Oman (Sultanate of Oman)

Oman Sultanate of Oman
Status	Independent State
Capital	Muscat
Land Area	309 500km21
Location	Asia, Middle East
Population	2.9m (2011)2
Life Expectancy	76.97yrs (2017)3
GNI	$34 402 (2017)4
ISO3166-1 Codes	OM, OMN, 5125
Internet Domain	.om6
Currency	Rial (OMR)7
Telephone	+9688

1. Overview
2. Oman National and Social Development
3. Population and Demographics
4. Human Rights, Equality and Freedom
5. Peace Versus Instability
6. Religion and Beliefs
7. The Internet
8. Public Health Issues
9. Children's Health
10. More Charts and Comparisons to Other Countries
11. Links

---

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

“Oman 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

#human_development

UN HDI (2016)11
Pos.		Lower is better Rank11
1	Norway	1
2	Australia	2
3	Switzerland	2
	...
50	Romania	50
51	Kuwait	51
52	Belarus	52
53	Oman	52
54	Barbados	54
55	Uruguay	54
56	Kazakhstan	56
57	Bulgaria	56
	World Avg	94.3
q=188.

Social & Moral Development Index12
Pos.		Higher is better Points12
1	Denmark	83.6
2	Finland	83.1
3	Sweden	82.6
	...
92	San Marino	54.3
93	Bolivia	54.2
94	Azerbaijan	54.0
95	Oman	54.0
96	Colombia	53.9
97	Nepal	53.8
98	Morocco	53.7
99	Russia	53.6
	World Avg	55.4
q=198.

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: What is the Best Country in the World? An Index of Morality, Conscience and Good Life.

3. Population and Demographics

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

Old-Age Dependency Ratio (2016)13
Pos.		Lower is better Per 10013
1	Uganda	04.3
2	Mali	04.5
3	Chad	04.7
	...
49	Namibia	07.4
50	Botswana	07.7
51	UAE	07.7
52	Oman	07.8
53	Jordan	08.0
54	Laos	08.1
55	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	08.2
56	Belize	08.3
	World Avg	18.3
q=185.

Emigrants (2010)14
Pos.		%14
1	Dominica	104.8%
2	Palestine	68.4%
3	Samoa	67.3%
	...
185	Qatar	0.7%
186	Nigeria	0.6%
187	Maldives	0.6%
188	China	0.6%
189	Japan	0.6%
190	Oman	0.5%
191	Madagascar	0.4%
192	Montenegro	0.0%
	World Avg	11.5%
q=192.

Fertility Rate (2013)15
Pos.		2.0 is best15
1	N. Korea	2.00
2	Brunei	1.99
3	St Vincent & Grenadines	2.01
	...
24	Bangladesh	2.16
25	Belgium	1.83
26	Algeria	2.17
27	Oman	2.17
28	Argentina	2.18
29	El Salvador	2.18
30	Grenada	2.18
31	Costa Rica	1.81
	World Avg	2.81
q=180.

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.

Immigrants (2010)14
Pos.		%14
1	Qatar	86.5%
2	Monaco	71.6%
3	UAE	70.0%
	...
13	Brunei	36.4%
14	Luxembourg	35.2%
15	Liechtenstein	34.6%
16	Oman	28.4%
17	Palau	28.1%
18	Saudi Arabia	27.8%
19	Australia	25.7%
20	Antigua & Barbuda	23.6%
	World Avg	9.2%
q=192.

Life Expectancy (2015)16
Pos.		Higher is better Years16
1	Hong Kong	84.16
2	Japan	83.68
3	Italy	83.34
	...
46	UAE	77.12
47	Estonia	77.01
48	Mexico	76.97
49	Oman	76.97
50	Maldives	76.96
51	Bahrain	76.72
52	Bosnia & Herzegovina	76.63
53	Argentina	76.46
	World Avg	71.27
q=190.

Population (2012)17
Pos.		Population17
1	China	1.4b
2	India	1.3b
3	USA	315.8m
	...
133	Lithuania	3.3m
134	Albania	3.2m
135	Armenia	3.1m
136	Oman	2.9m
137	Kuwait	2.9m
138	Mongolia	2.8m
139	Jamaica	2.8m
140	Namibia	2.4m
	World Avg	36.0m
q=195.

Oman's population is predicted to rise to 3.603 million by 2030. 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.

• The Population of the Earth
• Abortion, Birth Control and Contraception

4. Human Rights, Equality and Freedom

#equality #freedom #human_rights #oman #politics #tolerance

Oman is very poor at ensuring human rights and freedom compared to the rest of the world, and it has cultural issues when it comes to tolerance and equality. Oman does better than average for eliminating modern slavery₁₈, opposing gender inequality₁₉, its Global Peace Index rating₂₀ and in fighting corruption₂₁. Oman does not succeed in everything, however. It does worse than average when it comes to commentary in Human Rights Watch reports₂₂, supporting personal, civil & economic freedoms₂₃, supporting press freedom₂₄, LGBT equality₂₅ and in its nominal commitment to Human Rights₂₆. And finally, it sits amongst the bottom 20 in fighting anti-semitic opinions₂₇ and in the year from which women could participate in democracy₂₈ (one of the highest in Asia). 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:

• Human Rights and Freedom in Oman

5. Peace Versus Instability

#human_development #Oman #peace #politics

Peacekeeping and Security (2017)30
Pos.		Lower is better Rank30
1	Samoa	1
2	S. Africa	2
3	Tunisia	3
	...
8	Brunei	8
9	Moldova	9
10	Morocco	10
11	Oman	11
12	Tanzania	12
13	Cameroon	13
14	Singapore	14
15	Colombia	15
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Refugees and UN Treaties (2017)30
Pos.		Lower is better Rank30
1	Austria	1
2	Germany	2
3	Netherlands	3
	...
116	Dominica	116
117	Saudi Arabia	117
118	Lesotho	118
119	Oman	119
120	Egypt	120
121	Colombia	121
122	Honduras	122
123	Guinea	123
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Global Peace Index (2012)20
Pos.		Lower is better20
1	Iceland	1.11
2	New Zealand	1.24
3	Denmark	1.24
	...
56	Burkina Faso	1.88
57	Djibouti	1.88
58	Mongolia	1.88
59	Oman	1.89
60	Malawi	1.89
61	Panama	1.90
62	Jordan	1.90
63	Indonesia	1.91
	World Avg	2.02
q=157.

"The 2012 Global Peace Index is the sixth edition of the world's leading study on global levels of peacefulness. The GPI ranks 158 nations using 23 qualitative and quantitative indicators from highly respected sources, which gauge three broad themes: the level of safety and security in society; the extent of domestic or international conflict; and the degree of militarisation. By generating new information on the state of peace at the national and global level, the Institute for Economics and Peace hopes to make a valuable contribution to better understanding how civil society, researchers, policymakers, and government can create a more peaceful society"₂₀. The most peaceable countries in the world are Iceland, New Zealand and Denmark₂₀ and the worst are Somalia, Afghanistan and Sudan₂₀.

6. Religion and Beliefs

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

Disbelief In God (2007)31
Pos.		Higher is better %31
1	Vietnam	81
2	Japan	65
3	Sweden	64
	...
130	Malawi	0
131	Chad	0
132	Nepal	0
133	Morocco	0
134	Mauritania	0
135	Mali	0
136	Senegal	0
137	Oman	0
	World Avg	9.9
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 below₃₂:

Christian	6.5%
Muslim	85.9%
Hindu	5.5%
Buddhist	0.8%
Folk Religion	0.1%
Jew	0.1%
Unaffiliated	0.2%

The CIA World Factbook has slightly different data, and states: Ibadhi Muslim (official) 75%, other (includes Sunni Muslim, Shia Muslim, Hindu) 25%₃₃.

Links:

• A List of All Religions and Belief Systems
• Secularisation Theory: Will Modern Society Reject Religion? What is Secularism?

7. The Internet

#internet #it_security #Oman #the_internet

Internet Users (2016)34
Pos.		Higher is better34
1	Iceland	100%
2	Faroe Islands	99%
3	Norway	98%
	...
53	Slovenia	72%
54	Cyprus	72%
55	Russia	71%
56	Oman	71%
57	New Caledonia	70%
58	Macedonia	69%
59	Argentina	69%
60	Trinidad & Tobago	69%
	World Avg	48.1%
q=201.

IPv6 Uptake (2017)35
Pos.		Higher is better Ratio35
1	Belgium	55.4
2	Germany	41.8
3	Switzerland	35.1
	...
142	Ivory Coast	0.0
143	Mauritania	0.0
144	Iraq	0.0
145	Oman	0.0
146	Papua New Guinea	0.0
147	French Polynesia	0.0
148	Palestine	0.0
149	Lesotho	0.0
	World Avg	3.82
q=176.

IT Security (2013)36
Pos.		Lower is better36
1	Ireland	0.11
2	Luxembourg	0.11
3	Belize	0.11
	...
72	China	1.59
73	Angola	1.61
74	Sri Lanka	1.67
75	Oman	1.72
76	Iraq	1.84
77	Bangladesh	1.87
78	Sudan	1.98
79	India	2.10
	World Avg	0.98
q=81.

Internet access has become an essential research tool. It facilitates an endless list of life improvements, from the ability to network and socialize without constraint, to access to a seemingly infinite repository of technical and procedural information on pretty much any task. The universal availability of data has sped up industrial development and personal learning at the national and personal level. Individuals can read any topic they wish regardless of the locality of expert teachers, and, entire nations can develop their technology and understanding of the world simply because they are now exposed to advanced societies and moral discourses online. Like every communications medium, the Internet has issues and causes a small range of problems, but these are insignificant compared to the advantages of having an online populace.

8. Public Health Issues

#alcohol #genetics #health #obesity #Oman #public_health #smoking #sociology #UK

Oman does relatively well in encouraging good health, compared to many other countries. Oman comes in the best 20 in its immunizations take-up₃₇. It does better than average when it comes to its alcohol consumption rate₃₈, its adolescent birth rate₁₉ and in its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance₃₀. Oman does not succeed in everything, however. It does worse than average when it comes to its smoking rate₃₉ (still low for Asia) and in the prevalence of overweight adults₄₀. The prevalence of overweight adults has increased by 14% during the last 40 years.

