Muscat – The number of registered crimes in Oman rose 14.8% to 21,000 in 2025, driven by a sharp increase in offences related to property, according to new data from the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI).

The crime rate increased to 3.9 per 1,000 population from 3.5 a year earlier, while the average number of offences registered each day rose from 50 to 58. The figures exclude drug offences.

Property crimes increased 33% to 13,000 and accounted for 62.3% of all registered offences last year. Crimes against individuals made up 28.8%, followed by offences against public administration and public trust at 3.5%, alcohol-related offences at 2.8% and offences against morality and public decency at 2.1%.

Muscat accounted for 42% of crimes recorded nationwide, with 8,916 cases, up from 7,580 in 2024. North Batinah followed with 3,002 cases, while South Batinah recorded 1,985 and Dhofar 1,827. A total of 1,713 cases were registered in Dakhliyah, 991 in Dhahirah, 938 in South Sharqiyah and 783 in North Sharqiyah.

The number of offenders also increased, rising 10% from 24,341 in 2024 to 26,847 in 2025. Men accounted for 85%, or 22,869 offenders, while women made up 15%, at 3,978.

There were 25,524 offenders aged 18 to 59 and 564 aged 60 and older. Adults aged 30 to 39 formed the largest group, accounting for 36% of offenders. There were 7,974 offenders aged 18 to 29, 9,647 aged 30 to 39 and 6,063 aged 40 to 49.

NCSI also recorded 751 juvenile offenders.

The offender rate rose from 4.6 to five per 1,000 population. Muscat had the highest rate at seven per 1,000, followed by Buraimi at 5.7.

NCSI recorded 21,900 victims, up 14.6% year on year. Muscat and North Batinah together accounted for 56.6% of the total.

Individuals totalled 17,371, or 79% of victims, with men accounting for 70% of individual victims. Institutions represented another 2,984 cases.