Oman ranks 4th globally in Quality-of-Life Index

MUSCAT, JUNE 6
Oman has been ranked fourth globally in the 2026 Quality of Life Index, marking a significant recognition of its living standards, safety, healthcare systems and overall social stability, and placing it ahead of several advanced European economies.
According to data compiled by Numbeo and visualised by Visual Capitalist, Oman achieved a Quality-of-Life Index score of 207.6, ranking just behind the Netherlands (213.6), Denmark, and Luxembourg. Switzerland follows in fifth place, while Finland, Austria, Germany, Iceland and Norway complete the top ten.
The rankings position Oman ahead of a number of highly developed countries, including Spain, Sweden, Australia, New Zealand, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Canada, Belgium, Portugal, Ireland, Japan and others in the top 30. The index evaluates countries based on key parameters such as purchasing power, cost of living, safety, healthcare quality, pollution levels, housing affordability, traffic commute time, and climate conditions.
Analysts note that Oman’s strong performance reflects sustained improvements in public safety, healthcare access, infrastructure development, and economic diversification policies under Oman Vision 2040. The country’s stability, relatively low crime rates, and expanding healthcare and transport networks have contributed to its high placement in global livability rankings.
Across OECD countries, quality of life indicators has generally improved over the past decade, supported by higher disposable incomes, stronger employment rates, and expanded social security systems. However, Oman’s inclusion in the global top five is notable as it places Oman alongside some of the world’s most established welfare economies in Europe.
In 2025, Oman maintained steady progress in livability benchmarks, driven by continued investment in infrastructure, tourism, logistics, renewable energy, and social development initiatives. Improvements in healthcare services, digital governance, and urban planning also contributed to enhanced living conditions across the country.
The Numbeo index, which relies on user-reported data, aggregates eight core factors—purchasing power, pollution, housing affordability, cost of living, safety, healthcare quality, commute times, and climate comfort — to produce an overall quality-of-life score, with higher values indicating better conditions.
Oman’s ranking underscores its growing international competitiveness in non-economic indicators of development, particularly in safety and environmental quality, while also reflecting policy focus on sustainable growth and citizen wellbeing.
The 2026 rankings reaffirm the country’s positioning as one of the most livable destinations globally, with performance comparable to leading European nations and ahead of several larger developed economies.