Oman
- Capital:
- Muscat
- Continent:
- Asia
- Region(s):
- Western Asia, The Middle East
- Abbreviation:
- OMN
* As of 6/9/2025
1 birth
Every 5.8 minutes
1 death
Every 51.4 minutes
1 immigrant
Every 4.6 minutes
1 person
Every 2.7 minutes
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.