Factbook
History of Oman — Timeline
Key dates in the history of Oman, from the Magna Factbook and the Universal Encyclopedia.
1650Independence: 1650 (expulsion of the Portuguese).
1970In 1970, QABOOS bin Said Al Said overthrew his father and ruled as sultan for the next five decades.
2011In 2011, the popular uprisings that swept the Middle East and North Africa inspired demonstrations in Oman that called for more jobs and economic benefits and an end to corruption.
2012As 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 2012.
2020Languages: Arabic (official), English, Baluchi, Swahili, Urdu, Indian dialects Religions: Muslim 85.9%, Christian 6.4%, Hindu 5.7%, other and unaffiliated 2% (2020 est.) Urban population: 88.4% of total population (2023).
2020QABOOS, Oman's longest reigning monarch, died in 2020.
2023Generation mix — fossil fuels: 96% of total installed capacity (2023 est.); solar: 3.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.); wind: 0.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) Energy use: 296.586 million Btu/person (2023 est.).
2023Industries: crude oil production and refining, natural and liquefied natural gas production; construction, cement, copper, steel, chemicals, optic fiber Agriculture: vegetables, dates, milk, tomatoes, sorghum, chillies/peppers, goat milk, cucumbers/gherkins, cantaloupes/melons, cabbages (2023) Electricity access: 100% (2022 est.).
2023Major urban areas: 1.650 million MUSCAT (capital) (2023) high-income, oil-based economy; large welfare system; growing government debt; citizenship-based labor force growth policy; US free trade agreement; diversifying portfolio; high female labor force participation Inflation: 1% (2023 est.).
2024Military spending: 6% of GDP (2024 est.).
