World Statistics Day returned on October 20, celebrated only once every five years under the United Nations theme “Quality statistics and data for everyone”. To mark the occasion, this article looks at some of Oman’s most recent figures that tell a story of steady growth, resilience and data-driven development.
According to the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI), Oman’s population reached 5,327,000 as of August 2025, with Omanis accounting for around 58 per cent of the total. The country’s inflation rate stands at 0.9 per cent, among the lowest in the GCC region, reflecting careful fiscal control and stable consumer prices. In the labour market, unemployment among Omani nationals has decreased to 1.7 per cent, supported by employment and training programmes aligned with Oman Vision 2040.
Economic performance indicators remain positive. Oman’s GDP growth rate for 2024–2025 is estimated at 2.4 per cent, driven largely by non-oil sectors such as logistics, tourism and manufacturing. The country’s public debt-to-GDP ratio has declined from 43 per cent in 2022 to around 35 per cent in 2025, demonstrating improved fiscal sustainability. These efforts were recognised when Moody’s Investors Service upgraded Oman’s sovereign credit rating to Baa3 (investment grade) in mid-2025, the first such upgrade in nearly a decade.
Social and infrastructure statistics show measurable improvements. The education sector continues to expand, with the number of enrolled students surpassing 830,000 nationwide and the teacher-to-student ratio improving to 1:12. In public health, Oman recorded an average life expectancy of 78.3 years and universal access to primary healthcare. Road-safety data from NCSI indicate a 9 per cent reduction in road accidents between 2023 and 2024, a reflection of enhanced enforcement, road design improvements and awareness programmes.
Environmental and energy statistics underscore the nation’s growing focus on sustainability. As of mid-2025, renewable energy capacity reached 1.1 gigawatts, covering nearly 13 per cent of domestic electricity demand, while total carbon-emission intensity fell by 5 per cent compared to 2022. The tourism sector also shows strong recovery, with 4.5 million visitor arrivals recorded in 2024 — a 19 per cent increase year-on-year.
Observed only once every five years, World Statistics Day celebrates how nations transform raw numbers into insight and impact. In Oman’s case, these figures paint a clear picture: a growing, diversifying and increasingly data-driven country using information not just to measure progress, but to shape it.
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