Oman’s expat population expected to fall 10% by 2040

The percentage of expats making up Oman’s population is expected to fall dramatically by 2040, as Omanisation plans take effect.

Government analysts suggest that the number of foreigners living in the sultanate will fall by 10 per cent within 22 years, a large decrease from the current 44.5 per cent.

According to the latest data from the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI), the total population of Oman as of January 2, 2018, is 4,639,444. Expats make up around 2.06 million, with Omanis number around 2.54 million.

According to local news outlet Times of Oman, data from NCSI’s study Population Development Scenarios by the Sultanate suggests that the number of expats living and working in Oman will rise by 575,447 by 2040 – going up from 2,064,552 today to 2,640,000.

Meanwhile, the sultanate’s total population is expected to exceed 8 million by 2040 – an increase of almost 3.5 million people overall. This would put the expat population at 33 per cent – 11.5 per cent lower than today.

Other findings in the study include an increase of OMR31bn ($80.6bn) in Gross Domestic Product between 2016 and 2040; a need for 576,000 extra housing units to cover the population increase by 2040; and a need for 13,000 additional doctors by the same year.

In education, some 4,000 classrooms and 64,000 teachers will be needed by 2040, with an expected 2.2 million students enrolled in schools.