Country Profile of Oman
Main statistical agency
Main statistical agency name
Directorate-General for Economic Statistics
Directorate-General for Social Statistics and Census Administration
Web address
www.mone.gov.om/mainStat.asp
Position in the government
Part of the Ministry of National Economy.
Organizational structure and finance
Directorates-General for Economic Statistics and for Social Statistics.
The Undersecretary for Development Affairs, Ministry of National Economy.
Multi-annual or annual work program
Statistical surveys may be conducted to serve the economic development purposes according to a work plan to be formulated by the Directorate General.
Main duties
The Information and Publication Center of the Ministry of National Economy is the main center for database processing and storage. It is also the main focal center for the dissemination of Economic and Social Statistics in the Sultanate. It acts as a hub between the data collection and analysis phases and other phases relating to data processing, maintenance, publication and dissemination.
The first major task of the center is to establish and develop two main databases the Social Economic Database (SED) which contains statistical data from 1970 in all major social & economic sectors. The second database is the National Geographic Data Base (NGDB) for all geographic levels (regions, wilayats, town & villages) of geo-based data in digital and analogue forms.
The second major task of the center is designing , developing, and programming of systems for census, household survey, consumer price index, and other major surveys. The Information Systems Department sets documentation standards and methodologies and training of users & technical staff.
All the above tasks are supported by the Computer and Technical Supported department which is responsible of providing and installing of the Software & Hardware to the users in the Ministry and maintains a network and internet facilities.
The main objective of establishing these systems and databases is to ensure timely and efficient flow of information to its various users for the purpose of Plan and Project formulation, monitoring and evaluation, and for general research and public awareness..
Brief history and other relevant background information
Brief history and other relevant background information
The Sultanate has paid full attention to statistics since the 1970s, when the first government system capable of undertaking the duties of economic and social development in terms of planning and implementation was established. That was the Directorate General of National Statistics set up within the Technical Secretariat of the Development Council by Royal Decree No. 46/77 issued on June 30, 1977. The Royal decree 19/94 establishing the Ministry of Development was then issued, followed by the endorsement of its organizational structure comprising a number of general directorates, among them were the Directorate General of Economic statistics and the Directorate General of Social Statistics. The two directorates have been maintained even after the amalgamation of the Ministry of Development with Ministry of National Economy according to the Royal Decree No. 4/99, issued on January 4, 1999.
The first statistical law in the Sultanate was issued in December1988 and remained in force until April 2001when a new law was issued by the Royal Degree No. 29/2001 dated 7 April 2001. The new law entrusted the Directorate General of Economic Statistics and the Directorate General of Social Statistics of the Ministry of National Economy with the responsibility for collection and dissemination of statistics, carrying out surveys and population censuses.
Legal basis
Legal basis
Royal Decree No 4/99
The Functions of the Ministry of National Economy, 4 January, 1999.
Other producers of official statistics
Other producers of official statistics
Ministry of Tourism
Ministry of National Economy
The Statistical law stipulates that other government units can also conduct surveys with regard to matters falling within their domain in coordination with the relevant Directorate General.
Statistical advisory bodies
Statistical advisory bodies
Article (9) of the statistical law stipulates the formulation of an Advisory committee under the chairmanship of the Secretary General of the Ministry of National Economy and membership of the following:
1.Executive President of the Central Bank of Oman
2.Undersecretary of the Ministry of Information
3.Undersecretary of the Ministry of Manpower for Labour Affairs
4.Undersecretary of the Ministry of National Economy for Development Affairs
5.Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health for Planning Affairs
6.Undersecretary of the Ministry of Education for Education Planning and Projects
7.Undersecretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fishery Resources
8.Undersecretary of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry for commerce and Industry
9.Undersecretary of the Ministry of Civil Service
10.Representative from ROP
11.Representative from Sultan Qaboos University
12.Director General of Social Statistics
13.Director General of Economic Statistics
Data collection
Most recent population census
December 2003
Access to administrative data
The Directorate General has access to administrative data.
Data confidentiality
All the individual data, as per the provisions of the Statistical law, concerning any statistics or census are considered confidential. It is prohibited to publish such data unless in an aggregate form.
Data dissemination
Main publications
Consumer Price Index
Statistical Year Book
Monthly Statistical Bulletin
Oman Facts and Figures - Annual
Detailed Publication of The Results of the General Census
Foreign Investment Statistics
Population and Development Bulletin
Languages of main publications
Arabic, English
How are data disseminated (Paper, CD Rom, Website, online databases, databanks)?
Paper, CD-Rom, Website.
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