Alcohol Consumption (2016)38
Pos.		Lower is better Per Capita38
1	Bangladesh	0.0
2	Kuwait	0.0
3	Libya	0.0
	...
19	Morocco	0.6
20	Jordan	0.7
21	Senegal	0.7
22	Oman	0.8
23	Indonesia	0.8
24	Azerbaijan	0.8
25	Algeria	0.9
26	Malaysia	0.9
	World Avg	6.2
q=189.

There is nothing wrong with drinking modest and sensible amounts of alcohol but fitness, physical health, mental health and long-term health all suffer as a result of medium- or heavy- drinking₄₁ and the health risks to the baby when pregnant mothers drink₄₂ are well-known. Aside from the effects on the individual, alcohol misuse impacts on entire economies₄₃ via increased health service costs, policing costs and lost days' work. Worldwide, alcohol misuse is "among the top five risk factors for disease, disability and death" and is a "cause of more than 200 disease and injury conditions in individuals, most notably alcohol dependence, liver cirrhosis, cancers and injuries"₄₄. "In 2012... 5.9% of all global deaths, were attributable to alcohol consumption"₄₅. Deaths from chronic alcohol misuse have been rising for decades, and so has violence, abuse, vandalism and crime all associated with alcohol over-use. The aggression and crime associated with alcohol in some Western countries infringes on the human rights of those who want nothing to do with such behaviour. Many of the social effects of alcohol are psychological and cultural; i.e., people don't have to behave criminally or destructively whilst drunk - it is a culturally learned behaviour. Experiments have shown that behaviour can be controlled: Those who do not wish to behave badly whilst drunk, will not do so.

Food Aid, Health Contributions & WHO Compliance (2017)30
Pos.		Lower is better Rank30
1	Sweden	1
2	Ireland	2
3	Denmark	3
	...
23	France	23
24	Italy	24
25	Qatar	25
26	Oman	26
27	Estonia	27
28	Austria	28
29	Greece	29
30	Nicaragua	30
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Overweight Adults (2016)40
Pos.		Lower is better %40
1	Vietnam	18.3
2	India	19.7
3	Bangladesh	20.0
	...
152	Algeria	62.0
153	Greece	62.3
154	Czechia	62.3
155	Oman	62.6
156	Argentina	62.7
157	Uruguay	62.9
158	Chile	63.1
159	Venezuela	63.4
	World Avg	49.0
q=191.

About one third of the global population is overweight or obese₄₆. Most Western countries are facing an obesity epidemic. Our cultures are having to change to compensate for widespread ill-health. It is costing our health systems a massive amount of money, and is having negative effects on national economies. The situation has persisted for a suitable length of time for our very perceptions to change; opinions on "normal weights" for people and "average sizes" for clothes has shot up₄₇. Over 2 in 3 adults in the UK are overweight₄₇ and this costs the NHS £5.1 billion per year₄₈ and "costs Britain's economy £47bn a year; more than war, terrorism or armed violence"₄₉. We are forgetting how to be healthy.

The causes are not genetic. Most people who say obesity "runs in their family" are wrong. The rate of increase in obesity is many, many times too fast to be accounted for by a change in inherited genes₅₀. Our culture and lifestyle choices are to blame. The causes of the modern obesity epidemic are processed foods, low levels of physical exercise, over-indulgence, poor choices in food products, poor knowledge of nutrition. Most of this is made much worse by well-funded advertising campaigns by food manufacturers selling cheaper mass-produced food. Even some so-called "health foods" contain well over recommended limits of fat, salt and sugar₅₁.

Smoking Rates (2014)39
Pos.		Lower is better39
1	Guinea	15
2	Solomon Islands	26
3	Kiribati	28
	...
90	Gabon	559
91	Venezuela	565
92	Uzbekistan	573
93	Oman	577
94	Malaysia	584
95	Seychelles	590
96	Jamaica	593
97	N. Korea	610
	World Avg	819
q=182.

9. Children's Health

#health #Oman #parenting #population #vaccines

Adolescent Birth Rate (2015)19
Pos.		Lower is better Per 100019
1	N. Korea	0.5
2	S. Korea	1.6
3	Switzerland	2.9
	...
21	Austria	7.1
22	China	7.3
23	Greece	7.5
24	Oman	8.1
25	Belgium	8.2
26	Spain	8.4
27	Bosnia & Herzegovina	8.6
28	Saudi Arabia	8.8
	World Avg	47.9
q=185.

Infant Immunizations 2011-2015 (2015)37
Pos.		Higher is better Avg %37
1	Hungary	99.0
2	China	99.0
3	Uzbekistan	98.9
	...
13	Finland	98.1
14	Saudi Arabia	98.0
15	Luxembourg	98.0
16	Oman	98.0
17	Antigua & Barbuda	98.0
18	Cuba	97.9
19	Belgium	97.8
20	Thailand	97.8
	World Avg	88.3
q=194.

10. More Charts and Comparisons to Other Countries