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Compare West Bank (2008) - Oman (2002)

Compare West Bank (2008) z Oman (2002)

 West Bank (2008)Oman (2002)
 West BankOman
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 on Geographic Names (BGN)
Age structure 0-14 years: 42.4% (male 551,243/female 524,800)


15-64 years: 54.2% (male 704,209/female 670,382)


65 years and over: 3.4% (male 36,175/female 49,118) (2007 est.)
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.)
Agriculture - products olives, citrus, vegetables; beef, dairy products dates, limes, bananas, alfalfa, vegetables; camels, cattle; fish
Airports 3 (2007) 143 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways total: 3


2,438 to 3,047 m: 1


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1


under 914 m: 1 (2007)
total: 6


over 3,047 m: 4


2,438 to 3,047 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways - total: 133


over 3,047 m: 2


2,438 to 3,047 m: 7


1,524 to 2,437 m: 55


914 to 1,523 m: 37


under 914 m: 32 (2002)
Area total: 5,860 sq km


land: 5,640 sq km


water: 220 sq km


note: includes West Bank, Latrun Salient, and the northwest quarter of the Dead Sea, but excludes Mt. Scopus; East Jerusalem and Jerusalem No Man's Land are also included only as a means of depicting the entire area occupied by Israel in 1967
total: 212,460 sq km


land: 212,460 sq km


water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative slightly smaller than Delaware slightly smaller than Kansas
Background The September 1993 Israel-PLO Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements provided for a transitional period of Palestinian self-rule in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Under a series of agreements signed between May 1994 and September 1999, Israel transferred to the Palestinian Authority (PA) security and civilian responsibility for Palestinian-populated areas of the West Bank and Gaza. Negotiations to determine the permanent status of the West Bank and Gaza stalled following the outbreak of an intifada in September 2000, as Israeli forces reoccupied most Palestinian-controlled areas. In April 2003, the Quartet (US, EU, UN, and Russia) presented a roadmap to a final settlement of the conflict by 2005 based on reciprocal steps by the two parties leading to two states, Israel and a democratic Palestine. The proposed date for a permanent status agreement was postponed indefinitely due to violence and accusations that both sides had not followed through on their commitments. Following Palestinian leader Yasir ARAFAT's death in late 2004, Mahmud ABBAS was elected PA president in January 2005. A month later, Israel and the PA agreed to the Sharm el-Sheikh Commitments in an effort to move the peace process forward. In September 2005, Israel unilaterally withdrew all its settlers and soldiers and dismantled its military facilities in the Gaza Strip and withdrew settlers and redeployed soldiers from four small northern West Bank settlements. Nonetheless, Israel controls maritime, airspace, and most access to the Gaza Strip. A November 2005 PA-Israeli agreement authorized the reopening of the Rafah border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt under joint PA and Egyptian control. In January 2006, the Islamic Resistance Movement, HAMAS, won control of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC). The international community refused to accept the HAMAS-led government because it did not recognize Israel, would not renounce violence, and refused to honor previous peace agreements between Israel and the PA. HAMAS took control of the PA government in March 2006, but President ABBAS had little success negotiating with HAMAS to present a political platform acceptable to the international community so as to lift economic sanctions on Palestinians. The PLC was unable to convene throughout most of 2006 as a result of Israel's detention of many HAMAS PLC members and Israeli-imposed travel restrictions on other PLC members. Violent clashes took place between Fatah and HAMAS supporters in the Gaza Strip in 2006 and early 2007, resulting in numerous Palestinian deaths and injuries. ABBAS and HAMAS Political Bureau Chief MISHAL in February 2007 signed the Mecca Agreement in Saudi Arabia that resulted in the formation of a Palestinian National Unity Government (NUG) headed by HAMAS member Ismail HANIYA. However, fighting continued in the Gaza Strip, and in June, HAMAS militants succeeded in a violent takeover of all military and governmental institutions in the Gaza Strip. ABBAS dismissed the NUG and through a series of presidential decrees formed a PA government in the West Bank led by independent Salam FAYYAD. HAMAS rejected the NUG's dismissal and has called for resuming talks with Fatah, but ABBAS has ruled out negotiations until HAMAS agrees to a return of PA control over the Gaza Strip and recognizes the FAYYAD-led government. FAYYAD and his PA government initiated a series of security and economic reforms to improve conditions in the West Bank. ABBAS participated in talks with Israel's Prime Minister OLMERT and secured the release of some Palestinian prisoners and previously withheld customs revenue. During a November 2007 international meeting in Annapolis Maryland, ABBAS and OLMERT agreed to resume peace negotiations with the goal of reaching a final peace settlement by the end of 2008. 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.
Birth rate 30.99 births/1,000 population (2007 est.) 37.76 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Budget revenues: $1.149 billion


expenditures: $2.31 billion


note: includes Gaza Strip (2006)
revenues: $9.2 billion


expenditures: $6.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.)
Capital - Muscat
Climate temperate; temperature and precipitation vary with altitude, warm to hot summers, cool to mild winters dry desert; hot, humid along coast; hot, dry interior; strong southwest summer monsoon (May to September) in far south
Coastline 0 km (landlocked) 2,092 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: none


conventional short form: West Bank
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 3.85 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.) 4.03 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Debt - external $NA $5.3 billion (2000 est.)
Diplomatic representation from the US - chief of mission: Ambassador Richard Lewis BALTIMORE III


