Rural population (% of total population) (UNESCO Institute) in Oman
Oman: Rural population (% of total population) (UNESCO Institute) was 11.0% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Rural population in Oman, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in % of total population.
Analysis
The most recent figure for rural population in Oman is 11.0%, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 55 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 5.2% on the previous year and down 44.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural population in Oman peaked at 70.3% in 1970 and was at its lowest, 11.0%, in 2024.
That places Oman 183rd out of 214 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 55 years of available data.
Rural population (% of total population) (UNESCO Institute) in Oman, year by year
| Year | % of total population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 70.3% | — |
| 1971 | 68.7% | -2.3% |
| 1972 | 67.0% | -2.4% |
| 1973 | 65.3% | -2.6% |
| 1974 | 63.6% | -2.7% |
| 1975 | 61.8% | -2.8% |
| 1976 | 60.0% | -3.0% |
| 1977 | 58.1% | -3.1% |
| 1978 | 56.2% | -3.2% |
| 1979 | 54.3% | -3.4% |
| 1980 | 52.4% | -3.5% |
| 1981 | 50.5% | -3.6% |
| 1982 | 48.6% | -3.8% |
| 1983 | 46.7% | -3.9% |
| 1984 | 44.8% | -4.1% |
| 1985 | 42.9% | -4.2% |
| 1986 | 41.1% | -4.3% |
| 1987 | 39.2% | -4.5% |
| 1988 | 37.4% | -4.6% |
| 1989 | 35.6% | -4.7% |
| 1990 | 33.9% | -4.9% |
| 1991 | 32.2% | -5.0% |
| 1992 | 30.6% | -5.1% |
| 1993 | 29.0% | -5.2% |
| 1994 | 28.3% | -2.2% |
| 1995 | 28.3% | +0.1% |
| 1996 | 28.4% | +0.1% |
| 1997 | 28.4% | +0.1% |
| 1998 | 28.4% | +0.1% |
| 1999 | 28.4% | +0.1% |
| 2000 | 28.4% | +0.1% |
| 2001 | 28.5% | +0.1% |
| 2002 | 28.5% | +0.1% |
| 2003 | 28.5% | +0.1% |
| 2004 | 28.2% | -1.1% |
| 2005 | 27.6% | -2.0% |
| 2006 | 27.0% | -2.1% |
| 2007 | 26.5% | -2.1% |
| 2008 | 25.9% | -2.1% |
| 2009 | 25.4% | -2.1% |
| 2010 | 24.8% | -2.1% |
| 2011 | 23.8% | -4.1% |
| 2012 | 22.4% | -5.8% |
| 2013 | 21.1% | -5.9% |
| 2014 | 19.9% | -6.0% |
| 2015 | 18.6% | -6.1% |
| 2016 | 17.5% | -6.2% |
| 2017 | 16.4% | -6.1% |
| 2018 | 15.5% | -6.0% |
| 2019 | 14.6% | -5.8% |
| 2020 | 13.7% | -5.7% |
| 2021 | 13.0% | -5.6% |
| 2022 | 12.2% | -5.4% |
| 2023 | 11.6% | -5.3% |
| 2024 | 11.0% | -5.2% |
Oman compared with similar countries
- Oman's 11.0% is below the median for high income countries, which is 16.4%, 67% of the median. (84 countries reporting)
- Oman's 11.0% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 21.3%, 52% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 62.5% | 54.3% | 70.3% | 10 |
| 1980s | 43.9% | 35.6% | 52.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 29.6% | 28.3% | 33.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 27.4% | 25.4% | 28.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 19.5% | 14.6% | 24.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 12.3% | 11.0% | 13.7% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Oman
More population data for Oman
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.6675 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -21.98 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.6675 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.2094 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 6,329 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 1.19 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate 0.4397 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate 0.661 (2100)
- Population density 39.08 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 701,526 (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rural population in Oman?
- Rural population in Oman was 11.0% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest rural population recorded in Oman?
- The highest recorded value was 70.3% in 1970.
- What is the lowest rural population recorded in Oman?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.0% in 2024.
- How does Oman rank for rural population?
- Oman ranks 183rd out of 214 countries with data for 2024.
- Is rural population rising or falling in Oman?
- Over the last ten years it is down 44.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Oman data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Rural population (% of total population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 55 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release