GeoRealityMatch
Aerial shot of Muscat's skyline with coastal view and mountains. Ideal for travel and geography content.Picturesque view of Muscat's coastline with mountains and traditional architecture

Oman

Asia · Western Asia

High safetyAffordable cost of livingVery high development

People live long. The air is polluted.

RetireeCombines very high life expectancy, high safety and affordable cost of living.
vs United Arab Emiratesvs Saudi Arabiavs Qatar
Safety

59th most peaceful of 161

Global Peace Index
1.850lower is more peacefulHigh safety
#59 of 161
IEP GPI · 2026
Homicides
0.1per 100,000 people a yearVery lowUNODC / World Bank · 2023
Safety index
81.6Numbeo's safety index, higher is saferVery highNumbeo · 2026
Money

Incomes above the median country

GNI per person
$19,520national income per person, US dollarsHigh
World Bank · 2024
Rent index
13.2New York = 100ModerateNumbeo · 2026
Property price to income
3.8years of median income to buy a median flatVery affordableNumbeo · 2026

Income and inflation over time

Income per person rose 18% in current dollars from 2006 to 2025, and fell 15% after inflation.

GDP per person, current US$At purchasing power parityInflation

$0$30K$60K$42,295 PPP$19,947Inflation, % a year15%0200620102015202020252006, $16,931 a person, $46,091 at PPP, inflation 3.5%2007, $18,793 a person, $48,627 at PPP, inflation 5.8%2008, $26,577 a person, $52,841 at PPP, inflation 12.4%2009, $20,656 a person, $55,127 at PPP, inflation 3.5%2010, $23,570 a person, $55,667 at PPP, inflation 3.3%2011, $25,188 a person, $52,393 at PPP, inflation 4%2012, $24,642 a person, $49,989 at PPP, inflation 2.9%2013, $23,458 a person, $47,013 at PPP, inflation 1.1%2014, $23,161 a person, $44,236 at PPP, inflation 1%2015, $18,808 a person, $36,058 at PPP2016, $17,110 a person, $33,334 at PPP, inflation 1.1%2017, $17,820 a person, $33,619 at PPP, inflation 1.6%2018, $19,902 a person, $37,780 at PPP, inflation 0.9%2019, $19,180 a person, $37,251 at PPP, inflation 0.5%2020, $16,785 a person, $35,163 at PPP, inflation -0.4%2021, $19,403 a person, $38,719 at PPP, inflation 1.7%2022, $23,224 a person, $42,610 at PPP, inflation 2.5%2023, $21,028 a person, $41,980 at PPP, inflation 1%2024, $20,285 a person, $41,801 at PPP, inflation 0.6%2025, $19,947 a person, $42,295 at PPP, inflation 1%$0$30K$60KInflation, % a year15%0200620102015202020252006, $16,931 a person, $46,091 at PPP, inflation 3.5%2007, $18,793 a person, $48,627 at PPP, inflation 5.8%2008, $26,577 a person, $52,841 at PPP, inflation 12.4%2009, $20,656 a person, $55,127 at PPP, inflation 3.5%2010, $23,570 a person, $55,667 at PPP, inflation 3.3%2011, $25,188 a person, $52,393 at PPP, inflation 4%2012, $24,642 a person, $49,989 at PPP, inflation 2.9%2013, $23,458 a person, $47,013 at PPP, inflation 1.1%2014, $23,161 a person, $44,236 at PPP, inflation 1%2015, $18,808 a person, $36,058 at PPP2016, $17,110 a person, $33,334 at PPP, inflation 1.1%2017, $17,820 a person, $33,619 at PPP, inflation 1.6%2018, $19,902 a person, $37,780 at PPP, inflation 0.9%2019, $19,180 a person, $37,251 at PPP, inflation 0.5%2020, $16,785 a person, $35,163 at PPP, inflation -0.4%2021, $19,403 a person, $38,719 at PPP, inflation 1.7%2022, $23,224 a person, $42,610 at PPP, inflation 2.5%2023, $21,028 a person, $41,980 at PPP, inflation 1%2024, $20,285 a person, $41,801 at PPP, inflation 0.6%2025, $19,947 a person, $42,295 at PPP, inflation 1%

World Bank: GDP per person in current US dollars and at PPP, real GDP per person, consumer price inflation. Observed years only.

Health

Above-average life expectancy

Life expectancy
80.2years, at birthVery high
#40 of 195
World Bank · 2024
Health coverage
73WHO universal health coverage index, 0 to 100ModerateWHO · 2023
Air pollution
30.0PM2.5, micrograms per cubic metre, national averageVery highWHO · 2023
Work and internet

Fast home internet

Unemployment rate
3.3%share of the labour force without a jobWorld Bank · 2025
Home internet
95 Mbpsmedian download speedFastOokla Speedtest · 2025

Internet speeds

Home internet95 MbpsFast
Mobile170 MbpsVery fast

Ookla Speedtest Global Index, median download speed, ranked among the countries Ookla lists.

