AGUACYCLE
Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan

Oman

Capital: Muscat · High income · Pop. 5.3 million

91.1%
Safely managed drinking water
Safely managed sanitation
296
m³ freshwater / person / yr
117%
Water stress · Extreme (over-extraction)

Source: World Bank Open Data (WHO/UNICEF JMP & FAO AQUASTAT) · drinking water 2024

In Oman, 91.1% of the population uses safely managed drinking water — an improved source, located on premises, available when needed, and free from contamination (2024 estimate). That leaves roughly 470,057 people without safely managed drinking water at home.

Oman has about 296 cubic meters of renewable internal freshwater per person each year — below the ~1,000 m³ threshold widely used to define water scarcity. It withdraws the equivalent of 117% of those internal resources annually (extreme (over-extraction) water stress), meaning it relies on rivers from outside its borders, desalination, or drawing down stored reserves.

Agriculture accounts for about 81% of Oman's water withdrawals, the rest going to households and industry.

Common questions

How many people in Oman have safe drinking water?

91.1% of Oman's population uses safely managed drinking water (2024), per WHO/UNICEF data; about 470,057 people do not.

Does Oman have enough freshwater?

Oman has roughly 296 m³ of renewable internal freshwater per person per year, and uses about 117% of it annually (extreme (over-extraction) stress).

Elsewhere in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan