Oman — Unemployment
Unemployment Rate for Oman, 1991–2025.
Unemployment for Oman was 3.25% in 2025, according to the latest World Bank data. The series covers 35 years, from 1991 to 2025. The highest recorded value was 4.69% in 2004. The lowest was 1.80% in 2018 (about 1.8× the low point). Across that span the compound annual growth rate works out to -0.65% per year.
Oman ranks 139 of 187 economies on this measure (1 = highest), putting it in the top 74%. The median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan is 9.00%, so Oman sits below it. It peaked in 2004 and has fallen 31% since. Over the last decade (2015–2025) the figure moved down 4%. Within Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan it ranks 17 of 23 economies; Saudi Arabia (3.04%) is just below it. Its sharpest one-year move was up 74% in 2022. That is 16% above this series' own ten-year average.
Data highlights
World ranking. Slipped: 116th of 187 in 1991 → 131st of 187 in 2000 → 143rd of 187 in 2010 → 162nd of 187 in 2020 → 134th of 182 in 2025.
Key figures
Full history — 1991 to 2025
| Year | % of total labor force | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3.25% | +0.0 pp |
| 2024 | 3.2% | +0.0 pp |
| 2023 | 3.18% | -0.1 pp |
| 2022 | 3.3% | +1.4 pp |
| 2021 | 1.9% | -1.0 pp |
| 2020 | 2.94% | +0.9 pp |
| 2019 | 2.05% | +0.2 pp |
| 2018 | 1.8% | -0.7 pp |
| 2017 | 2.52% | -0.7 pp |
| 2016 | 3.27% | -0.1 pp |
| 2015 | 3.4% | -0.0 pp |
| 2014 | 3.45% | -0.1 pp |
| 2013 | 3.55% | -0.2 pp |
| 2012 | 3.75% | -0.2 pp |
| 2011 | 3.95% | +0.0 pp |
| 2010 | 3.91% | -0.1 pp |
| 2009 | 3.98% | -0.2 pp |
| 2008 | 4.14% | -0.2 pp |
| 2007 | 4.31% | -0.1 pp |
| 2006 | 4.39% | -0.2 pp |
| 2005 | 4.59% | -0.1 pp |
| 2004 | 4.69% | +0.1 pp |
| 2003 | 4.6% | +0.3 pp |
| 2002 | 4.34% | +0.0 pp |
| 2001 | 4.3% | -0.1 pp |
| 2000 | 4.43% | +0.0 pp |
| 1999 | 4.43% | +0.1 pp |
| 1998 | 4.35% | +0.2 pp |
| 1997 | 4.2% | -0.1 pp |
| 1996 | 4.25% | +0.1 pp |
| 1995 | 4.17% | +0.1 pp |
| 1994 | 4.07% | +0.1 pp |
| 1993 | 4.01% | -0.2 pp |
| 1992 | 4.16% | +0.1 pp |
| 1991 | 4.06% | — |
Frequently asked questions
What was Oman’s Unemployment in 1992?
4.16% (1992). The full year-by-year table above lists every published year, most recent first.
Are changes in this series measured in percentage points?
Yes. The series is a share expressed in % of total labor force, so year-over-year movements in the Change column are percentage points (pp), not percent.
Is Oman’s Unemployment growing or shrinking?
Between 1991 and 2025 the series was shrinking overall: -19.8% in total — about 0.6% a year compounded.
Where does this data come from?
World Bank Open Data (CC BY-4.0), indicator SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS. Values are reproduced as published; this page only computes summary statistics such as change, CAGR and extremes.
What are the most recent published figures?
The last five published years: 2025: 3.25%; 2024: 3.2%; 2023: 3.18%; 2022: 3.3%; 2021: 1.9%. Earlier years are in the full-history table below.
Related data
SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS — Unemployment Rate. Data licensed under CC BY 4.0. Values are reproduced as published; this page computes the summary statistics (change, CAGR, extremes) from the underlying annual series. View the original dataset on data.worldbank.org.