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Compare Western Sahara (2004) - Oman (2002)

Compare Western Sahara (2004) z Oman (2002)

 Western Sahara (2004)Oman (2002)
 Western SaharaOman
Administrative divisions none (under de facto control of Morocco) 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: NA


15-64 years: NA


65 years and over: NA
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 fruits and vegetables (grown in the few oases); camels, sheep, goats (kept by nomads) dates, limes, bananas, alfalfa, vegetables; camels, cattle; fish
Airports 11 (2003 est.) 143 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways total: 3


2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 (2004 est.)
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: 8


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 4


under 914 m: 3 (2004 est.)
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: 266,000 sq km


land: 266,000 sq km


water: 0 sq km
total: 212,460 sq km


land: 212,460 sq km


water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative about the size of Colorado slightly smaller than Kansas
Background Morocco virtually annexed the northern two-thirds of Western Sahara (formerly Spanish Sahara) in 1976, and the rest of the territory in 1979, following Mauritania's withdrawal. A guerrilla war with the Polisario Front contesting Rabat's sovereignty ended in a 1991 UN-brokered cease-fire; a UN-organized referendum on final status has been repeatedly postponed. 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 NA births/1,000 population 37.76 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Budget revenues: NA


expenditures: NA, including capital expenditures of NA
revenues: $9.2 billion


expenditures: $6.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.)
Capital none Muscat
Climate hot, dry desert; rain is rare; cold offshore air currents produce fog and heavy dew dry desert; hot, humid along coast; hot, dry interior; strong southwest summer monsoon (May to September) in far south
Coastline 1,110 km 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: Western Sahara


former: Spanish Sahara
conventional long form: Sultanate of Oman


conventional short form: Oman


local long form: Saltanat Uman


local short form: Uman


former: Muscat and Oman
Currency Moroccan dirham (MAD) Omani rial (OMR)
Death rate NA deaths/1,000 population 4.03 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Debt - external NA $5.3 billion (2000 est.)
Diplomatic representation from the US none 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 none 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 Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, whose sovereignty remains unresolved - UN-administered cease-fire has remained in effect since September 1991 but attempts to hold a referendum have failed and parties thus far have rejected all brokered proposals 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 NA $76.4 million (1995) (1995)
Economy - overview Western Sahara depends on pastoral nomadism, fishing, and phosphate mining as the principal sources of income for the population. The territory lacks sufficient rainfall for sustainable agricultural production, and most of the food for the urban population must be imported. All trade and other economic activities are controlled by the Moroccan Government. Moroccan energy interests in 2001 signed contracts to explore for oil off the coast of Western Sahara, which has angered the Polisario. Incomes and standards of living in Western Sahara are substantially below the Moroccan level. 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 83.7 million kWh (2001) 7.533 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2001) 0 kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2001) 0 kWh (2000)
Electricity - production 90 million kWh (2001) 8.1 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source - fossil fuel: 100%


hydro: 0%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2000)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Sebjet Tah -55 m


highest point: unnamed location 463 m
lowest point: Arabian Sea 0 m


highest point: Jabal Shams 2,980 m
Environment - current issues sparse water and lack of arable land rising soil salinity; beach pollution from oil spills; very limited natural fresh water resources
Environment - international agreements party to: none of the selected agreements


signed, but not ratified: none of the selected 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, Berber Arab, Baluchi, South Asian (Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan, Bangladeshi), African
Exchange rates Moroccan dirhams per US dollar - 9.574 (2003), 11.584 (2002), 11.303 (2001), 10.626 (2000), 9.804 (1999) Omani rials per US dollar - 0.3845 (fixed rate since 1986)
Executive branch none 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 NA (2001) $10.9 billion f.o.b. (2001 est.)
Exports - commodities phosphates 62% petroleum, reexports, fish, metals, textiles
Exports - partners Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, so trade partners are included in overall Moroccan accounts 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 - NA purchasing power parity - $21.5 billion (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: NA


