CapitalMuscat
Population3,969,824
Area309,500 km²
GDP per capita$36,700
LanguagesArabic , English, Baluchi, Swahili, Urdu, various Indian dialects
CurrencyOmani rials
Life Expectancy77.4 yr
Governmentan absolute monarchy
Introduction
Background
The people of the region now known as Oman have historically thrived through trade across the Indian Ocean. In the late 18th century, the emerging sultanate based in Muscat entered into the first of several friendship treaties with Britain. As time progressed, Oman's reliance on British political and military advisors grew, yet the sultanate never transitioned into a British colony. In 1970, QABOOS bin Said Al Said deposed his father, subsequently ruling as sultan for the following fifty years. His comprehensive modernization initiatives opened up the nation to the global community. He emphasized the importance of strategic relationships with the UK and the US, and his balanced, independent foreign policy enabled Oman to foster positive relations with neighboring countries while steering clear of external conflicts.
In 2011, the wave of popular protests that impacted the Middle East and North Africa inspired demonstrations within Oman, demanding increased employment opportunities, economic advancements, and measures against corruption. In reaction, QABOOS introduced a series of economic and political reforms, such as enhancing the powers of Oman’s legislative body and permitting direct elections for its lower house. Furthermore, the sultan raised unemployment benefits and issued a royal decree to establish a national job creation strategy for both public and private sectors. As part of the government's initiatives to decentralize authority and enhance citizen involvement in local governance, Oman successfully held its inaugural municipal council elections in 2012. QABOOS, who was Oman's longest-serving monarch, passed away in 2020. On the same day, his cousin, HAYTHAM bin Tariq Al Said, who had previously served as Minister of Heritage and Culture, was inaugurated as the new sultan of Oman.
Geography
Area
land
309,500 sq km
water
0 sq km
total
309,500 sq km
Climate
arid desert conditions prevail; coastal areas experience hot and humid weather; the interior is characterized by heat and dryness; a strong southwest summer monsoon occurs from May to September in the southernmost regions
Terrain
a central desert expanse flanked by rugged mountain ranges in both the northern and southern regions
Land use
other
95.2% (2023 est.)
forest
0% (2023 est.)
agricultural land
4.8% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 0.3% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0.1% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 4.4% (2023 est.)
Location
situated in the Middle East, it borders the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, and Persian Gulf, positioned between Yemen and the United Arab Emirates
Coastline
2,092 km
Elevation
lowest point
Arabian Sea 0 m
highest point
Jabal Shams 3,004 m
mean elevation
310 m
Irrigated land
1,162 sq km (2022)
Major aquifers
Arabian Aquifer System
Map references
Middle East
Land boundaries
total
1,561 km
border countries
Saudi Arabia 658 km; UAE 609 km; Yemen 294 km
Maritime claims
contiguous zone
24 nm
territorial sea
12 nm
exclusive economic zone
200 nm
Natural hazards
the summer winds frequently trigger significant sandstorms and dust storms in the interior; there are also episodes of drought
Geography - note
comprises Oman proper along with two northern exclaves, Musandam and Al Madhah; Musandam is a peninsula that holds a strategically important position near the Strait of Hormuz
Natural resources
resources include petroleum, copper, asbestos, some varieties of marble, limestone, chromium, gypsum, and natural gas
Area - comparative
it is twice the area of the state of Georgia
Geographic coordinates
21 00 N, 57 00 E
Population distribution
the predominant portion of the population resides in the vicinity of the Al Hagar Mountains in the north; a smaller population cluster exists around the city of Salalah in the extreme south; the majority of the country remains lightly populated
People & Society
Literacy
male
98.6% (2022 est.)
female
94.9% (2022 est.)
total population
97.3% (2022 est.)
