The Human Truth Foundation

Oman (Sultanate of Oman)

http://www.humantruth.info/oman.html

By Vexen Crabtree 2013

#oman

Oman
Sultanate of Oman
StatusIndependent State
Social and Moral Index113rd best
CapitalMuscat
Land Area 309 500km21
LocationAsia, The Middle East
Population4.8m2
Life Expectancy72.54yrs (2017)3
GNI$27 054 (2017)4
ISO3166-1 CodesOM, OMN, 5125
Internet Domain.om6
CurrencyRial (OMR)7
Telephone+9688

1. Overview

The inhabitants of the area of Oman have long prospered on Indian Ocean trade. In the late 18th century, a newly established sultanate in Muscat signed the first in a series of friendship treaties with Britain. Over time, Oman's dependence on British political and military advisors increased, but it never became a British colony. In 1970, QABOOS bin Said Al-Said overthrew his father, and he has since ruled as sultan. His extensive modernization program has opened the country to the outside world while preserving the longstanding close ties with the UK. Oman's moderate, independent foreign policy has sought to maintain good relations with all Middle Eastern countries. Inspired by the popular uprisings that swept the Middle East and North Africa beginning in January 2011, Omanis began staging marches and demonstrations to demand economic benefits, an end to corruption, and greater political rights. In response to protester demands, QABOOS in 2011 pledged to implement economic and political reforms, such as granting legislative and regulatory powers to the Majlis al-Shura and introducing unemployment benefits. In August 2012, the Sultan announced a royal directive mandating the speedy implementation of a national job creation plan for thousands of public and private sector jobs. As part of the government's efforts to decentralize authority and allow greater citizen participation in local governance, Oman successfully conducted its first municipal council elections in December 2012. Announced by the Sultan in 2011, the municipal councils will have the power to advise the Royal Court on the needs of local districts across Oman's 11 governorates.

CIA's The World Factbook (2013)9

Book CoverOman is the obvious choice for those seeking out the modern face of Arabia while still wanting to sense its ancient soul. The sultanate of Oman could be the Arabian Peninsula´s most rewarding destination. More accessible than Saudi Arabia, safer than Yemen and more traditional than the Gulf emirates, Oman nonetheless has plenty to rival these countries´ attractions and more. A stirring past that combines the great sweep of Bedouin history with a proud seafaring tradition has bequeathed to the country some extraordinary forts and other traditional architecture. And Mutrah Souq in Muscat is a fantasy of an Arabian bazaar come to life, with glittering gold and clouds of incense. But it´s Oman´s diverse natural beauty that is the main drawcard. Here you´ll find beautiful beaches, the jagged ramparts of mountain ranges and the perfectly sculpted sands of the fabled Empty Quarter.

Oman is an understated presence among the glitzy states of the Gulf. What it does boast, with its rich heritage and embracing society, is a strong sense of identity, a pride in an ancient frankincense-trading past and confidence in a highly educated future.

"The World" by Lonely Planet (2014)10

2. Oman National and Social Development

#economics #human_development #wealth

UN HDI (2021)11
Pos.Higher is better
Value11
1Switzerland0.962
2Norway0.961
3Iceland0.959
4Hong Kong0.952
5Australia0.951
...
51Brunei0.829
52Russia0.822
53Romania0.821
54Oman0.816
55Bahamas0.812
56Kazakhstan0.811
Asia Avg0.75
World Avg0.72
q=191.
Gross National Income Per-Capita (2021)11
Pos.Higher is better
PPP $11
1Liechtenstein$146 830
2Singapore$90 919
3Qatar$87 134
4Luxembourg$84 649
5Ireland$76 169
...
49Romania$30 027
50Greece$29 002
51Russia$27 166
52Oman$27 054
53Panama$26 957
54Malaysia$26 658
Asia Avg$22 215
World Avg$20 136
q=193.
Social & Moral
Development Index
12,13
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank12,13
1Taiwan28.6
2Norway29.4
3Denmark31.2
4Sweden32.2
5Finland32.6
...
110Lebanon91.8
111Kenya92.1
112St Vincent & Grenadines92.7
113Oman92.7
114Indonesia93.2
115Senegal93.2
Asia Avg87.1
World Avg86.1
q=195.

