Oman is currently experiencing the fastest population growth in at least fifty years and it has one of the fastest-growing populations in the world with a growth rate of more than 9% per year. From 2012 to 2013 alone, Oman added more than 227,000 people. This growth has been attributed to an increase in the birth rate and a decrease in deaths, partly due to an improving healthcare system.
The annual growth rate in Oman has been extremely high in recent years due to a huge influx of immigrants. There are so many, that they nearly make up half of the modern population. Expatriate workers are fairly evenly distributed between Indian and Bangladeshi people. Most of these people moved to the area because of an increase in mega infrastructure projects happening with Oman that require huge amounts of manpower. As of 2019, the annual growth rate in Oman was 3.56%, down from 4.18% un 2018. The birth rate in Oman is pretty on par with the rest of the world with 2.67 children being born to the average woman.
The infrastructure projects that have been causing a huge increase in the population of Oman likely won't last forever and the growth rate is expected to drop off considerably when that happens. Current projections believe that the growth rate will peak in 2020 at 4.16% before plummeting to just 1.59% by just 2025. After 2025 it is expected that the growth rate will continue to slow, but less drastically, getting down to 0.62% by 2050. If these predictions prove true, the population in Oman will likely be close to 5,149,700 in 2020, 5,897,473 in 2030, 6,343,520 in 2040 and 6,756,570 in 2050.
| Oman Population (as of 8/16/2024) | 5,311,492 |
| Last UN Estimate (July 1, 2024) | 5,281,538 |
| Births per Day | 243 |
| Deaths per Day | 28 |
| Migrations per Day | 422 |
| Net Change per Day | 637 |
| Population Change Since Jan. 1 | 145,873 |
Net increase of 1 person every 2.27 minutes
Population estimates based on interpolation of data from World Population Prospects
| One birth every 5.93 minutes | |
| One death every 51.43 minutes | |
| One immigrant every 3.42 minutes | |
| Net gain of one person every 2.27 minutes |
City | 2024 Population |
|---|---|
| Muscat | 797,000 |
| Seeb | 237,816 |
| Salalah | 163,140 |
| Bawshar | 159,487 |
| Sohar | 108,274 |
| As Suwayq | 107,143 |
| `Ibri | 101,640 |
| Saham | 89,327 |
| Barka' | 81,647 |
| Rustaq | 79,383 |
Located in the southeast coast of Asia' Arabian Peninsula, Oman is located along the Arabian Sea and shares borders with the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen. The total surface area of the country is 119,500 square miles (309,500 square kilometers), which ranks 69th in the world in terms of size. Nearly 50% of the population lives in Muscat and the Batinah coastal plain northwest of Muscat, while 200,000 live in the southern region. There are also about 30,000 people in the remote Musandam Peninsula. The population in 2017 was 4.636 million people, giving the country a population density of 39 people per square mile (15 people per square kilometer), which ranks 177th in the world in terms of population density.
71% of the population of Oman live in an urban area and there are many cities that these numbers are spread between. The largest city and capital is Muscat, with a population of around 800,000. Muscat is located along the country's coastline and serves as the main trading center. Muscat's greater metro area holds 1.4 million people. This is followed by As Sib al Jadidah (240,000) and Salalah (165,000). Other notable cities with populations over 100,000 include Bawshar, Al Sohar, As Suwayq, and 'Ibri.