Languages
Languages
Arabic (official), English, Baluchi, Swahili, Urdu, various Indian dialects
major-language sample(s)
كتاب حقائق العالم، المصدر الذي لا يمكن الاستغناء عنه للمعلومات الأساسية (Arabic)
The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions
Muslim 85.9%, Christian 6.4%, Hindu 5.7%, other and unaffiliated 2% (2020 estimate)
Sex ratio
at birth
1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years
1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years
1.24 male(s)/female
total population
1.16 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
65 years and over
0.87 male(s)/female
Birth rate
20.65 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate
3.17 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Median age
male
28.1 years
total
27.5 years (2025 est.)
female
26.3 years
Population
male
2,130,080
total
3,969,824 (2025 est.)
female
1,839,744
Nationality
noun
Omani(s)
adjective
Omani
Tobacco use
male
17.9% (2025 est.)
total
11.6% (2025 est.)
female
0.4% (2025 est.)
Urbanization
urban population
88.4% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization
2.32% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Age structure
0-14 years
29.8% (male 594,909/female 566,682)
15-64 years
66.2% (male 1,428,141/female 1,155,438)
65 years and over
4% (2024 est.) (male 73,076/female 83,746)
Ethnic groups
Arab, Baluchi, South Asian (including Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan, Bangladeshi), African
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio
50.8 (2025 est.)
youth dependency ratio
44.6 (2025 est.)
potential support ratio
16.2 (2025 est.)
elderly dependency ratio
6.2 (2025 est.)
Physician density
1.99 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Health expenditure
Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
4.4% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
8.3% of national budget (2022 est.)
Net migration rate
-0.49 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Hospital bed density
1.2 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)
Total fertility rate
2.61 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Drinking water source
improved: rural
rural: 76.3% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total
total: 92.4% of population (2022 est.)
improved: urban
urban: 94.7% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural
rural: 23.7% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total
total: 7.6% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban
urban: 5.3% of population (2022 est.)
Education expenditure
Education expenditure (% GDP)
4.3% of GDP (2022 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget)
14.2% national budget (2022 est.)
Infant mortality rate
male
15.1 deaths/1,000 live births
total
13.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
female
12.6 deaths/1,000 live births
Population growth rate
1.7% (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate
1.27 (2025 est.)
Population distribution
The majority of inhabitants reside in and around the Al Hagar Mountains in the northern region; a smaller population is situated near the city of Salalah in the southernmost area; the remainder of the country is largely sparsely populated.
Life expectancy at birth
male
75.5 years
female
79.4 years
total population
77.4 years (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio
13 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Sanitation facility access
improved: rural
rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total
total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
improved: urban
urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural
rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total
total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban
urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita
beer
0.17 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine
0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
total
0.47 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits
0.29 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols
0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Major urban areas - population
1.650 million MUSCAT (capital) (2023)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
27% (2016)
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
55.8% (2020 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
11.2% (2017 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
male
13 years (2021 est.)
total
13 years (2021 est.)
female
14 years (2021 est.)
Environment
Climate
arid desert; elevated temperatures and humidity along the coastline; hot and arid conditions in the interior; powerful southwest summer monsoon (May to September) affecting the southern regions
Land use
other
95.2% (2023 est.)
forest
0% (2023 est.)
agricultural land
4.8% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 0.3% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0.1% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 4.4% (2023 est.)
Urbanization
urban population
88.4% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization
2.32% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Methane emissions
other
9.9 kt (2019-2021 est.)
waste
62.4 kt (2019-2021 est.)
energy
673.6 kt (2022-2024 est.)
agriculture
36.8 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually
3.308 million tons (2024 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled
13.9% (2022 est.)
Environmental issues
scarce natural freshwater supplies; elevated soil and water salinity in coastal areas; beach contamination from oil spills; industrial waste affecting the water table and aquifers; desertification caused by strong winds transporting desert sand into cultivable land
Total water withdrawal
municipal
130 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
industrial
238 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
agricultural
1.547 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
total emissions
84.073 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from consumed natural gas
54.8 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke
661,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids
28.611 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions
34.9 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Total renewable water resources
1.4 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
International environmental agreements
party to
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified
none of the selected agreements
Government
Flag
description: the flag features three equal horizontal stripes of white (top), red, and green, alongside a vertical red band on the left; the national emblem, which consists of a khanjar dagger in its sheath atop crossed swords in scabbards, is depicted in white and is positioned near the top of the vertical band
meaning: the color white symbolizes peace and prosperity, red represents the struggles against foreign invaders, while green denotes the Jebel al Akhdar (Green Mountains) and fertility
Capital
name
Muscat
etymology
the term originates from the Arabic name for the city, Masqat, which translates to "hidden" and refers to the hilly terrain that separates the port city from the rest of Oman
time difference
UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC, in Standard Time)
geographic coordinates
23 37 N, 58 35 E
Suffrage
21 years of age; universal
Citizenship
citizenship by birth
no
citizenship by descent only
the father must be a citizen of Oman
dual citizenship recognized
no
residency requirement for naturalization
unknown
Constitution
history
established by royal decree on 6 November 1996 (the Basic Law of the Sultanate of Oman acts as the constitution); revised through royal decree in 2011
amendment process
promulgated by the sultan or proposed by the Council of Oman and drafted by a technical committee as stipulated by royal decree and then promulgated through royal decree
Country name
former
Sultanate of Muscat and Oman
etymology
the etymology of the name is not definitively known, but it may trace back at least 2,000 years, with references to "Omana" by Pliny the Elder (1st century A.D.) and "Omanon" by Ptolemy (2nd century A.D.); it is believed to be derived from Oman ben Ibrahim al Khalil (Oman ben Kahtan), who is credited with founding the state
local long form
Saltanat Uman
local short form
Uman
conventional long form
Sultanate of Oman
conventional short form
Oman
Independence
1650 (expulsion of the Portuguese)
Legal system
a hybrid legal system combining Anglo-Saxon law and Islamic law
Government type
an absolute monarchy
Judicial branch
highest court(s)
Supreme Court (consists of 5 judges)
subordinate courts
comprises Courts of Appeal; Administrative Court; Courts of First Instance; sharia courts; magistrates' courts; military courts
judge selection and term of office
judges are selected by the 9-member Supreme Judicial Council (led by the monarch) and appointed by the monarch, serving for life
Executive branch
cabinet
Cabinet appointed by the monarch
chief of state
Sultan and Prime Minister HAITHAM bin Tarik Al Said (since 11 January 2020)
head of government
Sultan and Prime Minister HAITHAM bin Tarik Al Said (since 11 January 2020)
National holiday
National Day, 18 November
National color(s)
red, white, green
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites
5 (all cultural)
selected World Heritage Site locales
Bahla Fort; Archaeological Sites of Bat; Land of Frankincense; Aflaj Irrigation Systems of Oman; Ancient Qalhat
Political parties
note: organized political parties are prohibited in Oman, with loyalties often forming around tribal connections
Legislative branch
legislature name
Majles
legislative structure
bicameral
National anthem(s)
title
"Nashid as-Salaam as-Sultani" (The Sultan's Anthem)
history
adopted in 1932; new lyrics were composed after QABOOS bin Said al Said ascended to power in 1970; first performed by the band of the HMS Hawkins as a tribute to the Sultan during a visit to Muscat in 1932; the arrangement was created by the ship's bandmaster
lyrics/music
Rashid bin Uzayyiz al KHUSAIDI/James Frederick MILLS, arranged by Bernard EBBINGHAUS
National symbol(s)
khanjar dagger on top of two crossed swords
Administrative divisions
comprises 11 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafaza); Ad Dakhiliyah, Al Buraymi, Al Wusta, Az Zahirah, Janub al Batinah (Al Batinah South), Janub ash Sharqiyah (Ash Sharqiyah South), Masqat (Muscat), Musandam, Shamal al Batinah (Al Batinah North), Shamal ash Sharqiyah (Ash Sharqiyah North), Zufar (Dhofar)
Legislative branch - lower chamber
chamber name
Shura Council (Majles A'Shura)
term in office
4 years
number of seats
90 (all directly elected)
electoral system
other systems
scope of elections
full renewal
most recent election date
11/1/2023
expected date of next election
October 2027
percentage of women in chamber
0%
Legislative branch - upper chamber
chamber name
State Council (Majles Addawla)
term in office
4 years
number of seats
87 (all appointed)
scope of elections
full renewal
most recent election date
10/29/2023
expected date of next election
November 2027
percentage of women in chamber
20.9%
Diplomatic representation in the US
FAX
[1] (202) 745-4933
chancery
2535 Belmont Road, NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone
[1] (202) 387-1980
chief of mission
Ambassador Talal Sulaiman AL-RAHBI (since 24 July 2025)
email address and website
[email protected]
Embassy of the Sultanate of Oman, Washington, USA - FM.gov.om
Diplomatic representation from the US
FAX
[968] 2464-3740
embassy
P.C. 115, Madinat Al Sultan Qaboos, Muscat
telephone
[968] 2464-3400
mailing address
6220 Muscat Place, Washington DC 20521
chief of mission
Ambassador Ana ESCROGIMA (since 4 December 2023)
email address and website
[email protected]
https://om.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation
ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, CAEU, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
International law organization participation
has not made a declaration regarding ICJ jurisdiction; not a party to the ICCt
Economy
Budget
revenues
$29.334 billion (2018 est.)
expenditures
$35.984 billion (2018 est.)
Exports
Exports 2021
$46.572 billion (2021 est.)
Exports 2022
$69.483 billion (2022 est.)
Exports 2023
$64.749 billion (2023 est.)
Imports
Imports 2021
$37.216 billion (2021 est.)
Imports 2022
$46.682 billion (2022 est.)
Imports 2023
$47.412 billion (2023 est.)
Industries
crude oil extraction and processing, production of natural and liquefied natural gas; sectors include construction, cement, copper, steel, chemicals, and optic fiber
Labor force
2.696 million (2024 est.)
Public debt
Public debt 2017
46.9% of GDP (2017 est.)
Remittances
Remittances 2021
0% of GDP (2021 est.)
Remittances 2022
0% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2023
0% of GDP (2023 est.)
Exchange rates
Currency
Omani rials (OMR) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2020
0.384 (2020 est.)
Exchange rates 2021
0.384 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2022
0.384 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2023
0.384 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2024
0.384 (2024 est.)
Economic overview
high-income economy reliant on oil; extensive welfare system; increasing government debt; policy favoring labor force growth based on citizenship; agreement on free trade with the US; efforts to diversify the economic portfolio; significant participation of women in the labor force
Unemployment rate
Unemployment rate 2022
3.3% (2022 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023
3.2% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2024
3.2% (2024 est.)
Exports - partners
China 43%, India 6%, Saudi Arabia 5%, UAE 5%, South Africa 4% (2023)
Imports - partners
UAE 25%, Saudi Arabia 12%, India 8%, China 7%, Qatar 5% (2023)
Real GDP per capita
Real GDP per capita 2022
$39,800 (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023
$37,700 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2024
$36,700 (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate
Real GDP growth rate 2022
8% (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023
1.2% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2024
1.7% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products
vegetables, dates, milk, tomatoes, sorghum, chillies/peppers, goat milk, cucumbers/gherkins, cantaloupes/melons, cabbages (2023)
Exports - commodities
crude petroleum, refined petroleum, natural gas, semi-finished iron, fertilizers (2023)
Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, cars, crude petroleum, iron ore, iron pipes (2023)
Current account balance
Current account balance 2021
-$4.836 billion (2021 est.)
Current account balance 2022
$4.362 billion (2022 est.)
Current account balance 2023
$2.638 billion (2023 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$106.943 billion (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use
household consumption
37.8% (2023 est.)
government consumption
19.1% (2023 est.)
investment in inventories
2.4% (2023 est.)
investment in fixed capital
24.3% (2023 est.)
exports of goods and services
61.1% (2023 est.)
imports of goods and services
-44.8% (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures
on food
18.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
on alcohol and tobacco
0.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021
1.7% (2021 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
2.5% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
1% (2023 est.)
Industrial production growth rate
0.2% (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$188.169 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$190.403 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$193.591 billion (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
male
11% (2024 est.)
total
13.9% (2024 est.)
female
30.9% (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
$17.606 billion (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
$17.455 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024
$18.287 billion (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
industry
54.2% (2024 est.)
services
46.5% (2024 est.)
agriculture
2.6% (2024 est.)
Energy
Coal
exports
70,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
imports
323,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
consumption
82,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum
total petroleum production
1.056 million bbl/day (2023 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves
5.373 billion barrels (2021 est.)
refined petroleum consumption
218,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Electricity
consumption
40.738 billion kWh (2023 est.)
installed generating capacity
11.589 million kW (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses
4.267 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Natural gas
exports
15.536 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
imports
1.924 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
production
41.726 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
consumption
28.646 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
proven reserves
651.287 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Electricity access
electrification - total population
100% (2022 est.)
Energy consumption per capita
Total energy consumption per capita 2023
296.586 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources
wind
0.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
solar
3.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
fossil fuels
96% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Communications
Internet users
percent of population
95% (2024 est.)
Broadcast media
One government-operated television broadcaster exists; satellite television provides access to TV stations from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Iran, and Yemen; the state-managed radio features numerous stations; the inaugural private radio station commenced operations in 2007, with several more stations currently in operation as of 2019.
Internet country code
.om
Telephones - fixed lines
total subscriptions
579,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
11 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular
total subscriptions
6.35 million (2024 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
121 (2024 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
total
562,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
11 (2023 est.)
Transportation
Ports
large
0
small
4
medium
1
key ports
Duqm, Khawr Khasab, Mina Al Fahl, Mina Raysut, Sohar
very small
2
total ports
7 (2024)
ports with oil terminals
6
Airports
37 (2025)
Heliports
20 (2025)
Merchant marine
total
57 (2023)
by type
general cargo 11, other 46
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
A4O
Military & Security
Military - note
The Sultan's Armed Forces (SAF) are tasked with the defense of the nation, the maintenance of internal security, and the protection of the monarchy. They engage in training exercises with international partners, including Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The SAF has a historical security collaboration with the British military that dates back to the 18th century. Currently, the SAF and British forces operate a joint training facility in Oman, where the British military also utilizes the infrastructure at Al Duqm Port. In 2019, the US gained access to this port, building upon earlier military cooperation agreements established in 2014, 2010, and 1980. Oman permits other countries, including China, to utilize certain maritime facilities as well. Furthermore, the SAF is a component of the Peninsula Shield Forces, a collective military unit formed by GCC nations aimed at preserving security and stability in the region.
Oman's naval forces carry out maritime security operations along the extensive coastline, which includes patrolling activities, ensuring freedom of navigation through the vital Strait of Hormuz, and combating piracy and smuggling. Oman is also involved in the US-led multinational Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), which executes maritime security operations in regional waters through various multinational task forces (2025).
Military expenditures
Military Expenditures 2020
11% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military Expenditures 2021
8% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military Expenditures 2022
5.5% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military Expenditures 2023
5.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military Expenditures 2024
6% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military and security forces
Sultan's Armed Forces (SAF): Royal Army of Oman (RAO), Royal Navy of Oman (RNO), Royal Air Force of Oman (RAFO), Royal Guard of Oman (RGO), Sultan's Special Forces
Royal Oman Police (ROP): Civil Defense, Immigration, Infrastructure Security Police, Coast Guard Police, Special Security Police, Special Task Force (2024)
Military service age and obligation
The age range for voluntary military service is 18-25 for both men and women; there is no conscription (2025).
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
The inventory of the SAF comprises a combination of older and some advanced weapon systems sourced from diverse suppliers, notably the UK and the US. Additional suppliers include China, various EU nations, South Africa, and Türkiye (2025).
Military and security service personnel strengths
There are around 40,000 active members in the Sultan's Armed Forces (2025).
Terrorism
Terrorist group(s)
Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)
Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons
refugees
714 (2024 est.)