The United Nations produces an annual Human Development Report which includes the Human Development Index. The factors taken into account include life expectancy, education and schooling and Gross National Income (GNI) amongst many others..

The Social and Moral Development Index concentrates on moral issues and human rights, violence, public health, equality, tolerance, freedom and effectiveness in climate change mitigation and environmentalism, and on some technological issues. A country scores higher for achieving well in those areas, and for sustaining that achievement in the long term. Those countries towards the top of this index can truly said to be setting good examples and leading humankind onwards into a bright, humane, and free future. See: Which are the Best Countries in the World? The Social and Moral Development Index.

3. Oman's Demographics and Migration

#birth_control #demographics #health #immigration #life_expectancy #longevity #migration #overpopulation #population

Population:

Oman's population is predicted to fall to 3 603 000 by 2030. Developed countries with falling populations face a pension's crises, whereby an increasingly ageing population must be cared for by fewer and fewer workers. Economic stability can be maintained by increasing foreign workers from younger countries. This country has a fertility rate of 2.17. The fertility rate is, in simple terms, the average amount of children that each woman has. The higher the figure, the quicker the population is growing, although, to calculate the rate you also need to take into account morbidity, i.e., the rate at which people die. If people live healthy and long lives and morbidity is low, then, 2.0 approximates to the replacement rate, which would keep the population stable. If all countries had such a fertility rate, population growth would end. The actual replacement rate in most developed countries is around 2.1.

Population (2018)2
Pos.
Population2
1China1.4b
2India1.4b
3USA327.1m
4Indonesia267.7m
5Pakistan212.2m
...
118Congo, (Brazzaville)5.2m
119Costa Rica5.0m
120Palestine4.9m
121Oman4.8m
122Liberia4.8m
123Ireland4.8m
World Avg39.0m
q=195.
Life Expectancy (2021)11
Pos.Higher is better
Years11
1Monaco85.9
2Hong Kong85.5
3Japan84.8
4Australia84.5
5Switzerland84.0
...
86Samoa72.8
87Brazil72.8
88Dominican Rep.72.6
89Oman72.5
90Belarus72.4
91Bangladesh72.4
World Avg71.28
q=195.
Fertility Rate (2013)14
Pos.2.0 is best14
1N. Korea2.00
2Brunei1.99
3St Vincent & Grenadines2.01
4France1.99
5Turkey2.04
...
24Bangladesh2.16
25Belgium1.83
26Algeria2.17
27Oman2.17
28Argentina2.18
29El Salvador2.18
World Avg2.81
q=180.
Old-Age Dependency Ratio (2016)15
Pos.Lower is better
Per 10015
1Uganda04.3
2Mali04.5
3Chad04.7
4Burkina Faso04.7
5Sierra Leone04.8
...
49Namibia07.4
50Botswana07.7
51UAE07.7
52Oman07.8
53Jordan08.0
54Laos08.1
World Avg18.3
q=185.

Migration:

Immigrants (2017)16
Pos.
%16
1UAE88.4%
2Kuwait75.5%
3Qatar65.2%
4Liechtenstein65.1%
5Monaco54.9%
6Andorra53.3%
7Bahrain48.4%
8Singapore46.0%
9Luxembourg45.3%
10Oman44.7%
11Hong Kong39.1%
12Saudi Arabia37.0%
World Avg9.4%
q=195.
Emigrants (2010)17
Pos.
%17
1Dominica104.8%
2Palestine68.4%
3Samoa67.3%
4Grenada65.5%
5St Kitts & Nevis61.1%
...
187Maldives0.6%
188China0.6%
189Japan0.6%
190Oman0.5%
191Madagascar0.4%
192Montenegro0.0%
World Avg11.5%
q=192.

4. Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance

#equality #freedom #gender_equality #human_rights #morals #oman #politics #prejudice #tolerance

Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2020)18,19
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank18,19
1Sweden9.2
2Norway14.7
3Denmark14.7
4Netherlands15.8
5New Zealand17.5
...
155Qatar119.3
156UAE119.8
157Central African Rep.121.2
158Oman121.5
159Papua New Guinea122.4
160Turkmenistan122.6
Asia Avg99.8
World Avg87.7
q=199.

Oman is amongst the worst places in the world at ensuring human rights and freedom, and it has severe cultural issues when it comes to tolerance and equality. Oman does better than average for opposing gender inequality20. But that's it. Oman has problems. It does worse than average in terms of commentary in Human Rights Watch reports21, supporting personal, civil & economic freedoms22, supporting press freedom23, freethought24, speed of uptake of HR treaties25, LGBT equality26 and in its nominal commitment to Human Rights27. And finally, it falls into the worst 20 when it comes to its success in fighting anti-semitic prejudice28. Free speech is routinely denied, even on independent social media platforms where saying that that displeases the government can result in arrests and detainment29. Migrant workers, especially, are often abused and are poorly protected29.

For tables, charts and commentary, see:

5. Oman's Health

#alcohol #birth_control #demographics #health #life_expectancy #longevity #obesity #Oman #overpopulation #parenting #population #smoking #vaccines

Compared to Asia (2020)30,31
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank30,31
1Hong Kong18.3
2Maldives41.0
3Singapore42.6
4Japan51.0
5S. Korea51.3
6Sri Lanka52.9
7Bhutan55.1
8China60.4
9Brunei62.6
10Malaysia62.8
11Oman62.9
12N. Korea65.0
13Thailand65.3
Asia Avg80.1
q=50.
Health (2020)30,31
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank30,31
1Monaco13.0
2Hong Kong18.3
3Maldives41.0
4Singapore42.6
5Japan51.0
...
10Norway61.0
11Brunei62.6
12Malaysia62.8
13Oman62.9
14Mauritius64.5
15N. Korea65.0
16Thailand65.3
World Avg93.5
q=196.

The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Hong Kong and The Maldives30. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are The Marshall Islands, S. Sudan and Palau30.

The data sets used to calculate points for each country are its average life expectancy, its alcohol consumption rate, its fertility rate, its smoking rate, its suicide rate, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance, the prevalence of overweight adults, its adolescent birth rate and its immunizations take-up. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Asia and The Mediterranean30, whereas the worst are Micronesia, Australasia and Africa30.

For more, see:

Health:

Public health in Oman is very good. Oman comes in the best 20 in its immunizations take-up32. It does better than average in its alcohol consumption rate33, its adolescent birth rate20, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance34, its fertility rate14 and in its average life expectancy11. Oman doesn't do so well in other areas. Oman does worse than average in its smoking rate35 (still low for Asia). The prevalence of overweight adults has increased by 14% between 1976 and 2016.

Life Expectancy (2021)11
Pos.Higher is better
Years11
1Monaco85.9
2Hong Kong85.5
3Japan84.8
4Australia84.5
5Switzerland84.0
...
86Samoa72.8
87Brazil72.8
88Dominican Rep.72.6
89Oman72.5
90Belarus72.4
91Bangladesh72.4
Asia Avg73.48
World Avg71.28
q=195.
Alcohol Consumption (2016)33
Pos.Lower is better
Per Capita33
1Bangladesh0.0
2Kuwait0.0
3Libya0.0
4Mauritania0.0
5Somalia0.0
...
19Morocco0.6
20Jordan0.7
21Senegal0.7
22Oman0.8
23Indonesia0.8
24Azerbaijan0.8
Asia Avg3.9
World Avg6.2
q=189.
Fertility Rate (2013)14
Pos.2.0 is best14
1N. Korea2.00
2Brunei1.99
3St Vincent & Grenadines2.01
4France1.99
5Turkey2.04
...
24Bangladesh2.16
25Belgium1.83
26Algeria2.17
27Oman2.17
28Argentina2.18
29El Salvador2.18
Asia Avg2.46
World Avg2.81
q=180.
Smoking Rates (2014)35
Pos.Higher is worse35
182Montenegro4 125
181Belarus3 831
180Lebanon3 023
179Macedonia2 732
178Russia2 690
...
96Jamaica 593
95Seychelles 590
94Malaysia 584
93Oman 577
92Uzbekistan 573
91Venezuela 565
Asia Avg1 035
World Avg 819
q=182.
Food Aid, Health Contributions & WHO Compliance (2017)34
Pos.Lower is better
Rank34
1Sweden1
2Ireland2
3Denmark3
4UK4
5Norway5
...
23France23
24Italy24
25Qatar25
26Oman26
27Estonia27
28Austria28
Asia Avg64.4
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Overweight Adults (2016)36
Pos.Lower is better
%36
1Vietnam18.3
2India19.7
3Bangladesh20.0
4Ethiopia20.9
5Nepal21.0
...
152Algeria62.0
153Greece62.3
154Czechia62.3
155Oman62.6
156Argentina62.7
157Uruguay62.9
Asia Avg44.3
World Avg49.0
q=191.

Children's Health:

Adolescent Birth Rate (2015)20
Pos.Lower is better
Per 100020
1N. Korea0.5
2S. Korea1.6
3Switzerland2.9
4Hong Kong3.2
5Slovenia3.8
...
21Austria7.1
22China7.3
23Greece7.5
24Oman8.1
25Belgium8.2
26Spain8.4
Asia Avg29.9
World Avg47.9
q=185.
Infant Immunizations 2011-2015 (2015)32
Pos.Higher is better
Avg %32
1Hungary99.0
2China99.0
3Uzbekistan98.9
4Niue98.8
5Mongolia98.7
...
13Finland98.1
14Saudi Arabia98.0
15Luxembourg98.0
16Oman98.0
17Antigua & Barbuda98.0
18Cuba97.9
Asia Avg90.5
World Avg88.3
q=194.

6. Oman's Modernity and Learning

#education #intelligence #it_security #modernity #research #science #technology #the_internet

Compared to Asia (2020)19
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank19
1Taiwan10.0
2Japan21.9
3S. Korea24.0
4Singapore27.9
5Israel32.2
...
30Philippines81.8
31Lebanon85.7
32Tajikistan88.3
33Oman88.9
34Mongolia90.0
35Brunei91.6
36Palestine92.0
Asia Avg79.0
q=51.
Modernity and Learning (2020)19
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank19
1Finland8.4
2Taiwan10.0
3Switzerland15.1
4Estonia15.8
5Denmark16.0
...
114Morocco87.4
115Panama88.0
116Tajikistan88.3
117Oman88.9
118Greenland90.0
119Mongolia90.0
120Bolivia90.1
World Avg83.2
q=205.

Modernity and Education:

Research and Development (2016)
Pos.Higher is better
% RDP PPP
1S. Korea4.2937
2Israel4.1137
3Japan3.5837
4Finland3.1737
5Sweden3.1637
...
93Vietnam0.1938
94Panama0.1838
95Mauritius0.1839
96Oman0.1740
97Kazakhstan0.1740
98Bolivia0.1641
Asia Avg0.75
World Avg0.84
q=126.
Secondary Education (2018)42
Pos.Higher is better42
1Luxembourg100.0%
2Estonia100.0%
3Austria100.0%
4Canada100.0%
5Finland100.0%
...
80Venezuela69.2%
81Qatar67.5%
82Mauritius66.9%
83Oman66.4%
84Jamaica66.3%
85Egypt65.3%
Asia Avg66.0%
World Avg63.0%
q=169.
Length of Schooling (2021)43
Pos.Higher is better
Years43
1Australia21.1
2New Zealand20.3
3Greece20.0
4Belgium19.6
5Sweden19.4
...
68Algeria14.6
69Ecuador14.6
70Iran14.6
71Oman14.6
72Trinidad & Tobago14.5
73Slovakia14.5
Asia Avg13.5
World Avg13.5
q=193.
Intellectual Endeavours (2017)34
Pos.Lower is better
Rank34
1Ukraine1
2Czechia2
3Hungary3
4Denmark4
5UK5
...
120Niger120
121El Salvador121
122Dominican Rep.122
123Oman123
124Chad124
125Brunei125
Asia Avg97.1
World Avg82.0
q=163.
IQ (2006)44
Pos.Higher is better44
1Hong Kong108
2Singapore108
3S. Korea106
4Japan105
5Taiwan105
...
87Algeria83
88Libya83
89Tunisia83
90Oman83
91Syria83
92India82
Asia Avg90.4
World Avg85.6
q=138.

Technology and Information:

Internet Users (2016)45
Pos.Higher is better45
1Iceland100%
2Faroe Islands99%
3Norway98%
4Bermuda97%
5Andorra97%
...
53Slovenia72%
54Cyprus72%
55Russia71%
56Oman71%
57New Caledonia70%
58Macedonia69%
Asia Avg48.7%
World Avg48.1%
q=201.
IT Security (2013)46
Pos.Lower is better46
1Ireland0.11
2Luxembourg0.11
3Belize0.11
4Hong Kong0.12
5Mexico0.16
...
72China1.59
73Angola1.61
74Sri Lanka1.67
75Oman1.72
76Iraq1.84
77Bangladesh1.87
Asia Avg1.08
World Avg0.98
q=81.
IPv6 Uptake (2017)47
Pos.Higher is better
Ratio47
1Belgium55.4
2Germany41.8
3Switzerland35.1
4USA35.0
5Greece33.5
...
142Ivory Coast0.0
143Mauritania0.0
144Iraq0.0
145Oman0.0
146Papua New Guinea0.0
147French Polynesia0.0
Asia Avg2.11
World Avg3.82
q=176.

7. National Culture

#corruption #politics

Corruption (2022)48
Pos.Higher is better
Points48
1Denmark90.0
2Finland87.0
3New Zealand87.0
4Norway84.0
5Singapore83.0
...
67Montenegro45.0
68Cuba45.0
69Jamaica44.0
70Oman44.0
71Bahrain44.0
72Senegal43.0
Asia Avg39.98
World Avg42.98
q=180.
Creativity and Culture (2017)34
Pos.Lower is better
Rank34
1Belgium1
2Netherlands2
3Estonia3
4Switzerland4
5Sweden5
...
123Egypt123
124Burkina Faso124
125Dominican Rep.125
126Oman126
127Mozambique127
128Niger128
Asia Avg99.0
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Open Trading, Aid and Development (2017)34
Pos.Lower is better
Rank34
1Ireland1
2Denmark2
3Sweden3
4Netherlands4
5Switzerland5
...
72Ukraine72
73Chile73
74Macedonia74
75Oman75
76Dominican Rep.76
77Slovenia77
Asia Avg86.3
World Avg82.0
q=163.

