Overview
The HDI and SPI offer complementary perspectives on Oman’s development outcomes. The HDI focuses on health, education, and income, while the SPI measures social and environmental outcomes independently of economic factors.
Human Development Index for Oman
Oman’s HDI score is approximately 0.816, placing it in the very high human development category and ranking around 60th globally. This reflects significant gains in life expectancy (now over 77 years), educational attainment (mean years of schooling around 10), and per capita income. Oman’s HDI has improved steadily since 1990, reflecting sustained investment in health and education infrastructure.
Social Progress Index for Oman
Oman’s SPI score is approximately 70 out of 100, measuring outcomes across basic human needs, foundations of wellbeing, and opportunity. Oman performs well on nutrition, water, sanitation, and shelter but has room for improvement in personal rights, inclusiveness, and access to advanced education. The SPI captures dimensions of development that income-based measures may miss.
Key Differences
The HDI is influenced by GNI per capita, which can inflate scores for resource-rich countries without corresponding social progress. The SPI strips out economic inputs to focus purely on social outcomes. Oman’s HDI is boosted by oil wealth, while its SPI score provides a more nuanced view of lived experience. Both indicators show Oman has achieved significant development progress.
Verdict / Bottom Line
Using both indicators together gives a fuller picture of Oman’s development. The HDI confirms strong baseline achievements, while the SPI identifies areas where social outcomes lag economic capacity, particularly in personal freedoms, higher education access, and environmental sustainability. Vision 2040’s focus on human capital development should improve both measures.