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