Picturesque view of Muscat's coastline with mountains and traditional architecture
How it changed

Oman's Human Development Index

0.858Very high human development

50th of 193 in UNDP's 2023 ranking, 9th of 43 in Asia.

UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita. UNDP Human Development Report 2025.

Nearest countries by HDI

  1. #48Montenegro0.862
  2. #48Uruguay0.862
  3. #50Oman0.858
  4. #51Turkey0.853
  5. #52Kuwait0.852
Full HDI ranking, all 193 countries

HDI since 2000

Year by year

Human development rose from 0.707 in 2000 to 0.858 in 2023.

0.650.780.900.8582000201020232000: 0.7072001: 0.7192002: 0.7292003: 0.7392004: 0.7432005: 0.7562006: 0.7662007: 0.7742008: 0.7822009: 0.7992010: 0.8042011: 0.8222012: 0.8242013: 0.8272014: 0.8312015: 0.8382016: 0.8452017: 0.8482018: 0.8542019: 0.8572020: 0.8432021: 0.8342022: 0.8462023: 0.8580.650.780.902000201020232000: 0.7072001: 0.7192002: 0.7292003: 0.7392004: 0.7432005: 0.7562006: 0.7662007: 0.7742008: 0.7822009: 0.7992010: 0.8042011: 0.8222012: 0.8242013: 0.8272014: 0.8312015: 0.8382016: 0.8452017: 0.8482018: 0.8542019: 0.8572020: 0.8432021: 0.8342022: 0.8462023: 0.858

UNDP Human Development Report, 2025 edition. 24 annual values, none interpolated.

Twenty years here

Year by yearThe world report
Life expectancy at birth
80.3 years2024at birthUp 5.2 years from 75.1 years in 2005
Internet users
95%2024of people onlineUp 87 points from 8% in 2006
Urban population
79%2025of people in towns and citiesUp 7 points from 72% in 2006
Births per woman
2.512024births per womanDown 0.52 from 3.03 in 2005
Renewable share of energy
0%2021of energy usedLevel with 2004
Access to electricity
100%2024of people with electricityLevel with 2005
Infant mortality
82024deaths before age one, per 1,000 birthsDown 2 from 10 in 2005
CO2 emissions per person
18.6 t2024of CO2 per person a yearUp 5.2 t from 13.4 t in 2005
Forest area
0%2023of land under forestLevel with 2004

World Bank, from the first to the last observed year of each indicator; each has its own window.

Our take

The quiet Gulf state: low crime, stable, less expat-saturated than the UAE. The case for living here is long lives. The case against is polluted air.

About Oman

Oman is an Arabian Peninsula country of unexpected natural beauty, from the dramatic limestone canyons and mountain villages of the Hajar range to the pristine sandy desert of the Wahiba Sands and a frankincense-scented coastline. The culture is deeply rooted in an ancient Arab and maritime trading tradition, and Omanis are known for a hospitality that is warm without being overwhelming. It is one of the most welcoming and safe destinations in the Middle East and consistently surprises those who arrive with preconceptions.

Practical facts

  • CapitalMuscat
  • LanguagesArabic
  • CurrencyOmani rial (OMR)
  • Area309,500 km²
  • Plug typeType G
  • Drives on theright
Weigh Oman against your priorities
Every figure

Everything we hold on Oman

Compare Oman

Borders

Saudi ArabiaUnited Arab EmiratesYemen

Side by side

vs United Arab Emiratesvs Saudi Arabiavs QatarCompare any two countries

Quick answers

What is Oman's Human Development Index?

Oman's Human Development Index is 0.858 for 2023 (UNDP Human Development Report 2025), ranked #50 of 193 by UNDP.

Is Oman safe?

Oman scores 1.85 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #59 of 161 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.

How expensive is Oman?

Numbeo's cost-of-living index puts Oman at 43.6 (New York = 100); that is #80 cheapest of 143 countries with data.

What is life expectancy in Oman?

Life expectancy at birth in Oman is 80.2 yrs (World Bank), ranked #40 of 195 countries.

What is the quality of life in Oman?

Numbeo's quality-of-life index scores Oman at 207.6, ranked #4 of 87 countries with data. It composites purchasing power, safety, healthcare, cost of living, commute and pollution from resident surveys, so it reflects what residents report rather than what an economy produces.