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Compare Oman (2001) - Syria (2001)

Compare Oman (2001) z Syria (2001)

 Oman (2001)Syria (2001)
 OmanSyria
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) 14 provinces (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Al Hasakah, Al Ladhiqiyah, Al Qunaytirah, Ar Raqqah, As Suwayda', Dar'a, Dayr az Zawr, Dimashq, Halab, Hamah, Hims, Idlib, Rif Dimashq, Tartus
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.)
0-14 years:
39.92% (male 3,440,060; female 3,238,576)

15-64 years:
56.87% (male 4,868,816; female 4,644,870)

65 years and over:
3.21% (male 261,036; female 275,450) (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products dates, limes, bananas, alfalfa, vegetables; camels, cattle; fish wheat, barley, cotton, lentils, chickpeas, olives, sugar beets; beef, mutton, eggs, poultry, milk
Airports 143 (2000 est.) 100 (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.)
total:
24

over 3,047 m:
5

2,438 to 3,047 m:
16

914 to 1,523 m:
1

under 914 m:
2 (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:
76

1,524 to 2,437 m:
2

914 to 1,523 m:
11

under 914 m:
63 (2000 est.)
Area total:
212,460 sq km

land:
212,460 sq km

water:
0 sq km
total:
185,180 sq km

land:
184,050 sq km

water:
1,130 sq km

note:
includes 1,295 sq km of Israeli-occupied territory
Area - comparative slightly smaller than Kansas slightly larger than North Dakota
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. Following the breakup of the Ottoman Empire during World War I, Syria was administered by the French until independence in 1946. In the 1967 Arab-Israeli War, Syria lost the Golan Heights to Israel. Since 1976, Syrian troops have been stationed in Lebanon, ostensibly in a peacekeeping capacity. In recent years, Syria and Israel have held occasional peace talks over the return of the Golan Heights.
Birth rate 37.96 births/1,000 population (2001 est.) 30.64 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Budget revenues:
$4.7 billion

expenditures:
$5.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $490 million (1999)
revenues:
$2.25 billion

expenditures:
$5.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.)
Capital Muscat Damascus
Climate dry desert; hot, humid along coast; hot, dry interior; strong southwest summer monsoon (May to September) in far south mostly desert; hot, dry, sunny summers (June to August) and mild, rainy winters (December to February) along coast; cold weather with snow or sleet periodically hitting Damascus
Coastline 2,092 km 193 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 13 March 1973
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:
Syrian Arab Republic

conventional short form:
Syria

local long form:
Al Jumhuriyah al Arabiyah as Suriyah

local short form:
Suriyah

former:
United Arab Republic (with Egypt)
Currency Omani rial (OMR) Syrian pound (SYP)
Death rate 4.1 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.) 5.21 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Debt - external $4.5 billion (2000 est.) $22 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
chief of mission:
Ambassador Ryan C. CROCKER

embassy:
Abou Roumaneh, Al-Mansur Street, No. 2, Damascus

mailing address:
P. O. Box 29, Damascus

telephone:
[963] (11) 333-2814

FAX:
[963] (11) 224-7938
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
chief of mission:
Ambassador Rustum al-ZU'BI

chancery:
2215 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone:
[1] (202) 232-6313

FAX:
[1] (202) 234-9548
Disputes - international boundary with the UAE has not been bilaterally defined; northern section in the Musandam Peninsula is an administrative boundary Golan Heights is Israeli occupied; dispute with upstream riparian Turkey over Turkish water development plans for the Tigris and Euphrates rivers; Syrian troops in northern, central, and eastern Lebanon since October 1976
Economic aid - recipient $76.4 million (1995) $199 million (1997 est.)
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. Syria's predominantly statist economy is on a shaky footing because of Damascus's failure to implement extensive economic reform. The dominant agricultural sector remains underdeveloped, with roughly 80% of agricultural land still dependent on rain-fed sources. Although Syria has sufficient water supplies in the aggregate at normal levels of precipitation, the great distance between major water supplies and population centers poses serious distribution problems. The water problem is exacerbated by rapid population growth, industrial expansion, and increased water pollution. Private investment is critical to the modernization of the agricultural, energy, and export sectors. Oil production is leveling off, and the efforts of the nonoil sector to penetrate international markets have fallen short. Syria's inadequate infrastructure, outmoded technological base, and weak educational system make it vulnerable to future shocks and hamper competition with neighbors such as Jordan and Israel. The government recognizes the need to open the economy to additional domestic and foreign investment.
Electricity - consumption 8.026 billion kWh (1999) 16.684 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (1999) 0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (1999) 0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - production 8.63 billion kWh (1999) 17.94 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel:
100%

hydro:
0%

nuclear:
0%

other:
0% (1999)
fossil fuel:
57.64%

hydro:
42.36%

nuclear:
0%

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

highest point:
Jabal Shams 2,980 m
lowest point:
unnamed location near Lake Tiberias -200 m

highest point:
Mount Hermon 2,814 m
Environment - current issues rising soil salinity; beach pollution from oil spills; very limited natural fresh water resources deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; water pollution from dumping of raw sewage and wastes from petroleum refining; inadequate supplies of potable water
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
party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified:
Environmental Modification
Ethnic groups Arab, Baluchi, South Asian (Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan, Bangladeshi), African Arab 90.3%, Kurds, Armenians, and other 9.7%
Exchange rates Omani rials per US dollar - 0.3845 (fixed rate since 1986) Syrian pounds per US dollar - 46 (2000), 46 (1998), 41.9 (January 1997)
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
chief of state:
President Bashar al-ASAD (since 17 July 2000); Vice Presidents Abd al-Halim ibn Said KHADDAM (since 11 March 1984) and Muhammad Zuhayr MASHARIQA (since 11 March 1984)

head of government:
Prime Minister Muhammad Mustafa MIRU (since 13 March 2000), Deputy Prime Ministers Lt. Gen. Mustafa TALAS (since 11 March 1984), Khalid RA'D (since 13 March 2000), Muhammad NAJI 'UTRI (since 13 March 2000)

cabinet:
Council of Ministers appointed by the president

elections:
president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; referendum/election last held 10 July 2000 - after the death of President Hafez al-ASAD, father of Bashar al-ASAD - (next to be held NA 2007); vice presidents appointed by the president; prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the president

election results:
Bashar al-ASAD elected president; percent of vote - Bashar al-ASAD 97.29%

note:
Hafiz al-ASAD died 10 June 2000; 20 June 2000 the Ba'th Party nominated Bashar al-ASAD for president and presented his name to the People's Council 25 June 2000
Exports $11.1 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.) $4.8 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)
Exports - commodities petroleum, reexports, fish, metals, textiles petroleum 65%, textiles 10%, manufactured goods 10%, fruits and vegetables 7%, raw cotton 5%, live sheep 2%, phosphates 1% (1998 est.)
Exports - partners Japan 27%, China 12%, Thailand 18%, UAE 12%, South Korea 12%, US (1999) Germany 21%, Italy 12%, France 10%, Saudi Arabia 9%, Turkey 8% (1999 est.)
Fiscal year calendar 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 three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black, with two small green five-pointed stars in a horizontal line centered in the white band; similar to the flag of Yemen, which has a plain white band, and of Iraq, which has three green stars (plus an Arabic inscription) in a horizontal line centered in the white band; also similar to the flag of Egypt, which has a heraldic eagle centered in the white band
GDP purchasing power parity - $19.6 billion (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $50.9 billion (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture:
3%

industry:
40%

services:
57% (1999 est.)
agriculture:
29%

industry:
22%

services:
49% (1997)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $7,700 (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $3,100 (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 4.6% (2000 est.) 3.5% (2000 est.)
Geographic coordinates 21 00 N, 57 00 E 35 00 N, 38 00 E
Geography - note strategic location on Musandam Peninsula adjacent to Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude oil there are 42 Israeli settlements and civilian land use sites in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights (August 1999 est.)
Heliports 1 (2000 est.) 2 (2000 est.)
Highways total:
32,800 km

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

unpaved:
22,960 km (1996)
total:
41,451 km

paved:
9,575 km (including 877 km of expressways)

unpaved:
31,876 km (1997)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%:
NA%

highest 10%:
NA%
lowest 10%:
NA%

highest 10%:
NA%
Illicit drugs - a transit point for opiates and hashish bound for regional and Western markets
Imports $4.5 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.) $3.5 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)
Imports - commodities machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, livestock, lubricants machinery and equipment 23%, foodstuffs/animals 20%, metal and metal products 15%, textiles 10%, chemicals 10% (1998 est.)
Imports - partners UAE 26% (largely reexports), Japan 16%, UK 9%, Italy 7%, Germany 6%, US (1999) France 11%, Italy 8%, Germany 7%, Turkey 5%, China 4% (1999 est.)
Independence 1650 (expulsion of the Portuguese) 17 April 1946 (from League of Nations mandate under French administration)
Industrial production growth rate 4% (2000 est.) NA%
Industries crude oil production and refining, natural gas production, construction, cement, copper petroleum, textiles, food processing, beverages, tobacco, phosphate rock mining
Infant mortality rate 22.52 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) 33.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) -0.8% (2000 est.) 1.5% (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 ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNRWA, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WToO
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 1 (2000) 1 (2000)
Irrigated land 580 sq km (1993 est.) 9,060 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
Supreme Constitutional Court (justices are appointed for four-year terms by the president); High Judicial Council; Court of Cassation; State Security Courts
Labor force 850,000 (1997 est.) 4.7 million (1998 est.)
Labor force - by occupation agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA% agriculture 40%, industry 20%, services 40% (1996 est.)
Land boundaries total:
1,374 km

border countries:
Saudi Arabia 676 km, UAE 410 km, Yemen 288 km
total:
2,253 km

border countries:
Iraq 605 km, Israel 76 km, Jordan 375 km, Lebanon 375 km, Turkey 822 km
Land use arable land:
0%

permanent crops:
0%

permanent pastures:
5%

forests and woodland:
0%

other:
95% (1993 est.)
arable land:
28%

permanent crops:
4%

permanent pastures:
43%

forests and woodland:
3%

other:
22% (1993 est.)
Languages Arabic (official), English, Baluchi, Urdu, Indian dialects Arabic (official); Kurdish, Armenian, Aramaic, Circassian widely understood; French, English somewhat understood
Legal system based on English common law and Islamic law; ultimate appeal to the monarch; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction based on Islamic law and civil law system; special religious courts; 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
unicameral People's Council or Majlis al-shaab (250 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)

elections:
last held 30 November-1 December 1998 (next to be held NA 2002)

election results:
percent of vote by party - NPF 67%, non-NPF 33%; seats by party - NPF 167, independents 83; note - the constitution guarantees that the Ba'th Party (part of the NPF alliance) receive one-half of the seats
Life expectancy at birth total population:
72.04 years

male:
69.9 years

female:
74.29 years (2001 est.)
total population:
68.77 years

male:
67.63 years

female:
69.98 years (2001 est.)
Literacy definition:
NA

total population:
approaching 80%

male:
NA%

female:
NA%
definition:
age 15 and over can read and write

total population:
70.8%

male:
85.7%

female:
55.8% (1997 est.)
Location Middle East, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, and Persian Gulf, between Yemen and UAE Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Lebanon and Turkey
Map references Middle East Middle East
Maritime claims contiguous zone:
24 NM

exclusive economic zone:
200 NM

territorial sea:
12 NM
contiguous zone:
41 NM

territorial sea:
35 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.)
total:
133 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 425,392 GRT/612,097 DWT

