Muscat – Oman’s elderly population is expected to rise significantly over the coming years, with the number projected to reach 385,395 by 2040, according to data released by the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI).

The total number of elderly people in Oman reached 256,469 in 2025, of whom 188,390 were Omani, accounting for 73.5% of the total. The number of elderly Omanis increased by around 4% compared with 2024.

More than half of the country’s elderly Omani population was concentrated in the governorates of Muscat, Dakhliyah and North Batinah.

Health indicators showed that 46,517 elderly Omanis were admitted to Ministry of Health institutions in 2025, a decline of around 3% from the previous year. Respiratory diseases accounted for 14% of all admissions.

The number of deaths among elderly Omanis in Ministry of Health institutions stood at 2,596 in 2025, down around 45% from 2024. Diseases of the circulatory system accounted for 24% of the deaths.

Education data showed that 33% of elderly Omanis had no educational qualification in 2025, representing 62,723 people. Women accounted for 68% of this group and men 32%. Another 26.3% had qualifications below the General Education Diploma level.

In terms of marital status, 88% of elderly Omani men were married, compared with 49% of elderly Omani women.

The elderly dependency ratio rose slightly to 10.8 in 2025, from 10.7 in 2024. Retirees accounted for around 26% of elderly Omanis, while 53,900 elderly Omanis were employed, down 5% from the previous year.

The number of elderly Omani business owners also declined, from 11,958 in 2024 to 7,637 in 2025.

Property ownership remained significant among the elderly, with 72% owning one or more plots of land, while 51% owned one or more residential units. Some 64,200 elderly Omanis owned at least one vehicle.

Social protection coverage also expanded. The number of beneficiaries of the elderly benefit increased by around 6% to 174,662 in 2025, equivalent to 93% of elderly Omanis. Muscat recorded the highest number of beneficiaries at 38,192, accounting for 22% of the total.

Meanwhile, beneficiaries of services provided to elderly people increased by 20% to 6,996 during the year.

The total number of retirees registered with pension funds stood at around 160,000, down 4% from the previous year, with government-sector retirees accounting for 66% of the total.