Oman: health and care

What is life expectancy in Oman?

Life expectancy at birth in Oman was 78.3 years in 2024, according to the Annual Health Report 2024 of the Ministry of Health. For Omani nationals it was 77.2 years: 75.2 for men and 79.2 for women. The World Bank's life expectancy series gives 80.25 years for 2024, based on UN population estimates.

The ministry's figures and the World Bank's use different methods and population estimates, so they do not match. The ministry also reports that the under-5 mortality rate fell to 9.9 per 1,000 live births and the maternal mortality ratio to 15.8 per 100,000 live births in 2024.

Official sources: Ministry of Health: Annual Health Report 2024 (PDF) · World Bank: Life expectancy at birth, Oman

How many hospitals are there in Oman?

Oman had 94 hospitals with 8,265 beds in 2024, according to the Annual Health Report 2024 of the Ministry of Health. That is 15.7 hospital beds per 10,000 people. The report also counts 292 health centres, clinics and dispensaries. In 2023 there were 92 hospitals and 7,691 beds.

The ministry reports that outpatient visits rose to more than 15.6 million in 2024, with 306 thousand inpatients and more than 93 thousand surgical operations. The report covers Ministry of Health services and also gives national totals including other government and private providers. Past reports back to the 1990s are listed on the annual health reports page.

Official sources: Ministry of Health: Annual Health Report 2024 (PDF) · Ministry of Health: Annual health reports

How many doctors does Oman have per person?

Oman had 21.4 doctors and 44.6 nurses per 10,000 people in 2024, according to the Annual Health Report 2024 of the Ministry of Health. The report also gives a ratio of 0.7 hospital beds per doctor in 2024. The World Bank's physicians series, based on WHO data, shows 1.99 physicians per 1,000 people in 2022.

Per-10,000 and per-1,000 figures measure the same thing on different scales: 21.4 per 10,000 is 2.14 per 1,000. The ministry's report breaks down staff by category, nationality and governorate.

Official sources: Ministry of Health: Annual Health Report 2024 (PDF) · World Bank: Physicians per 1,000 people, Oman

How many births and deaths are there in Oman each year?

There were 44,582 births and 6,165 deaths registered in Oman in January to August 2026, according to the Monthly Statistical Bulletin for September 2026 from the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI). For the whole of 2025 there were 73,793 births and 9,061 deaths.

Births far outnumber deaths. The Ministry of Health's Annual Health Report 2024 gives a crude birth rate of 13.3 per 1,000 people and a total fertility rate of 1.9 for 2024; for Omani nationals the fertility rate was 2.8. Both measures have been falling over the past decade.

Official sources: NCSI: Monthly Statistical Bulletin, September 2026 (PDF) · Ministry of Health: Annual Health Report 2024 (PDF)

How long do people live in Oman?

80.2 years: that is life expectancy at birth in Oman for 2024, according to the UN Population Division. It is the top of the series, which starts in 2005. Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan median: 77.3 years; Oman is 7th highest of 22. Worldwide: 40th of 193.

What is Oman's infant mortality rate?

The latest figure from the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation, for 2024, is 8.3 per 1,000. No year since 2005 has been lower. It is 14th highest of 22 in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, where the median is 11.2 per 1,000. World rank, highest first: 121st of 192.

How many women die in childbirth in Oman?

According to the WHO, the maternal mortality ratio in Oman was 13.0 per 100,000 in 2023. That is the lowest since at least 2005. Across Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan the middle value was 18.5 per 100,000, and Oman placed 16th highest of 22. Worldwide: 140th of 192.

What share of GDP does Oman spend on health care?

According to the WHO, current health spending in Oman was 3.5% of GDP in 2023. The peak was 5.1% of GDP in 2020 and the low 1.8% of GDP in 2008. Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan median: 5.6% of GDP; Oman is 18th highest of 22. World rank, highest first: 166th of 191.

How much do people in Oman pay for health care themselves?

The latest figure from the WHO, for 2023, is 6.3%. The peak was 12.4% in 2008 and the low 5.2% in 2020. Across Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan the middle value was 32.7%, and Oman placed 22nd highest of 22. Of 191 countries with 2023 data, 182nd highest.

What is the doctor to patient ratio in Oman?

2.0 per 1,000: that is the number of doctors per 1,000 people in Oman for 2022, according to the WHO. The peak was 2.2 per 1,000 in 2014 and the low 1.7 per 1,000 in 2005. Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan median: 2.4 per 1,000; Oman is 6th highest of 10. World rank, highest first: 65th of 125.

How many hospital beds does Oman have?

The WHO puts hospital beds per 1,000 people in Oman at 0.99 per 1,000 in 2023. That is the lowest since at least 2005. Across Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan the middle value was 1.2 per 1,000, and Oman placed 5th highest of 8. Of 73 countries with 2023 data, 62nd highest.

What is measles vaccine coverage in Oman?

The latest figure from WHO and UNICEF, for 2024, is 99.0%. No year since 2005 has been higher. Across Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan the middle value was 96.0%, and Oman placed 1st highest of 22. Worldwide: 1st of 191.