Oman is a country in Western Asia. Its capital is Muscat.
Asia and its surrounding regions. The dot marks Muscat; the mapped territory is highlighted in gold.
Natural Earth · locator mapOman combines a long coastline with mountains, gravel plains and extensive desert. The Hajar Mountains rise in the north, while Dhofar forms a distinct southern region. Much of the interior is dry and sparsely vegetated.
Wadis cut through mountain country, creating narrow valleys and occasional pools. The Wahiba Sands, also called the Sharqiyah Sands, represent a dune environment farther south. These landscapes differ from the rocky plateaus and coastal plains around them.
Most of Oman is hot and arid. The southern Dhofar region receives summer monsoon moisture, while the northern mountains are cooler than the surrounding lowlands.
Most of Oman is arid, but Dhofar receives seasonal monsoon influence that can bring mist and greener vegetation. Elsewhere, occasional storms can rapidly fill dry channels. Springs and groundwater support settlement in selected valleys and oases.
Three equal horizontal bands of white (top), red, and green, with a vertical red band on the left side; the national emblem (a khanjar dagger in its sheath on top of crossed swords in scabbards) in white is centered near the top of the vertical band
Rocky slopes enclose a narrow valley with pools and vegetation.
Photo: albinfo · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Dunes show the sandy desert landscape also known as Wahiba Sands.
Photo: Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Arabic is the official language. Omani Arabic includes several local varieties, while Standard Arabic is used in formal writing and public institutions.
Baluchi, Swahili and Modern South Arabian languages, including Mehri and Jibbali or Shehri in the south, are also spoken. English and South Asian languages have additional roles in business and among resident communities.
Oman has a long history as a sultanate and maritime trading power. Muscat and the interior were brought under firmer central authority during the twentieth century. The accession of Sultan Qaboos in 1970 began a period of extensive infrastructure development and modernization.
Oil and natural gas support exports and public revenue. Logistics, tourism, fisheries, manufacturing and mining are important areas of diversification.
crude oil production and refining, natural and liquefied natural gas production; construction, cement, copper, steel, chemicals, optic fiber
Dated World Bank observations. Population uses selected years; real GDP uses all available annual observations.
Population estimates may be revised. Selected years are shown.
Sources: World Bank · Population
| Year | People | Millions of people |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 662,680 | 0.663 |
| 1980 | 1,001,248 | 1.001 |
| 1990 | 1,763,954 | 1.764 |
| 2000 | 2,282,131 | 2.282 |
| 2010 | 2,757,446 | 2.757 |
| 2020 | 4,522,497 | 4.522 |
| 2025 | 5,494,691 | 5.495 |
Constant prices adjust for inflation. This is total economic output, not current-dollar GDP or income per person. Missing years are left as gaps.
Sources: World Bank · Real GDP
| Year | Constant 2015 US$ | Billions of constant 2015 US dollars |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 29,333,594,830 | 29.334 |
| 1991 | 31,115,340,233 | 31.115 |
| 1992 | 33,733,348,947 | 33.733 |
| 1993 | 35,771,841,958 | 35.772 |
| 1994 | 37,158,277,767 | 37.158 |
| 1995 | 39,015,009,844 | 39.015 |
| 1996 | 40,203,383,600 | 40.203 |
| 1997 | 42,629,059,778 | 42.629 |
| 1998 | 42,600,125,690 | 42.600 |
| 1999 | 42,726,901,831 | 42.727 |
| 2000 | 45,372,727,045 | 45.373 |
| 2001 | 47,465,846,486 | 47.466 |
| 2002 | 47,093,635,558 | 47.094 |
| 2003 | 46,060,087,701 | 46.060 |
| 2004 | 46,977,841,908 | 46.978 |
| 2005 | 48,283,564,529 | 48.284 |
| 2006 | 50,538,317,581 | 50.538 |
| 2007 | 53,055,456,656 | 53.055 |
| 2008 | 57,803,951,303 | 57.804 |
| 2009 | 61,261,764,565 | 61.262 |
| 2010 | 62,776,154,507 | 62.776 |
| 2011 | 64,593,279,187 | 64.593 |
| 2012 | 70,318,260,490 | 70.318 |
| 2013 | 73,994,291,063 | 73.994 |
| 2014 | 74,950,483,987 | 74.950 |
| 2015 | 78,710,793,238 | 78.711 |
| 2016 | 82,682,873,556 | 82.683 |
| 2017 | 82,934,277,089 | 82.934 |
| 2018 | 84,001,727,416 | 84.002 |
| 2019 | 83,053,651,985 | 83.054 |
| 2020 | 80,246,670,661 | 80.247 |
| 2021 | 82,318,780,120 | 82.319 |
| 2022 | 88,892,516,940 | 88.893 |
| 2023 | 90,149,469,425 | 90.149 |
| 2024 | 91,620,377,299 | 91.620 |
| 2025 | 93,817,318,343 | 93.817 |
The Human Development Index combines health, education and income. Scores range from 0 to 1.
The latest values refer to 2023. All historical scores use the same report edition. HDI does not describe every aspect of inequality or quality of life.
Sources: UNDP · Human Development Report 2025
Hereditary monarchy headed by the sultan. The Council of Oman has an appointed State Council and an elected Consultative Council; the sultan retains broad executive authority.
Three questions about Oman.
Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile
Prepared 24 September 2026. World Bank series: SP.POP.TOTL (persons) and NY.GDP.MKTP.KD (constant 2015 US dollars); downloaded 24 September 2026, provider update 13 July 2026. UNDP values use the 2025 report and 2023 observation year. These are dated statistical snapshots, not live population or economic counters.
Maps use Natural Earth geographic data. Background geography, flag descriptions and selected historical facts use archived public-domain CIA World Factbook profiles, supplemented by the sources linked above. The Factbook is no longer updated; dated statistics here come from the separately named providers.
