Demographics of the population of Oman include population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects.

About 50% of the population in Oman lives in Muscat and the Batinah coastal plain northwest of the capital; about 200,000 live in the Dhofar Governorate; and about 30,000 live in the remote Musandam Peninsula on the Strait of Hormuz.

Since 1970, the government has given high priority to education in order to develop a domestic work force, which the government considers a vital factor in the country's economic and social progress. In 1986, Oman's first university, Sultan Qaboos University, opened. Other post secondary institutions include a law school, technical college, banking institute, teachers' training college, and health sciences institute. Some 200 scholarships are awarded each year for study abroad.

Nine private colleges exist, providing two-year post secondary diplomas. Since 1999, the government has embarked on reforms in higher education designed to meet the needs of a growing population. Under the reformed system, four public regional universities were created, and incentives are provided by the government to promote the upgrading of the existing nine private colleges and the creation of other degree-granting private colleges.

Population

Census results

Total population Omani population Expatriate population 1993 2,000,000 1,465,000 535,000 2003 2,340,815 1,781,558 559,257 2010 2,773,479 1,957,336 816,143 2014 4,092,000 2,303,000 1,789,000 2016 4,550,538 2,462,768 2,082,478 2020 5,106,458 2,994,601 1,997,763 20245,268,0722,988,6482,284,336

UN estimates

Population Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat, World Population Prospects: The 2010 Revision Total population (thousands)Population aged 0–14 (%)Population aged 15–64 (%)Population aged 65+ (%) 1950 456 42.3 54.6 3.0 1955 501 43.6 53.2 3.2 1960 557 44.6 52.1 3.2 1965 631 45.6 51.2 3.3 1970 732 46.4 50.4 3.2 1975 898 46.1 50.9 3.0 1980 1 181 45.6 51.8 2.6 1985 1 539 46.0 51.6 2.4 1990 1 868 45.6 52.1 2.3 1995 2 232 40.3 57.5 2.2 2000 2 264 36.7 60.8 2.5 2005 2 430 32.1 65.1 2.8 2010 2 782 27.2 70.3 2.5 2015 4 321 32.1 65.1 2.8 2020 5 106 27.2 70.3 2.5

Structure of the population

Age groupMaleFemaleTotal% Total 1 971 115 1 202 802 3 173 917 100 0-4 139 614 132 530 272 144 8.57 5-9 124 776 120 250 245 026 7.72 10-14 129 964 124 646 254 610 8.02 15-19 145 215 139 611 284 826 8.97 20-24 238 483 148 965 387 448 12.21 25-29 327 686 147 717 475 403 14.98 30-34 247 107 120 429 367 536 11.58 35-39 192 483 79 617 272 100 8.57 40-44 149 090 58 112 207 202 6.53 45-49 103 908 41 522 145 430 4.58 50-54 83 057 30 530 113 587 3.58 55-59 40 488 19 402 59 890 1.89 60-64 23 538 16 192 39 730 1.25 65-69 11 811 9 000 20 811 0.66 70-74 7 721 7 212 14 933 0.47 75-79 3 303 3 514 6 817 0.21 80+ 2 871 3 553 6 424 0.20Age groupMaleFemaleTotalPercent 0-14 394 354 377 426 771 780 24.32 15-64 1 551 055 802 097 2 353 152 74.14 65+ 25 706 23 279 48 985 1.54

Age groupMaleFemaleTotal% Total 2 332 687 1 290 314 3 623 001 100 0-4 164 406 158 435 322 841 8.91 5-9 132 469 127 235 259 704 7.17 10-14 111 287 105 301 216 588 5.98 15-19 128 311 119 875 248 186 6.85 20-24 262 201 147 485 409 686 11.31 25-29 438 633 160 772 599 405 16.54 30-34 335 104 131 241 466 345 12.87 35-39 234 343 96 312 330 655 9.13 40-44 177 171 63 301 240 472 6.64 45-49 122 574 47 241 169 815 4.69 50-54 89 917 39 602 129 519 3.57 55-59 56 448 28 380 84 828 2.34 60-64 28 338 20 629 48 967 1.35 65-69 17 199 15 561 32 760 0.90 70-74 13 925 12 439 26 364 0.73 75-79 9 475 7 373 16 848 0,47 80+ 10 882 9 113 19 995 0.55 unknown 4 19 23 <0.01Age groupMaleFemaleTotalPercent 0-14 408 162 390 971 799 133 22.06 15-64 1 873 040 854 838 2 727 878 75.29 65+ 51 481 44 486 95 967 2.65