Year | Population | Growth Rate | Density (/km²) | Population Rank | Density Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 5,281,538 | 2.84% | 17 | 123 | 204 |
| 2023 | 5,049,269 | 1.89% | 16 | 126 | 205 |
| 2020 | 4,522,497 | -1.5% | 15 | 127 | 208 |
| 2019 | 4,591,241 | -0.14% | 15 | 126 | 206 |
| 2018 | 4,597,877 | 1.33% | 15 | 126 | 206 |
| 2017 | 4,537,396 | 3.34% | 15 | 126 | 206 |
| 2015 | 4,184,895 | 8.7% | 14 | 126 | 209 |
| 2010 | 2,757,446 | 2.31% | 9 | 139 | 212 |
| 2005 | 2,459,802 | 1.51% | 8 | 140 | 213 |
| 2000 | 2,282,131 | 1.48% | 7 | 140 | 213 |
| 1995 | 2,120,528 | 3.75% | 7 | 141 | 212 |
| 1990 | 1,763,954 | 5.88% | 6 | 145 | 213 |
| 1985 | 1,325,480 | 5.77% | 4 | 147 | 213 |
| 1980 | 1,001,248 | 5.15% | 3 | 148 | 216 |
| 1975 | 778,864 | 3.28% | 3 | 149 | 218 |
| 1970 | 662,680 | 2.52% | 2 | 150 | 219 |
| 1965 | 585,236 | 1.98% | 2 | 150 | 220 |
| 1960 | 530,485 | 1.65% | 2 | 151 | 218 |
| 1955 | 488,801 | 1.35% | 2 | 151 | 217 |
Year | Population | Growth Rate | Density (/km²) | Population Rank | Density Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 5,281,538 | 2.84% | 17 | 123 | 204 |
| 2025 | 5,494,691 | 3.97% | 18 | 122 | 203 |
| 2030 | 6,112,706 | 2.15% | 20 | 117 | 200 |
| 2035 | 6,517,803 | 1.29% | 21 | 116 | 200 |
| 2040 | 6,931,974 | 1.24% | 22 | 114 | 199 |
| 2045 | 7,370,225 | 1.23% | 24 | 114 | 198 |
| 2050 | 7,827,002 | 1.21% | 25 | 113 | 196 |
| 2055 | 8,294,390 | 1.17% | 27 | 113 | 195 |
| 2060 | 8,752,185 | 1.08% | 28 | 109 | 192 |
| 2065 | 9,192,602 | 0.99% | 30 | 108 | 192 |
| 2070 | 9,617,882 | 0.91% | 31 | 104 | 189 |
| 2075 | 10,031,366 | 0.84% | 32 | 103 | 186 |
| 2080 | 10,441,469 | 0.8% | 34 | 101 | 185 |
| 2085 | 10,854,879 | 0.78% | 35 | 100 | 182 |
| 2090 | 11,272,548 | 0.76% | 36 | 99 | 181 |
| 2095 | 11,688,491 | 0.73% | 38 | 94 | 180 |
26.2
Total
27.2
Male
25.1
Female
There are people over age 18 in Oman.
Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 2020 |
| 2010 | 12 December 2010 |
| 2003 | 7 December 2003 |
| 1993 | 1 December 1993 |
Oman is a very ethnically diverse country with at least 12 spoken languages that represents its imperial past. Many Omani are from Baluchistan and the Swahili coast, and there are about 600,000 foreigners, mostly guest workers from Egypt, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, and the Philippines.
Oman is composed of Arabs, ethnic Balochis, ethnic Lurs, Swahilis, Hindus and Mehri. The Balochi are the largest non-Arab ethnicity and they are Iranian.
The median age is currently at 25.6 years of age, with a total life expectancy of 75.7 years.
The birth rate is at 24 births per 1,000 population. In contrast, Oman carries a death rate of 3.3 deaths per 1,000 population. This, in addition with immigration/emigration, contributes to a growth rate of 4.18% yearly as of 2018.
In terms of quality of life, less than 7% of the population struggles with access to either clean water or improved sanitation facilities. In addition, there are also more than 1.5 physicians and hospital beds available per 1,000 individuals residing in Oman.
The literacy rate in Oman is fairly strong, if somewhat divided between the sexes. The total percent of the population over the age of 15 that can read and write is estimated to be 93%, with males at 96% and females at only 86%.
Religion among the population in Oman is widespread, with statistics from 2010 showing affiliation at Muslim 85.9%, Christian 6.5%, Hindu 5.5%, Buddhist 0.8%, Jewish <0.1%, other 1%, and unaffiliated at 0.2% of the population. Within the Muslim population, roughly three-quarters follow the Ibadi school of Islam. Sunni and Shias make up the rest of the population. Ibadism is very strict and followers must adhere to Sharia law both in private and public.
The economy in Oman is based largely in agriculture, fishing, and overseas trading. Since the discovery of oil in 1964, petroleum revenues have accounted for roughly 40% of Oman's GDP. In recent years, the country has been focusing on non-oil alternatives in anticipation for eventually running out of this natural resource, and natural gas has largely taken its place. In terms of agriculture, Oman grows a lot of bananas, mangos, alfalfa, wheat, vegetables, melons, and dates.
Politically, Oman is an absolute monarchy, meaning that there is a Sultan that is head of both the state and the entire government. The Sultan is decided through family lineage, and he gets to assign positions throughout the rest of the government. There are three levels of courts in Oman: the Elementary Court, the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.
Arab people have been known to live in the land that is now Oman since at least 700 AD. The Portuguese temporarily conquered the area in 1507, but they were forced out 150 years later. The Persians invaded the area in 1737, but their reign was much shorter and they were driven out by 1749.
Oil reserves were discovered in 1967, which set the foundation for the modern Oman economy. The Sultan of Oman was overthrown by his son in 1970 to liberalize and modernize the country. Fortunately, the new sultan was true to his word and extended voting rights to women and anyone over 21, and improved trading relations with the US.