Unemployment rate in Oman
Oman: Unemployment rate was 3.3% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment rate in Oman, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment rate in Oman is 3.3%, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 1.5% on the previous year and down 4.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rate in Oman peaked at 4.7% in 2004 and was at its lowest, 1.8%, in 2018.
That places Oman 138th out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment rate in Oman, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 4.1% | — |
| 1992 | 4.2% | +2.6% |
| 1993 | 4.0% | -3.6% |
| 1994 | 4.1% | +1.6% |
| 1995 | 4.2% | +2.3% |
| 1996 | 4.3% | +2.1% |
| 1997 | 4.2% | -1.4% |
| 1998 | 4.3% | +3.6% |
| 1999 | 4.4% | +2.0% |
| 2000 | 4.4% | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 4.3% | -3.0% |
| 2002 | 4.3% | +0.9% |
| 2003 | 4.6% | +6.1% |
| 2004 | 4.7% | +2.0% |
| 2005 | 4.6% | -2.2% |
| 2006 | 4.4% | -4.4% |
| 2007 | 4.3% | -1.8% |
| 2008 | 4.1% | -3.9% |
| 2009 | 4.0% | -4.0% |
| 2010 | 3.9% | -1.7% |
| 2011 | 4.0% | +1.0% |
| 2012 | 3.8% | -5.0% |
| 2013 | 3.6% | -5.3% |
| 2014 | 3.5% | -2.8% |
| 2015 | 3.4% | -1.4% |
| 2016 | 3.3% | -4.0% |
| 2017 | 2.5% | -22.7% |
| 2018 | 1.8% | -28.7% |
| 2019 | 2.0% | +13.6% |
| 2020 | 2.9% | +43.8% |
| 2021 | 1.9% | -35.4% |
| 2022 | 3.3% | +73.7% |
| 2023 | 3.2% | -3.8% |
| 2024 | 3.2% | +0.9% |
| 2025 | 3.3% | +1.5% |
Oman compared with similar countries
- Oman's 3.3% is below the median for high income countries, which is 5.0%, 65% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Oman's 3.3% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 9.0%, 36% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Unemployment rate in Oman changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | +73.7% | 1.9% | 3.3% |
| 2020 | +43.8% | 2.0% | 2.9% |
| 2021 | -35.4% | 2.9% | 1.9% |
| 2018 | -28.7% | 2.5% | 1.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 4.2% | 4.0% | 4.4% | 9 |
| 2000s | 4.4% | 4.0% | 4.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.2% | 1.8% | 4.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.0% | 1.9% | 3.3% | 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 unemployment rate in Oman?
- Unemployment rate in Oman was 3.3% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest unemployment rate recorded in Oman?
- The highest recorded value was 4.7% in 2004.
- What is the lowest unemployment rate recorded in Oman?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.8% in 2018.
- How does Oman rank for unemployment rate?
- Oman ranks 138th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment rate rising or falling in Oman?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- 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 Unemployment rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the labor force without work, but actively looking for a job and available to start soon.