8. Peace Versus Instability

#human_development #peace #politics

Global Peace Index (2021)49
Pos.Lower is better49
1Iceland1.10
2New Zealand1.25
3Denmark1.26
4Portugal1.27
5Slovenia1.32
...
70Madagascar1.96
71Zambia1.96
72Bosnia & Herzegovina1.97
73Oman1.98
74Jamaica1.99
75Paraguay2.00
Asia Avg2.22
World Avg2.08
q=163.
Peacekeeping and Security (2017)34
Pos.Lower is better
Rank34
1Samoa1
2S. Africa2
3Tunisia3
4Egypt4
5Nigeria5
6Uruguay6
7Indonesia7
8Brunei8
9Moldova9
10Morocco10
11Oman11
12Tanzania12
Asia Avg76.0
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Refugees and UN Treaties (2017)34
Pos.Lower is better
Rank34
1Austria1
2Germany2
3Netherlands3
4Sweden4
5Malta5
...
116Dominica116
117Saudi Arabia117
118Lesotho118
119Oman119
120Egypt120
121Colombia121
Asia Avg92.2
World Avg82.0
q=163.

9. The Natural Environment

#biodiversity #climate_change #deforestation #over-exploitation #the_environment

Forest Area Change 1990-2015 (2015)50
Pos.Higher is better
%50
1Iceland+205.6
2Bahrain+144.4
3Uruguay+131.3
4Kuwait+81.2
5Dominican Rep.+79.5
...
93Malta00.0
94Saudi Arabia00.0
95Grenada00.0
96Oman00.0
97Bahamas00.0
98Barbados00.0
Asia Avg+07.0
World Avg+02.8
q=184.
Environmental Performance (2018)51
Pos.Higher is better51
1Switzerland87.4
2France84.0
3Denmark81.6
4Malta80.9
5Sweden80.5
...
113Botswana51.7
114Honduras51.5
115Sudan51.5
116Oman51.3
117Zambia51.0
118Grenada50.9
Asia Avg54.5
World Avg56.4
q=180.
Energy to GDP Efficiency (2014)52
Pos.Higher is better52
1Hong Kong26.32
2Sri Lanka20.00
3Panama17.86
4Colombia17.54
5Ireland17.54
...
87Bulgaria06.54
88Qatar06.49
89Finland06.33
90Oman06.29
91S. Korea06.29
92Estonia06.13
Asia Avg09.14
World Avg09.29
q=119.
Convention on Biological Diversity
Pos.Earlier is better
Signed
1China1993 Dec 29
2Guinea1993 Dec 29
3Cook Islands1993 Dec 29
4Vanuatu1993 Dec 29
5Papua New Guinea1993 Dec 29
...
110Lesotho1995 Apr 10
111Panama1995 Apr 17
112Ukraine1995 May 08
113Oman1995 May 09
114Cambodia1995 May 10
115Central African Rep.1995 Jun 13
Asia Avg1899 Dec 30
World Avg1899 Dec 30
q=197.

10. Economic Inequality and Poverty

#health #inequality #life_expectancy

Inequality in Life Expectancy (2019)53
Pos.Higher is worse53
184Chad40.90
183Central African Rep.40.10
182Sierra Leone39.00
181Somalia38.90
180Nigeria37.10
...
57Russia7.10
56Sri Lanka7.00
55Bahamas6.80
54Oman6.70
53Saudi Arabia6.40
52Romania6.30
Asia Avg11.80
World Avg14.59
q=184.

11. Religion and Beliefs

#belief #buddhism #christianity #god #hinduism #islam #judaism #religion

Disbelief In God (2007)54
Pos.Higher is better
%54
1Vietnam81
2Japan65
3Sweden64
4Czechia61
5Estonia49
...
132Nepal0
133Morocco0
134Mauritania0
135Mali0
136Senegal0
137Oman0
World Avg9.9
q=137.

Data from the Pew Forum, a professional polling outfit, states that in 2010 the religious makeup of this country was as follows in the table below55:

Christian6.5%
Muslim85.9%
Hindu5.5%
Buddhist0.8%
Folk Religion0.1%
Jew0.1%
Unaffiliated0.2%

The CIA World Factbook has slightly different data, and states: Ibadhi Muslim (official) 75%, other (includes Sunni Muslim, Shia Muslim, Hindu) 25%56.

Links: