Filed under Asia and more precisely Western Asia, Oman is a sovereign state. The long form of the name is Sultanate of Oman. Muscat is the capital.
Around 5.3 million people live there, placing it 125th of 250 by population — between New Zealand above it and Mauritania below. Within Western Asia alone it is the 5th largest of 17 and the 12th most populous.
By land area it covers 309,500 km², which ranks it 73rd of the 250 countries and territories in this dataset — just behind Poland and just ahead of Italy. Put next to a country most people can picture, it is almost exactly the same size as Poland.
Where Oman is and what surrounds it
The coordinates the dataset gives are 21.0° N, 57.0° E, which puts it in the northern hemisphere, roughly 2,338 km from the equator, in what geographers would call tropical latitudes.
The Tropic of Cancer passes across it. Mexico, Mauritania and Myanmar sit at almost exactly the same latitude on other parts of the globe.
3 countries share a land border with it: Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen. The largest of them by area is Saudi Arabia, while the most populous is Yemen. Together those neighbours hold about 86.9 million people.
Unlike its landlocked neighbours it reaches the sea directly, while also sharing land frontiers.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Population, density and language
Spread across 309,500 km², that works out at about 17 people per square kilometre, which makes it less crowded than the typical entry on this list. For comparison, the median entry on this list sits near 90 per square kilometre.
Someone from Oman is an Omani.
Arabic is the only official language. Arabic is one of the widely shared official languages here, listed by 24 other entries including Algeria, Bahrain, Chad and the Comoros.
Inside Asia it places 39th of 50 by population, and it accounts for 1.7% of everyone living in Western Asia.
Currency and codes
Money there is the Omani rial (ر.ع., OMR). It is issued for Oman alone.
Muscat is the seat of government and the answer most quizzes are looking for.
Websites there use the .om domain. The international dialling code is +968. Standard country codes: om and OMN.
Oman is one of the 193 UN member states in this dataset. The other 57 entries are territories, dependencies or observers, which is why totals on this site run to 250 rather than the familiar 195.
Neighbouring countries
Oman shares borders with 3 countries:
Fun facts about Oman
- In land area it is almost exactly the same size as Poland.
- Within Western Asia it is the 5th largest of 17.
- Websites based there use the .om domain.
- It is 125th of 250 by population, with about 5.3 million residents.
- It lies about 2,338 km from the equator, in tropical latitudes.
- People from Oman are known as Omanis.
- Arabic is official here and in 24 other entries worldwide.
Oman — frequently asked questions
- What is the capital of Oman?
- The capital of Oman is Muscat.
- Which countries border Oman?
- Oman borders 3 countries: Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen. Saudi Arabia is the largest of them by area.
- How big is Oman?
- Oman covers 309,500 km², ranking 73rd of 250 by land area. That makes it almost exactly the same size as Poland.
- What is the population of Oman?
- Oman has a population of about 5.3 million, which makes it the 125th most populous of the 250 countries and territories listed on this site. New Zealand sits just above it and Mauritania just below.
- Is Oman a country?
- Yes. Oman is a sovereign state and one of the 193 UN members listed on this site.
- What currency does Oman use?
- Oman uses the Omani rial, written ر.ع. (currency code OMR). No other entry in this dataset uses it.
- What language is spoken in Oman?
- The official language of Oman is Arabic. It is also official in 24 other entries on this list.
- Where is Oman located?
- Oman is in Western Asia, part of Asia. Its reference coordinates are 21.0° north and 57.0° east, roughly 2,338 km from the equator in tropical latitudes.
