Labor force participation rate in Oman
Oman: Labor force participation rate was 68.4% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force participation rate in Oman, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for labor force participation rate in Oman is 68.4%, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 0.1% on the previous year and down 1.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate in Oman peaked at 70.7% in 2017 and was at its lowest, 55.9%, in 2001.
That places Oman 34th out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate in Oman, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 56.2% | — |
| 1991 | 57.2% | +1.7% |
| 1992 | 58.0% | +1.4% |
| 1993 | 58.8% | +1.3% |
| 1994 | 58.9% | +0.1% |
| 1995 | 58.2% | -1.0% |
| 1996 | 57.7% | -0.9% |
| 1997 | 57.1% | -1.0% |
| 1998 | 56.9% | -0.5% |
| 1999 | 56.6% | -0.4% |
| 2000 | 56.2% | -0.8% |
| 2001 | 55.9% | -0.5% |
| 2002 | 55.9% | +0.1% |
| 2003 | 56.1% | +0.3% |
| 2004 | 56.2% | +0.3% |
| 2005 | 56.4% | +0.2% |
| 2006 | 56.6% | +0.5% |
| 2007 | 57.1% | +0.8% |
| 2008 | 57.8% | +1.1% |
| 2009 | 58.6% | +1.4% |
| 2010 | 59.6% | +1.8% |
| 2011 | 62.8% | +5.2% |
| 2012 | 66.1% | +5.3% |
| 2013 | 67.8% | +2.6% |
| 2014 | 68.6% | +1.3% |
| 2015 | 69.4% | +1.2% |
| 2016 | 70.3% | +1.2% |
| 2017 | 70.7% | +0.6% |
| 2018 | 70.5% | -0.3% |
| 2019 | 69.8% | -1.0% |
| 2020 | 66.0% | -5.5% |
| 2021 | 65.8% | -0.3% |
| 2022 | 68.3% | +3.8% |
| 2023 | 68.3% | +0.1% |
| 2024 | 68.3% | -0.1% |
| 2025 | 68.4% | +0.1% |
Oman compared with similar countries
- Oman's 68.4% is above the median for high income countries, which is 62.3%, 1.1× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Oman's 68.4% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 45.0%, 1.5× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 57.6% | 56.2% | 58.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 56.7% | 55.9% | 58.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 67.6% | 59.6% | 70.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 67.5% | 65.8% | 68.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Oman
More work & labour data for Oman
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.6675 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.5966 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.7628 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.13 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.6784 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 6,410 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 346.71 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 5,193 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 6,902 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 12,095 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate in Oman?
- Labor force participation rate in Oman was 68.4% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest labor force participation rate recorded in Oman?
- The highest recorded value was 70.7% in 2017.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate recorded in Oman?
- The lowest recorded value was 55.9% in 2001.
- How does Oman rank for labor force participation rate?
- Oman ranks 34th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate rising or falling in Oman?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Oman data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Labor force participation rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the working-age population (ages 15 and over) who are economically active (employed or unemployed).