Literacy rates among adults in Oman
Oman: Literacy rates among adults was 97.3% in 2022. ▲ Rising
Literacy rates among adults in Oman, 2003–2022
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for literacy rates among adults in Oman is 97.3%, measured in 2022. That is the highest value across all 8 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.5% on the previous year and up 12.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literacy rates among adults in Oman peaked at 97.3% in 2022 and was at its lowest, 66.1%, in 2003.
Oman ranks 22nd of 89 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Literacy rates among adults in Oman, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 66.1% | — |
| 2008 | 86.6% | +31.0% |
| 2010 | 86.9% | +0.4% |
| 2015 | 93.0% | +7.0% |
| 2017 | 95.6% | +2.7% |
| 2018 | 95.7% | +0.1% |
| 2020 | 96.9% | +1.3% |
| 2022 | 97.3% | +0.5% |
Oman compared with similar countries
- Oman's 97.3% is below the median for high income countries, which is 97.7%, 100% of the median. (12 countries reporting)
- Oman's 97.3% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 94.4%, 1.0× the median. (15 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 76.4% | 66.1% | 86.6% | 2 |
| 2010s | 92.8% | 86.9% | 95.7% | 4 |
| 2020s | 97.1% | 96.9% | 97.3% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Oman
More education data for Oman
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 43,982 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 0 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 49,260 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 50,536 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 541,921 (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 358,346 (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 3.75 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0678 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is literacy rates among adults in Oman?
- Literacy rates among adults in Oman was 97.3% in 2022, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest literacy rates among adults recorded in Oman?
- The highest recorded value was 97.3% in 2022.
- What is the lowest literacy rates among adults recorded in Oman?
- The lowest recorded value was 66.1% in 2003.
- How does Oman rank for literacy rates among adults?
- Oman ranks 22nd out of 89 countries with data for 2022.
- Is literacy rates among adults rising or falling in Oman?
- Over the last ten years it is up 12.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Oman data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Literacy rates among adults. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the population aged 15 years and older who can read and write.