Demographics of Oman

This article is about the demographic features of the population of Oman, including population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population.

In Oman, about 50% of the population lives in Muscat and the Batinah coastal plain northwest of the capital; about 200,000 live in the Dhofar (southern) region; and about 30,000 live in the remote Musandam Peninsula on the Strait of Hormuz. Some 600,000 expatriates live in Oman, most of whom are guest workers from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Morocco, Jordan, and the Philippines.

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 2-year post secondary diplomas. Since 1999, the government has embarked on reforms in higher education designed to meet the needs of a growing population, only a small percentage of which are currently admitted to higher education institutions. Under the reformed system, four public regional universities will be 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.

Overseas Omani people

Today several thousand Omani born people have emigrated abroad, the figures are shown below (only countries with more than 100 Omani born residents are listed).^[1]

Country	Omani population
United Kingdom	2,024
United States	940
Canada	315
Australia	209

CIA World Factbook demographic statistics

Demographics of Oman, Data of FAO, year 2005 ; Number of inhabitants in thousands.

The following demographic statistics are from the CIA World Factbook, unless otherwise indicated.^[2]

Population

2,694,094 (includes 742,994 non-nationals)
note: Preliminary Results of the Oman Census 2010

Age structure

0-14 years: 42.7%(male 744,265/female 714,116)
15-64 years: 54.5% (male 1,079,511/female 783,243)
65 years and over: 2.8% (male 55,180/female 41,770) (2010 est.)

Population growth rate

2.023% (2011 est.)

Birth rate

34.79 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Death rate

3.65 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate

0.24 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.46 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.2 male(s)/female
total population: 1.26 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate

16.88 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 74.16 years
male: 74.87 years
female: 76.55 years (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.87 children born/woman (2011 est.)

Urbanisation

About 78% of the population is urban.

Nationality

noun: Omani(s)
adjective: Omani

Ethnic groups

Arab, Balushi, Lawati (Khoja), Zadjali (Jadgal), Maimani, Al Saigh, Al Baharinah, Ajami, Jibbali, Afro-Arabian, Persians (Farsi), Filipino, Somali, South Asian (Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan, Bangladeshi).

Religions

Ibadhi Muslim 75%, Sunni Muslim, Shi'a Muslim, Hindu

Languages

Arabic (official), English, Swahili, Baluchi, Lawati (Khojki), Zadjali (Jadgali), Gujarati, Ajami, Kamzari, Jibbali (Qarawi): Shehri, Mehri, Habyoti, Bathari, Hikmani, Harsusi, other Indian dialects

Literacy

definition: NA
total population: 75.8%
male: 83.1%
female: 67.2% (2003 est.)

References

1. ^ "Country-of-birth database". Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/18/23/34792376.xls. Retrieved 2008-09-21. 
2. ^ The World Factbook - Oman

External links

Government

• Omani Ministry of Foreign Affairs