general assessment: modern in all respects; one of the most advanced
telecommunications networks in Europe
domestic: Norway has a domestic satellite system; moreover, the
prevalence of rural areas encourages the wide use of cellular-mobile
systems instead of fixed-wire systems
international: country code - 47; 2 buried coaxial cable systems;
submarine cables provide links to other Nordic countries and Europe;
satellite earth stations - NA Eutelsat, NA Intelsat (Atlantic
Ocean), and 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions); note -
Norway shares the Inmarsat earth station with the other Nordic
countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, and Sweden) (1999)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 5, FM at least 650, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:
4.03 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
360 (plus 2,729 repeaters) (1995)
Televisions:
2.03 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.no
Internet hosts:
2.995 million (2008)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
13 (2000)
Internet users:
3.8 million (2007)
Transportation
Norway
Airports:
98 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 67
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 12
1,524 to 2,437 m: 12
914 to 1,523 m: 13
under 914 m: 29 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 31
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 25 (2007)
Heliports:
1 (2007)
Pipelines:
condensate 508 km; gas 6,529 km; oil 2,444 km; oil/gas/water 457 km
(2007)
Railways:
total: 4,114 km
standard gauge: 4,114 km 1.435-m gauge (2,552 km electrified) (2008)
Roadways:
total: 92,946 km
paved: 72,033 km (includes 664 km of expressways)
unpaved: 20,913 km (2007)
Waterways:
1,577 km (2007)
Merchant marine:
total: 688
by type: bulk carrier 46, cargo 141, carrier 3, chemical tanker 137,
combination ore/oil 12, container 4, liquefied gas 65,
passenger/cargo 117, petroleum tanker 85, refrigerated cargo 14,
roll on/roll off 13, specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 50
foreign-owned: 199 (Canada 3, Canada 7, Chile 2, China 36, Denmark
25, Estonia 1, Finland 1, France 3, Germany 1, Greece 3, Hong Kong
20, Iceland 3, Italy 4, Japan 29, Lithuania 1, Malaysia 1, Monaco 5,
Poland 3, Saudi Arabia 3, Singapore 1, Sweden 34, UK 5, US 8)
registered in other countries: 923 (Antigua and Barbuda 8, Australia
1, Bahamas 189, Barbados 38, Belize 3, Bermuda 5, Brazil 5, Canada
3, Cayman Islands 1, China 1, Comoros 1, Cook Islands 5, Cyprus 18,
Denmark 1, Denmark 2, Dominica 1, Estonia 2, Faroe Islands 4,
Finland 3, France 5, Gibraltar 33, Hong Kong 40, Indonesia 1, Isle
of Man 20, Italy 2, South Korea 2, Liberia 40, Libya 1, Malta 93,
Marshall Islands 66, Netherlands 12, Netherlands Antilles 3, Panama
89, Philippines 10, Russia 2, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 13,
Singapore 143, Spain 5, Sweden 7, Tuvalu 1, UK 31, US 9, unknown 4)
(2008)
Ports and terminals:
Bergen, Borg Havn, Haugesund, Maaloy, Mongstad, Narvik, Oslo, Sture
Military
Norway
Military branches:
Norwegian Army (Haeren), Royal Norwegian Navy (Kongelige Norske
Sjoeforsvaret, RNoN; includes Coastal Rangers and Coast Guard
(Kystvakt)), Royal Norwegian Air Force (Kongelige Norske
Luftforsvaret, RNoAF), Home Guard (Heimevernet, HV) (2007)
Military service age and obligation:
18-44 years of age for male compulsory military service; 16 years of
age in wartime; 17 years of age for male volunteers; 18 years of age
for women; 12-month service obligation, in practice shortened to 8
to 9 months; although all males between ages of 18 and 44 are liable
for service, in practice they are seldom called to duty after age
30; reserve obligation to age 35-60; 16 years of age for volunteers
to the Home Guard, who serve 6-month duty tours (2006)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,078,181
females age 16-49: 1,046,550 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 888,101
females age 16-49: 862,159 (2008 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 32,185
female: 30,683 (2008 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.9% of GDP (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues
Norway
Disputes - international:
Norway asserts a territorial claim in Antarctica (Queen Maud Land
and its continental shelf); despite dialogue, Russia and Norway
continue to dispute their maritime limits in the Barents Sea and
Russia's fishing rights beyond Svalbard's territorial limits within
the Svalbard Treaty zone
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008
======================================================================
@Oman
Introduction
Oman
Background:
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 the restrictive rule of
his father; he has ruled as sultan ever since. 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.
Geography
Oman
Location:
Middle East, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, and Persian
Gulf, between Yemen and UAE
Geographic coordinates:
21 00 N, 57 00 E
Map references:
Middle East
Area:
total: 212,460 sq km
land: 212,460 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Kansas
Land boundaries:
total: 1,374 km
border countries: Saudi Arabia 676 km, UAE 410 km, Yemen 288 km
Coastline:
2,092 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
dry desert; hot, humid along coast; hot, dry interior; strong
southwest summer monsoon (May to September) in far south
Terrain:
central desert plain, rugged mountains in north and south
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Arabian Sea 0 m
highest point: Jabal Shams 2,980 m
Natural resources:
petroleum, copper, asbestos, some marble, limestone, chromium,
gypsum, natural gas
Land use:
arable land: 0.12%
permanent crops: 0.14%
other: 99.74% (2005)
Irrigated land:
720 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
1 cu km (1997)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 1.36 cu km/yr (7%/2%/90%)
per capita: 529 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
summer winds often raise large sandstorms and dust storms in
interior; periodic droughts
Environment - current issues:
rising soil salinity; beach pollution from oil spills; limited
natural fresh water resources
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine
Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
strategic location on Musandam Peninsula adjacent to Strait of
Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude oil
People
Oman
Population:
3,311,640
note: includes 577,293 non-nationals (July 2008 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 42.7% (male 721,796/female 692,699)
15-64 years: 54.5% (male 1,053,040/female 752,962)
65 years and over: 2.8% (male 51,290/female 39,853) (2008 est.)
Median age:
total: 18.9 years
male: 21.3 years
female: 16.6 years (2008 est.)
Population growth rate:
3.19% (2008 est.)
Birth rate:
35.26 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate:
3.68 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Net migration rate:
0.33 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.4 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.29 male(s)/female
total population: 1.23 male(s)/female (2008 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 17.45 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 19.95 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 14.83 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 73.91 years
male: 71.64 years
female: 76.29 years (2008 est.)
Total fertility rate:
5.62 children born/woman (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
1,300 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 200 (2003 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Omani(s)
adjective: Omani
Ethnic groups:
Arab, Baluchi, South Asian (Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan,
Bangladeshi), African
Religions:
Ibadhi Muslim 75%, other (includes Sunni Muslim, Shi'a Muslim,
Hindu) 25%
Languages:
Arabic (official), English, Baluchi, Urdu, Indian dialects
Literacy:
definition: NA
total population: 81.4%
male: 86.8%
female: 73.5% (2003 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 12 years
male: 12 years
female: 11 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
4% of GDP (2006)
Government
Oman
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
Government type:
monarchy
Capital:
name: Muscat
geographic coordinates: 23 37 N, 58 35 E
time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
5 regions (manatiq, singular - mintaqat) and 4 governorates*
(muhafazat, singular - muhafazat) Ad Dakhiliyah, Al Batinah, Al
Buraymi*, Al Wusta, Ash Sharqiyah, Az Zahirah, Masqat (Muscat)*,
Musandam*, Zufar (Dhofar)*
Independence:
1650 (expulsion of the Portuguese)
National holiday:
Birthday of Sultan QABOOS, 18 November (1940)
Constitution:
none; note - on 6 November 1996, Sultan QABOOS issued a royal decree
promulgating a basic law considered by the government to be a
constitution 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
Legal system:
based on English common law and Islamic law; ultimate appeal to the
monarch; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
21 years of age; universal; note - members of the military and
security forces are not allowed to vote
Executive branch:
chief of state: Sultan and Prime Minister QABOOS bin Said al-Said
(sultan since 23 July 1970 and prime minister since 23 July 1972);
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 (sultan since 23 July 1970 and prime minister since 23 July
1972)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarch
elections: the monarch is hereditary
Legislative branch:
bicameral Majlis Oman consists of Majlis al-Dawla or upper chamber
(70 seats; members appointed by the monarch; has advisory powers
only) and Majlis al-Shura or lower chamber (84 seats; members
elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms; body has some
limited power to propose legislation, but otherwise has only
advisory powers)
elections: last held 27 October 2007 (next to be held in 2011)
election results: new candidates won 46 seats and 38 members of the
outgoing Majlis kept their positions; none of the 20 female
candidates were elected
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
note: the nascent civil court system, administered by region, has
judges who practice secular and Sharia law
Political parties and leaders:
none
Political pressure groups and leaders:
none
International organization participation:
ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, FAO, G-77, GCC, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory),
IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU,
ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Hunaina bint Sultan bin Ahmad
al-MUGHAIRI
chancery: 2535 Belmont Road, NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 387-1980
FAX: [1] (202) 745-4933
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Gary A. GRAPPO
embassy: Jameat A'Duwal Al Arabiya Street, Al Khuwair area, Muscat
mailing address: P. O. Box 202, P.C. 115, Madinat Sultan Qaboos,
Muscat
telephone: [968] 24-643-400
FAX: [968] 24-699771
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
Economy
Oman
Economy - overview:
Oman is a middle-income economy that is heavily dependent on
dwindling oil resources, but sustained high oil prices in recent
years have helped build Oman's budget and trade surpluses and
foreign reserves. Oman joined the World Trade Organization in
November 2000 and continues to liberalize its markets. It ratified a
free trade agreement with the US in September 2006, and, through the
Gulf Cooperation Council, seeks similar agreements with the EU,
China and Japan. As a result of its dwindling oil resources, Oman is
actively pursuing a development plan that focuses on
diversification, industrialization, and privatization, with the
objective of reducing the oil sector's contribution to GDP to 9
percent by 2020. Muscat is attempting to "Omanize" the labor force
by replacing foreign expatriate workers with local workers. Oman
actively seeks private foreign investors, especially in the
industrial, information technology, tourism, and higher education
fields. Industrial development plans focus on gas resources, metal
manufacturing, petrochemicals, and international transshipment ports.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$60.89 billion (2007 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$40.06 billion (2007 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
5.6% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$19,000 (2007 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 2.2%
industry: 38.2%
services: 59.6% (2007 est.)
Labor force:
920,000 (2002 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Unemployment rate:
15% (2004 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Investment (gross fixed):
20% of GDP (2007 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $14.02 billion
expenditures: $13.68 billion (2007 est.)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Public debt:
3.7% of GDP (2007 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
5.9% (2007 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
1.98% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
7.29% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$5.044 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$11.04 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$13.88 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
dates, limes, bananas, alfalfa, vegetables; camels, cattle; fish
Industries:
crude oil production and refining, natural and liquefied natural gas
(LNG) production; construction, cement, copper, steel, chemicals,
optic fiber
Industrial production growth rate:
3.2% (2007 est.)
Electricity - production:
13.58 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - consumption:
10.53 billion kWh (2006 est.)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Oil - production:
714,300 bbl/day (2007 est.)
Oil - consumption:
69,100 bbl/day (2006 est.)
Oil - exports:
722,000 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - imports:
15,440 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - proved reserves:
5.5 billion bbl (1 January 2008 est.)
Natural gas - production:
24.1 billion cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
11 billion cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
13.1 billion cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
849.5 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)
Current account balance:
$4.866 billion (2007 est.)
Exports:
$23.1 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
petroleum, reexports, fish, metals, textiles
Exports - partners:
China 26.8%, South Korea 15.2%, Japan 14.3%, Thailand 10.4%, UAE
7.6%, US 4.3%, Iran 4.1% (2007)
Imports:
$11 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food,
livestock, lubricants
Imports - partners:
UAE 19.3%, Japan 17.6%, US 7.4%, Germany 5.2%, India 4.1% (2007)
Economic aid - recipient:
$30.68 million (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$9.524 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
$5.297 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$NA
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$NA
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$16.16 billion (2006)
Currency (code):
Omani rial (OMR)
Currency code:
OMR
Exchange rates:
Omani rials (OMR) per US dollar - 0.3845 (2007), 0.3845 (2006),
0.3845 (2005), 0.3845 (2004), 0.3845 (2003)
Communications
Oman
Telephones - main lines in use:
268,100 (2007)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
2.5 million (2007)
Telephone system:
general assessment: modern system consisting of open-wire,
microwave, and radiotelephone communication stations; limited
coaxial cable
domestic: fixed-line phone service gradually being introduced to
remote villages using wireless local loop systems; fixed-line and
mobile-cellular subscribership both increasing; open-wire,
microwave, radiotelephone communications, and a domestic satellite
system with 8 earth stations
international: country code - 968; the Fiber-Optic Link Around the
Globe (FLAG) and the SEA-ME-WE-3 submarine cable provide
connectivity to Asia, the Middle East, and Europe; satellite earth
stations - 2 Intelsat (Indian Ocean), 1 Arabsat (2007)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 3, FM 9, shortwave 2 (1999)
Radios:
1.4 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
13 (plus 25 repeaters) (1999)
Televisions:
1.6 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.om
Internet hosts:
4,785 (2008)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)
Internet users:
340,000 (2007)
Transportation
Oman
Airports:
137 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 7
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 130
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 8
1,524 to 2,437 m: 51
914 to 1,523 m: 35
under 914 m: 34 (2007)
Heliports:
2 (2007)
Pipelines:
gas 4,126 km; oil 3,558 km (2007)
Roadways:
total: 42,300 km
paved: 16,500 km (includes 550 km of expressways)
unpaved: 25,800 km (2005)
Merchant marine:
total: 3
by type: chemical tanker 1, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 1
registered in other countries: 2 (Panama 2) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Mina' Qabus, Salalah
Military
Oman
Military branches:
Sultan's Armed Forces (SAF): Royal Army of Oman, Royal Navy of Oman,
Royal Air Force of Oman (2008)
Military service age and obligation:
18-30 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription
(2008)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 802,455
females age 16-49: 626,841 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 663,881
females age 16-49: 543,410 (2008 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 34,238
female: 33,139 (2008 est.)
Military expenditures:
11.4% of GDP (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues
Oman
Disputes - international:
boundary agreement reportedly signed and ratified with UAE in 2003
for entire border, including Oman's Musandam Peninsula and Al Madhah
exclave, but details of the alignment have not been made public
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Oman is a destination country for men and women
primarily from Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan who
migrate willingly, but some of whom become victims of trafficking
when subjected to conditions of involuntary servitude as domestic
workers and laborers; mistreatment includes non-payment of wages,
restrictions on movement and withholding of passports, threats, and
physical or sexual abuse; Oman may also be a destination country for
women from Asia, Eastern Europe, and North Africa for commercial
sexual exploitation
tier rating: Tier 3 - Oman was rated as Tier 3 for the second
consecutive year because it did not report any law enforcement
efforts to prosecute and punish trafficking offenses in 2007 and
continues to lack victim protection services or a systematic
procedure to identify victims of trafficking (2008)
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008
======================================================================
@Pacific Ocean
Introduction
Pacific Ocean
Background:
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the world's five oceans
(followed by the Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, Southern Ocean, and
Arctic Ocean). Strategically important access waterways include the
La Perouse, Tsugaru, Tsushima, Taiwan, Singapore, and Torres
Straits. The decision by the International Hydrographic Organization
in the spring of 2000 to delimit a fifth ocean, the Southern Ocean,
removed the portion of the Pacific Ocean south of 60 degrees south.
Geography
Pacific Ocean
Location:
body of water between the Southern Ocean, Asia, Australia, and the
Western Hemisphere
Geographic coordinates:
0 00 N, 160 00 W
Map references:
Political Map of the World
Area:
total: 155.557 million sq km
note: includes Bali Sea, Bering Sea, Bering Strait, Coral Sea, East
China Sea, Gulf of Alaska, Gulf of Tonkin, Philippine Sea, Sea of
Japan, Sea of Okhotsk, South China Sea, Tasman Sea, and other
tributary water bodies
Area - comparative:
about 15 times the size of the US; covers about 28% of the global
surface; larger than the total land area of the world
Coastline:
135,663 km
Climate:
planetary air pressure systems and resultant wind patterns exhibit
remarkable uniformity in the south and east; trade winds and
westerly winds are well-developed patterns, modified by seasonal
fluctuations; tropical cyclones (hurricanes) may form south of
Mexico from June to October and affect Mexico and Central America;
continental influences cause climatic uniformity to be much less
pronounced in the eastern and western regions at the same latitude
in the North Pacific Ocean; the western Pacific is monsoonal - a
rainy season occurs during the summer months, when moisture-laden
winds blow from the ocean over the land, and a dry season during the
winter months, when dry winds blow from the Asian landmass back to
the ocean; tropical cyclones (typhoons) may strike southeast and
east Asia from May to December
Terrain:
surface currents in the northern Pacific are dominated by a
clockwise, warm-water gyre (broad circular system of currents) and
in the southern Pacific by a counterclockwise, cool-water gyre; in
the northern Pacific, sea ice forms in the Bering Sea and Sea of
Okhotsk in winter; in the southern Pacific, sea ice from Antarctica
reaches its northernmost extent in October; the ocean floor in the
eastern Pacific is dominated by the East Pacific Rise, while the
western Pacific is dissected by deep trenches, including the Mariana
Trench, which is the world's deepest
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench -10,924 m
highest point: sea level 0 m
Natural resources:
oil and gas fields, polymetallic nodules, sand and gravel
aggregates, placer deposits, fish
Natural hazards: