, chromium, gypsum, natural gas probable large and possible giant oil and gas fields on the continental margin, manganese nodules, possible placer deposits, sand and gravel, fresh water as icebergs, squid, whales, and seals - none exploited; krill, fishes
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.)
-
Population below poverty line NA% -
Population growth rate 3.43% (2001 est.) -
Ports and harbors Matrah, Mina' al Fahl, Mina' Raysut McMurdo, Palmer, and offshore anchorages in Antarctica


note: few ports or harbors exist on the southern side of the Southern Ocean; ice conditions limit use of most of them to short periods in midsummer; even then some cannot be entered without icebreaker escort; most antarctic ports are operated by government research stations and, except in an emergency, are not open to commercial or private vessels; vessels in any port south of 60 degrees south are subject to inspection by Antarctic Treaty observers (see Article 7)
Radio broadcast stations AM 3, FM 9, shortwave 2 (1999) -
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
-
Telephones - main lines in use 201,000 (1997) -
Telephones - mobile cellular 59,822 (1997) -
Television broadcast stations 13 (plus 25 low-power repeaters) (1999) -
Terrain central desert plain, rugged mountains in north and south the Southern Ocean is deep, 4,000 to 5,000 meters over most of its extent with only limited areas of shallow water; the Antarctic continental shelf is generally narrow and unusually deep - its edge lying at depths of 400 to 800 meters (the global mean is 133 meters); the Antarctic icepack grows from an average minimum of 2.6 million square kilometers in March to about 18.8 million square kilometers in September, better than a sixfold increase in area; the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (21,000 km in length) moves perpetually eastward; it is the world's largest ocean current, transporting 130 million cubic meters of water per second - 100 times the flow of all the world's rivers
Total fertility rate 6.04 children born/woman (2001 est.) -
Transportation - note - Drake Passage offers alternative to transit through the Panama Canal
Unemployment rate NA% -
Waterways none -
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