Quick facts
Muscat overview
Muscat (orange) and the other large cities of Oman
Muscat lies in Oman at 23.58°N, 58.41°E, about 14 m above sea level. The local time zone is Asia/Muscat (UTC+4); GeoNames classifies it as a national capital.
It is the biggest urban centre of Oman: the next largest cities are ‘Ibrī (163,473), Şalālah (163,140), Şaḩam (140,000). Together, the three largest cities hold 19.6% of the national population.
The nearest large city is Bidbid, about 35 km away, followed by Sufālat Samā’il (50 km).
Oman as a whole has a live population of 5,718,888 (+2.8% a year) and ranks #122 of 238 countries — see the Oman population page for the full statistics and the Oman atlas for provinces, terrain and society maps.
Cities near Muscat
| City | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Bidbid Ad Dakhiliyah | 35 km | 21,188 |
| Sufālat Samā’il Ad Dakhiliyah | 50 km | 47,718 |
| Samā’il Ad Dakhiliyah | 56 km | 80,538 |
| Qurayyāt Muscat | 63 km | 63,133 |
| Izkī Ad Dakhiliyah | 98 km | 36,203 |
| Ibrā’ Northeastern Governorate | 100 km | 25,265 |
| Rustaq Al Batinah South | 103 km | 120,000 |
| As Suwayq Al Batinah North | 103 km | 107,143 |
Largest cities in Oman
| # | City | Region | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MuscatCapital | Muscat | 797,000 |
| 2 | ‘Ibrī | Ad Dhahirah | 163,473 |
| 3 | Şalālah | Dhofar | 163,140 |
| 4 | Şaḩam | Al Batinah North | 140,000 |
| 5 | Rustaq | Al Batinah South | 120,000 |
| 6 | Sohar | Al Batinah North | 108,274 |
| 7 | As Suwayq | Al Batinah North | 107,143 |
| 8 | Samā’il | Ad Dakhiliyah | 80,538 |
| 9 | Al Buraymī | Al Buraimi | 73,670 |
| 10 | Nizwá | Ad Dakhiliyah | 72,076 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Muscat?
Muscat has about 797,000 inhabitants according to the latest official census or estimate compiled by GeoNames. This is the city proper; the metropolitan area is larger.
Is Muscat the capital of Oman?
Yes — Muscat is the national capital of Oman.
How big is Muscat compared with the rest of Oman?
Its 797,000 residents are 13.9% of the 5,718,888 people living in Oman today. It is the largest city in the country.
Where is Muscat?
In Oman, at latitude 23.58 and longitude 58.41, 14 m above sea level. Nearby large cities include Bidbid (35 km), Sufālat Samā’il (50 km), Samā’il (56 km).
Explore more
Cite or link to this page
Glostats. (2026). Muscat Population 2026 — Oman. Retrieved October 21, 2026, from https://glostats.com/cities/oman/muscat/<a href="https://glostats.com/cities/oman/muscat/">Muscat Population 2026 — Oman</a> — GlostatsFigures on this page may be quoted, charted or republished as long as the page is credited with a link. Terms · Download the data as CSV · Embed a live counter.
City populations are GeoNames figures (CC BY 4.0): the latest official census or estimate for the city proper — the municipality, not the wider metropolitan area — so they can differ from "metro area" numbers you see elsewhere. Country populations are live Glostats estimates from the UN World Population Prospects. Distances are great-circle distances between city centres. Page generated 2026-10-21. More about our data.