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


mailing address: international: P. O. Box 202, P.C. 115, Madinat Al-Sultan Qaboos, Muscat


telephone: [968] 698989, extension 203


FAX: [968] 699771
Diplomatic representation in the US - chief of mission: Ambassador Mohamed Ali AL KHUSAIBY


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


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


FAX: [1] (202) 745-4933
Disputes - international West Bank and Gaza Strip are Israeli-occupied with current status subject to the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement - permanent status to be determined through further negotiation; Israel continues construction of a "seam line" separation barrier along parts of the Green Line and within the West Bank; Israel withdrew from four settlements in the northern West Bank in August 2005; since 1948, about 350 peacekeepers from the UN Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO), headquartered in Jerusalem, monitor ceasefires, supervise armistice agreements, prevent isolated incidents from escalating, and assist other UN personnel in the region Oman signed a boundary treaty with the UAE in 1999, but the completed boundary is not expected until the end of 2002; undefined segments of the Oman-UAE boundary remain with Ra's al-Khaymah and Ash Shariqah (Sharjah) emirates, including the Musandam Peninsula, where an administrative boundary substitutes for an international boundary
Economic aid - recipient $1.4 billion; (includes Gaza Strip) (2006 est.) $76.4 million (1995) (1995)
Economy - overview The West Bank - the larger of the two areas comprising the Palestinian Authority (PA) - has experienced a general decline in economic conditions since the second intifada began in September 2000. The downturn has been largely a result of Israeli closure policies - the imposition of closures and access restrictions in response to security concerns in Israel - which disrupted labor and trading relationships. In 2001, and even more severely in 2002, Israeli military measures in PA areas resulted in the destruction of capital, the disruption of administrative structures, and widespread business closures. International aid of at least $1.14 billion to the West Bank and Gaza Strip in 2004 prevented the complete collapse of the economy and allowed some reforms in the government's financial operations. In 2005, high unemployment and limited trade opportunities - due to continued closures both within the West Bank and externally - stymied growth. Israel's and the international community's financial embargo of the PA when HAMAS ran the PA during March 2006 - June 2007 has interrupted the provision of PA social services and the payment of PA salaries. Since June the Fayyad government in the West Bank has restarted salary payments and the provision of services but would be unable to operate absent high levels of international assistance. 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. GDP growth improved in 2001 despite the global slowdown.
Electricity - consumption NA kWh 7.533 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports - 0 kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports NA kWh 0 kWh (2000)
Electricity - production NA kWh; note - most electricity imported from Israel; East Jerusalem Electric Company buys and distributes electricity to Palestinians in East Jerusalem and its concession in the West Bank; the Israel Electric Company directly supplies electricity to most Jewish residents and military facilities; some Palestinian municipalities, such as Nablus and Janin, generate their own electricity from small power plants 8.1 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source - fossil fuel: 100%


hydro: 0%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2000)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Dead Sea -408 m


highest point: Tall Asur 1,022 m
lowest point: Arabian Sea 0 m


highest point: Jabal Shams 2,980 m
Environment - current issues adequacy of fresh water supply; sewage treatment 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
Ethnic groups Palestinian Arab and other 83%, Jewish 17% Arab, Baluchi, South Asian (Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan, Bangladeshi), African
Exchange rates new Israeli shekels per US dollar - 4.14 (2007), 4.4565 (2006), 4.4877 (2005), 4.482 (2004), 4.5541 (2003) 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 $301 million f.o.b.; (includes Gaza Strip) (2005) $10.9 billion f.o.b. (2001 est.)
Exports - commodities olives, fruit, vegetables, limestone petroleum, reexports, fish, metals, textiles
Exports - partners Israel, Jordan, Gaza Strip (2006) Japan 21%, Thailand 18%, China 16%, South Korea 12%, UAE 12%, US 3% (2001)
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 near the top of the vertical band
GDP - purchasing power parity - $21.5 billion (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 8%


industry: 13%


services: 79% (includes Gaza Strip) (2006 est.)
agriculture: 3%


industry: 40%


services: 57% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita - purchasing power parity - $8,200 (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate -8% (includes Gaza Strip) (2006 est.) 7.4% (2001 est.)
Geographic coordinates 32 00 N, 35 15 E 21 00 N, 57 00 E
Geography - note landlocked; highlands are main recharge area for Israel's coastal aquifers; there are 242 West Bank settlements and 29 East Jerusalem settlements in addition to at least 20 occupied outposts (August 2005 est.) strategic location on Musandam Peninsula adjacent to Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude oil
Heliports - 1 (2002)
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%
lowest 10%: NA%


highest 10%: NA%
Imports $2.44 billion c.i.f.; (includes Gaza Strip) (2005) $5.4 billion f.o.b. (2001 est.)
Imports - commodities food, consumer goods, construction materials machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, livestock, lubricants
Imports - partners Israel, Jordan, Gaza Strip (2006) UAE 23% (largely reexports), Japan 16%, UK 13%, Italy 7%, Germany 5%, US 5% (2001)
Independence - 1650 (expulsion of the Portuguese)
Industrial production growth rate 2.4% (includes Gaza Strip) (2005) 4% (2000 est.)
Industries generally small family businesses that produce cement, textiles, soap, olive-wood carvings, and mother-of-pearl souvenirs; the Israelis have established some small-scale, modern industries in the settlements and industrial centers crude oil production and refining, natural gas production, construction, cement, copper
Infant mortality rate total: 18.67 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 20.59 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 16.64 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
21.77 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 3.6% (includes Gaza Strip) (2006) 1% (2001 est.)
International organization participation - ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, 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 150 sq km; note - includes Gaza Strip (2003) 620 sq km (1998 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 605,000 (2006) 920,000
Labor force - by occupation agriculture: 18%


industry: 15%


services: 67% (2006)
agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%
Land boundaries total: 404 km


border countries: Israel 307 km, Jordan 97 km
total: 1,374 km


border countries: Saudi Arabia 676 km, UAE 410 km, Yemen 288 km
Land use arable land: 16.9%


permanent crops: 18.97%


other: 64.13% (2001)
arable land: 0.08%


permanent crops: 0.22%


other: 99.7% (1998 est.)
Languages Arabic, Hebrew (spoken by Israeli settlers and many Palestinians), English (widely understood) 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 for three-year term, 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 the Majlis al-Shura, about 100,000 people voted
Life expectancy at birth total population: 73.46 years


male: 71.68 years


female: 75.35 years (2007 est.)
total population: 72.31 years


male: 70.15 years


female: 74.57 years (2002 est.)
Literacy definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 92.4%


male: 96.7%


female: 88% (2004 est.)
definition: NA


total population: approaching 80%


male: NA%


female: NA%
Location Middle East, west of Jordan Middle East, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, and Persian Gulf, between Yemen and UAE
Map references Middle East Middle East
Maritime claims none (landlocked) contiguous zone: 24 NM


exclusive economic zone: 200 NM


territorial sea: 12 NM
Merchant marine - total: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 17,291 GRT/9,457 DWT


ships by type: cargo 1, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 1


note: includes a foreign-owned ship registered here as a flag of convenience: Singapore 1 (2002 est.)
Military branches - Royal Omani Armed Forces (Army, Navy, Air Force), Royal Omani Police
Military expenditures - dollar figure - $2,424.4 million (FY01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP NA 12.2% (FY01)
Military manpower - availability - males age 15-49: 780,292 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service - males age 15-49: 434,026 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - military age - 14 years of age (2002 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually - males: 26,470 (2002 est.)
National holiday - Birthday of Sultan QABOOS, 18 November (1940)
Nationality noun: NA


adjective: NA
noun: Omani(s)


adjective: Omani
Natural hazards droughts summer winds often raise large sandstorms and dust storms in interior; periodic droughts
Natural resources arable land petroleum, copper, asbestos, some marble, limestone, chromium, gypsum, natural gas
Net migration rate 2.71 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.) 0.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Pipelines - crude oil 1,300 km; natural gas 1,030 km
Political parties and leaders - none
Political pressure groups and leaders - none
Population 2,535,927


note: in addition, there are about 187,000 Israeli settlers in the West Bank and fewer than 177,000 in East Jerusalem (July 2004 est.)
2,713,462


note: includes 527,078 non-nationals (July 2002 est.)
Population below poverty line 46% (2007 est.) NA%
Population growth rate 2.985% (2007 est.) 3.41% (2002 est.)
Ports and harbors - Matrah, Mina' al Fahl, Mina' Raysut
Radio broadcast stations AM 0, FM 25, shortwave 0 (2008) AM 3, FM 9, shortwave 2 (1999)
Radios - 1.4 million (1997)
Railways - 0 km
Religions Muslim 75% (predominantly Sunni), Jewish 17%, Christian and other 8% Ibadhi Muslim 75%, Sunni Muslim, Shi'a Muslim, Hindu
Sex ratio at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female


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


65 years and over: 0.736 male(s)/female


total population: 1.038 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
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.)
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: NA


domestic: Israeli company BEZEK and the Palestinian company PALTEL are responsible for fixed line services; the Palestinian JAWAL company provides cellular services


international: country code - 970 (2004)
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 349,000 (includes Gaza Strip) (2005) 201,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular 1.095 million (includes Gaza Strip) (2005) 59,822 (1997)
Television broadcast stations 30 (2008) 13 (plus 25 low-power repeaters) (1999)
Terrain mostly rugged dissected upland, some vegetation in west, but barren in east central desert plain, rugged mountains in north and south
Total fertility rate 4.17 children born/woman (2007 est.) 5.99 children born/woman (2002 est.)
Unemployment rate 18.6% (2006) NA%
Waterways - none
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