Muscat: While the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development has unveiled its mega plans for all major cities by 2040, in the short-term population density in Muscat Governorate, which is home to the capital saw a decline in 2020.
According to the data released by the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI), the density of population in Muscat dropped from 363.3 people per square kilometre in 2018 to 355.4 per square km in 2019 and 326.5 per square km in 2020.
Overall, the population in Muscat fell from 1,454,518 in 2018 to 1,306,055 in 2020.
The population density in North Al Batinah which is home to Suhar, increased from 96.3 per square km in 2018 to 98.3 per square km in 2020.
The population density in South Al Batinah, home to Barka, increased from 80 people per square km in 2018 to 87.6 per square km in 2020.
The population density in Dhofar Governorate, home to Salalah, dropped from 4.6 per square km in 2018 to 4.2 per square km in 2020.
Al Wusta which is home to the future city of Duqm saw an increase from 47,604 in 2018 to 52,451 in 2020.
Muscat is home to an expatriate population of 762,762 compared to 543,293 citizens. In Muscat, the Omani population is concentrated in Al Seeb (258,089) and Amerat (90,220), while the expatriate population is concentrated in Bausher (293,800), Seeb (221,804), and Muttrah (192,427).
As per the ministry's estimates, the population of Oman will increase to around 7-7.5 million from current levels by 2040.
The Omani workforce will increase by 32 per cent to reach 3.9 million, including skilled workers. There will be significant growth in the private sector by 83 per cent, with an increase in annual GDP of 5 per cent, foreign direct investment (FDI) contribution to GDP will increase by 10 per cent.
There will be an increase in public spaces for recreation in urban areas by 10 square metres per capita, and an increase in demand for housing units to 911,400 housing units, and the total area of private areas is 73,544 square metres.
Muscat will emerge as a global city and Oman’s gateway to the world by 2040 with a population of 2.5 million and a workforce of 2.3 million, of which the national workforce will be 1.7 million (75 per cent) and the rest expatriates (25 per cent).
By 2040, the population in South Al Batinah will be one million, of which 263,000 will be in Barka. The total workforce will be 551,000 (Omani and expatriate workforce constituting 50 per cent each).
North Al Batinah Governorate will be one of the main centres for international trade and will play a major role due to industries, availability of minerals, and agriculture. The governorate will have a population of 1.3 million, of which 550,00 will be in Suhar, with a workforce of 650,000 Omanis constituting 34 per cent of them.
Al Wusta Governorate will have a population of 250,000, of which Duqm will be home to 200,000 people. The total workforce will be 188,000 with expatriates constituting 91 per cent of them.
Dhofar Governorate will witness economic growth due to the economic zone and the airport. With a population of 600,000, Salalah will be home to around 480,000. The total workforce will be 364,000, equally divided between Omanis and expatriates.
Al Dhahirah Governorate will witness economic growth in the areas of logistics, applied engineering, food processing, and agriculture. The total population will be 290,000, of which 130,000 will be in Ibri. Omanis will constitute 70 per cent of the total workforce in the governorate.
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