Age groupMaleFemaleTotal% Total 2 739 954 1 731 194 4 471 148 100 0–4 225 585 217 574 443 159 9.91 5–9 214 408 205 923 420 331 9.40 10–14 164 249 158 269 322 518 7.21 15–19 128 650 123 805 252 455 5.65 20–24 178 099 126 838 304 937 6.82 25–29 364 479 167 905 532 384 11.91 30–34 426 671 185 002 611 673 13.68 35–39 355 022 159 996 515 018 11.52 40–44 245 069 122 600 367 669 8.22 45–49 162 792 78 866 241 658 5.40 50–54 107 609 52 247 159 856 3.58 55–59 67 579 39 990 107 569 2.41 60–64 43 899 32 405 76 304 1.71 65-69 21 548 21 790 43 338 0.97 70-74 14 117 15 524 29 641 0.66 75-79 9 414 10 427 19 841 0.44 80-84 6 369 6 459 12 828 0.29 85-89 2 813 3 176 5 989 0.13 90-94 1 066 1 462 2 528 0.06 95-99 319 597 916 0.02 100+ 197 339 536 0.01Age groupMaleFemaleTotalPercent 0–14 604 242 581 766 1 186 008 26.53 15–64 2 079 869 1 089 654 3 169 523 70.89 65+ 55 843 59 774 115 617 2.59

Vital statistics Registered births and deaths

YearPopulationLive birthsDeathsNatural changeCrude birth rate (per 1000)Crude death rate (per 1000)Natural change (per 1000)Crude migration change (per 1000)Total Fertility Rate 2006 2,577,062 49,494 5,484 44,010 19.2 2.1 17.1 2.660 2007 2,743,499 52,500 6,810 45,690 19.1 2.5 16.645.39 2.589 2008 2,867,428 58,250 7,415 50,835 20.3 2.6 17.726.05 2.607 2009 3,173,917 64,735 7,098 57,637 20.4 2.2 18.282.38 2.669 2010 2,773,479 65,528 6,974 58,554 23.3 2.7 20.6 -154.35 2.974 2011 3,295,298 67,922 7,667 60,255 20.6 2.3 18.3152.11 2.853 2012 3,623,001 72,867 7,884 64,983 20.1 2.2 17.975.95 2.818 2013 3,855,206 79,417 7,669 71,748 20.6 2.0 18.642.91 2.882 2014 3,992,893 82,981 7,819 75,162 21.9 2.0 19.915.93 2.900 2015 4,159,102 86,286 8,167 78,119 19.3 2.0 17.321.61 2.903 2016 4,414,051 88,346 8,828 79,518 20.0 2.0 18.040.93 2.888 2017 4,559,963 90,371 8,861 81,510 20.5 1.9 18.614.35 2.895 2018 4,601,706 89,071 8,979 80,092 19.4 1.9 17.5 -8.37 2.858 2019 4,617,927 86,819 8,581 78,238 18.8 1.9 16.9 -13.45 2.689 2020 4,481,042 84,405 10,589 73,816 18.8 2.4 16.4 -46.31 2.664 2021 4,527,446 82,224 12,649 69,575 18.2 2.8 15.4 -5.14 2.60420224,933,85077,62810,03567,59315.72.013.771.62 2.30520235,165,60271,1078,98262,12513.81.712.033.592.0102024 5,268,07270,2099,20161,00813.31.711.67.96 1.9132025 5,494,69173,8589,06164,79713.81.712.15.911.944