ships by type:
bulk 11, cargo 117, livestock carrier 4, roll on/roll off 1 (2000 est.)
Military branches Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary (includes Royal Oman Police) Syrian Arab Army, Syrian Arab Navy, Syrian Arab Air Force, Syrian Arab Air Defense Forces, Police and Security Force
Military expenditures - dollar figure $2.4 billion (FY00) $921 million (FY00 est.); note - based on official budget data that may understate actual spending
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 13% (FY00) 5.9% (FY98)
Military manpower - availability males age 15-49:
771,919 (2001 est.)
males age 15-49:
4,384,528 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49:
429,811 (2001 est.)
males age 15-49:
2,448,630 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - military age 14 years of age 19 years of age
Military manpower - reaching military age annually males:
26,469 (2001 est.)
males:
200,859 (2001 est.)
National holiday Birthday of Sultan QABOOS, 18 November (1940) Independence Day, 17 April (1946)
Nationality noun:
Omani(s)

adjective:
Omani
noun:
Syrian(s)

adjective:
Syrian
Natural hazards summer winds often raise large sandstorms and dust storms in interior; periodic droughts dust storms, sandstorms
Natural resources petroleum, copper, asbestos, some marble, limestone, chromium, gypsum, natural gas petroleum, phosphates, chrome and manganese ores, asphalt, iron ore, rock salt, marble, gypsum, hydropower
Net migration rate 0.48 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Pipelines crude oil 1,300 km; natural gas 1,030 km crude oil 1,304 km; petroleum products 515 km
Political parties and leaders none National Progressive Front or NPF (includes the Ba'th Party, ASU, Arab Socialist Party, Socialist Unionist Democratic Party, ASP, SCP) [President Bashar al-ASAD]; Arab Socialist Renaissance (Ba'th) Party (governing party) [Bashar al-ASAD, secretary general of the party, and chairman of the National Progressive Front after the death of Hafiz al-ASAD on 10 June 2000]; Arab Socialist Unionist Movement or ASU [Sami SOUFAN]; Arab Socialist Party [Abd al-Ghani KANNUT]; Socialist Unionist Democratic Party [Ahmad al-ASAD]; Syrian Arab Socialist Party or ASP [Safwan KOUDSI]; Syrian Communist Party or SCP [Yusuf FAYSAL]
Political pressure groups and leaders none conservative religious leaders; Muslim Brotherhood (operates in exile in Jordan and Yemen); non-Ba'th parties have little effective political influence
Population 2,622,198

note:
includes 527,078 non-nationals (July 2001 est.)
16,728,808

note:
in addition, there are about 38,200 people living in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights - 18,200 Arabs (16,500 Druze and 1,700 Alawites) and about 20,000 Israeli settlers (July 2001 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% 15%-25%
Population growth rate 3.43% (2001 est.) 2.54% (2001 est.)
Ports and harbors Matrah, Mina' al Fahl, Mina' Raysut Baniyas, Jablah, Latakia, Tartus
Radio broadcast stations AM 3, FM 9, shortwave 2 (1999) AM 14, FM 2, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios 1.4 million (1997) 4.15 million (1997)
Railways 0 km total:
2,750 km

standard gauge:
2,423 km 1.435-m gauge

narrow gauge:
327 km 1.050-m gauge

note:
rail link between Syria and Iraq replaced in 2000 (2000)
Religions Ibadhi Muslim 75%, Sunni Muslim, Shi'a Muslim, Hindu Sunni Muslim 74%, Alawite, Druze, and other Muslim sects 16%, Christian (various sects) 10%, Jewish (tiny communities in Damascus, Al Qamishli, and Aleppo)
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.)
at birth:
1.06 male(s)/female

under 15 years:
1.06 male(s)/female

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

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

total population:
1.05 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 18 years of age; universal
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:
fair system currently undergoing significant improvement and digital upgrades, including fiber-optic technology

domestic:
coaxial cable and microwave radio relay network

international:
satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region); 1 submarine cable; coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey; participant in Medarabtel
Telephones - main lines in use 201,000 (1997) 1.313 million (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular 59,822 (1997) NA
Television broadcast stations 13 (plus 25 low-power repeaters) (1999) 44 (plus 17 repeaters) (1995)
Terrain central desert plain, rugged mountains in north and south primarily semiarid and desert plateau; narrow coastal plain; mountains in west
Total fertility rate 6.04 children born/woman (2001 est.) 3.95 children born/woman (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate NA% 20% (2000 est.)
Waterways none 870 km (minimal economic importance)
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