industry: NA


services: 40% (1996 est.)
agriculture: 3%


industry: 40%


services: 57% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - NA purchasing power parity - $8,200 (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate NA 7.4% (2001 est.)
Geographic coordinates 24 30 N, 13 00 W 21 00 N, 57 00 E
Geography - note the waters off the coast are particularly rich fishing areas strategic location on Musandam Peninsula adjacent to Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude oil
Heliports - 1 (2002)
Highways total: 6,200 km


paved: 1,350 km


unpaved: 4,850 km (1991 est)
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 NA (2001) $5.4 billion f.o.b. (2001 est.)
Imports - commodities fuel for fishing fleet, foodstuffs machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, livestock, lubricants
Imports - partners Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, so trade partners are included in overall Moroccan accounts (2000) 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 NA 4% (2000 est.)
Industries phosphate mining, handicrafts crude oil production and refining, natural gas production, construction, cement, copper
Infant mortality rate total: NA


male: NA


female: NA
21.77 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) NA 1% (2001 est.)
International organization participation none 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 NA sq km 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 12,000 920,000
Labor force - by occupation animal husbandry and subsistence farming 50% agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%
Land boundaries total: 2,046 km


border countries: Algeria 42 km, Mauritania 1,561 km, Morocco 443 km
total: 1,374 km


border countries: Saudi Arabia 676 km, UAE 410 km, Yemen 288 km
Land use arable land: 0.02%


permanent crops: 0%


other: 99.98% (2001)
arable land: 0.08%


permanent crops: 0.22%


other: 99.7% (1998 est.)
Languages Hassaniya Arabic, Moroccan Arabic 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: NA years


male: NA years


female: NA years
total population: 72.31 years


male: 70.15 years


female: 74.57 years (2002 est.)
Literacy definition: NA


total population: NA


male: NA


female: NA
definition: NA


total population: approaching 80%


male: NA%


female: NA%
Location Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Mauritania and Morocco Middle East, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, and Persian Gulf, between Yemen and UAE
Map references Africa Middle East
Maritime claims contingent upon resolution of sovereignty issue 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 NA $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: Sahrawi(s), Sahraoui(s)


adjective: Sahrawi,Sahrawian, Sahraouian
noun: Omani(s)


adjective: Omani
Natural hazards hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind can occur during winter and spring; widespread harmattan haze exists 60% of time, often severely restricting visibility summer winds often raise large sandstorms and dust storms in interior; periodic droughts
Natural resources phosphates, iron ore petroleum, copper, asbestos, some marble, limestone, chromium, gypsum, natural gas
Net migration rate - 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 none
Population 267,405 (July 2004 est.) 2,713,462


note: includes 527,078 non-nationals (July 2002 est.)
Population below poverty line NA NA%
Population growth rate NA 3.41% (2002 est.)
Ports and harbors Ad Dakhla, Cabo Bojador, Laayoune (El Aaiun) Matrah, Mina' al Fahl, Mina' Raysut
Radio broadcast stations AM 2, FM 0, shortwave 0 (1998) AM 3, FM 9, shortwave 2 (1999)
Radios - 1.4 million (1997)
Railways - 0 km
Religions Muslim Ibadhi Muslim 75%, Sunni Muslim, Shi'a Muslim, Hindu
Sex ratio NA 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 none; a UN-sponsored voter identification campaign not yet completed 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: sparse and limited system


domestic: NA


international: country code - 212; tied into Morocco's system by microwave radio relay, tropospheric scatter, and satellite; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) linked to Rabat, Morocco
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 about 2,000 (1999 est.) 201,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular 0 (1999) 59,822 (1997)
Television broadcast stations NA 13 (plus 25 low-power repeaters) (1999)
Terrain mostly low, flat desert with large areas of rocky or sandy surfaces rising to small mountains in south and northeast central desert plain, rugged mountains in north and south
Total fertility rate NA children born/woman 5.99 children born/woman (2002 est.)
Unemployment rate NA NA%
Waterways - none
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