UN estimates PeriodLive births per yearDeaths per yearNatural change per yearCBR1CDR1NC1TFR1IMR1Life expectancy (years)1950  25 000  16 000  8 00053.735.718.17.25277.029.71951  25 000  16 000  9 00053.835.418.47.25274.330.01952  25 000  17 000  9 00053.835.018.77.25270.430.51953  26 000  17 000  9 00053.834.619.27.25266.431.01954  26 000  17 000  10 00053.834.219.67.25263.231.441955  27 000  17 000  10 00053.833.820.07.25259.631.921956  27 000  17 000  10 00053.733.420.47.25256.232.371957  27 000  17 000  11 00053.833.020.87.25252.132.861958  28 000  17 000  11 00053.832.421.47.25248.033.481959  28 000  17 000  12 00053.831.921.97.25243.934.071960  29 000  16 000  12 00053.730.523.27.25234.035.451961  29 000  16 000  13 00053.529.224.37.25225.036.821962  30 000  16 000  14 00053.127.925.27.25216.138.191963  30 00015 000  15 00052.826.826.07.26207.939.421964  31 000  15 000  16 00052.425.626.87.26199.840.681965  31 000  15 000  16 00052.024.527.57.27191.941.891966  31 000  14 000  17 00051.523.428.17.28184.143.071967  32 000  14 000  18 00051.022.328.77.28176.544.291968  32 000  14 000  19 00050.621.229.47.29168.945.531969  33 000  13 000  20 00050.220.230.07.29161.346.681970  34 000  13 000  21 00049.919.430.67.31154.147.681971  34 000  13 000  22 00049.818.431.47.35146.848.931972  35 000  13 000  23 00049.917.832.17.41139.249.571973  37 000  12 000  24 00050.116.933.37.50132.050.861974  38 000  12 000  26 00050.516.034.57.62124.852.101975  40 000  12 000  29 00051.615.236.47.75117.553.301976  43 000  12 000  31 00052.214.138.27.86110.355.221977  45 000  12 000  34 00052.813.439.47.94103.456.261978  48 000  11 000  37 00053.012.440.67.9995.857.711979  51 000  11 000  40 00053.211.541.78.0488.659.151980  54 000  11 000  43 00053.410.742.78.1081.660.451981  57 000  11 000  46 00053.29.943.38.1374.961.651982  60 000  10 000  49 00052.89.143.78.1068.262.961983  62 000  10 000  52 00051.98.343.68.0262.164.221984  64 000  10 000  55 00050.77.643.17.9056.365.251985  66 000  9 000  57 00049.37.042.47.7651.166.271986  66 000  9 000  57 00046.56.440.17.5846.467.011987  66 000  9 000  58 00043.85.838.07.3742.167.891988  66 000  8 000  58 00041.35.336.07.1438.468.581989  66 000  8 000  58 00038.84.933.96.8735.069.161990  65 000  8 000  57 00036.64.532.06.6131.969.781991  65 000  8 000  57 00034.64.330.36.3429.170.191992  64 000  8 000  56 00032.64.128.66.0526.570.661993  64 000  8 000  56 00030.93.827.05.7624.271.171994  63 000  8 000  55 00029.33.725.55.4722.171.391995  61 000  8 000  54 00028.23.524.65.1920.371.991996  61 000  8 000  53 00027.53.524.04.9018.772.191997  60 000  8 000  53 00026.83.423.44.6217.372.421998  60 000  8 000  53 00026.33.323.04.3416.172.971999  60 000  8 000  52 00025.83.222.54.1315.073.182000  58 000  7 000  51 00024.83.221.63.8914.073.472001  57 000  7 000  50 00024.03.121.03.6913.173.812002  56 000  7 000  49 00023.33.020.23.5012.473.872003  55 000  7 000  48 00022.73.019.83.3511.874.142004  55 000  7 000  48 00022.22.919.33.2011.374.332005  54 000  7 000  46 00021.42.918.53.0510.974.402006  53 000  7 000  46 00020.72.917.82.9210.674.482007  53 000  8 000  46 00020.53.017.62.8110.674.462008  56 000  8 000  48 00021.13.018.22.8110.374.612009  60 000  8 000  52 00022.33.019.32.8410.174.682010  64 000  7 000  57 00023.42.620.82.9410.076.272011  70 000  8 000  62 00022.62.520.22.949.976.612012  75 000  8 000  67 00021.92.319.62.939.877.062013  81 000  9 000  72 00021.62.319.32.959.777.252014  85 000  9 000  76 00021.32.219.12.969.677.452015  88 000  9 000  79 00021.32.219.12.969.677.692016  90 000  9 000  81 00020.82.218.62.959.677.922017  92 000  10 000  82 00020.32.218.12.949.577.922018  92 000  10 000  82 00019.82.217.62.889.577.972019  90 000  10 000  80 00019.32.217.12.789.578.002020  87 000  14 000  73 00018.83.015.82.699.474.762021  83 000  17 000  66 00018.43.814.62.629.372.54 1 CBR = crude birth rate (per 1000); CDR = crude death rate (per 1000); NC = natural change (per 1000); TFR = total fertility rate (number of children per woman); IMR = infant mortality rate per 1000 births

Fertility Years 1925192619271928192919301931193219331934Total Fertility Rate in Oman6.886.896.916.926.936.956.976.986.997.01 Years 1935193619371938193919401941194219431944Total Fertility Rate in Oman7.037.047.057.077.097.107.117.137.157.16 Years 19451946194719481949Total Fertility Rate in Oman7.187.197.207.227.24 Life expectancy at birth

total population: 75.7 years male: 73.7 years female: 77.7 years (2017 est)

Ethnic groups According to the CIA, Oman's population chiefly consists of Omani Arabs, with a small minority having Balochi (Al-Balushi) descent. South Asians (Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan, Bangladeshi) are common due to migrants and foreign workers, with an African and Afro-Arab minority.

Omani society is largely tribal. Oman has three known types of identities. Two of these identities are 'tribalism' and 'Ibadism'; the third identity is linked to 'maritime trade'. The first two identities are widespread in the interior of Oman; these identities are closely tied to tradition, as a result of lengthy periods of isolation. The third identity, which pertains to Muscat and the coastal areas of Oman, is an identity that has become embodied in business and trade. The third identity is generally seen to be more open and tolerant towards others. Thus, tension between socio-cultural groups in Omani society exists. More important is the existence of social inequality between these three groups. Gwadar, a region of Balochistan in Pakistan, was a Colony of Oman for more than a century. In 1958, Pakistan bought Gwadar from Oman for US$22.4 million, and hence many Omanis have Baloch descent.

Languages