Religion in Oman

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Religion in Oman (2020)[1]

  Islam (85.9%)
  Christianity (6.5%)
  Hinduism (5.5%)
  others (1%)
  Buddhism (0.8%)
  Unaffiliated (0.2%)
  Judaism (0.1%)

Even though the Oman government does not keep statistics on religious affiliation, statistics from the US's Central Intelligence Agency state that adherents of Islam are in the majority at 85.9%, with Christians at 6.5%, Hindus at 5.5%, Buddhists at 0.8%, Jews less than 0.1%. Other religious affiliations have a proportion of 1% and the unaffiliated only 0.2%.

Religion of Omani citizens (2021)[2]

  Ibadi Islam (45%)
  Sunni Islam (45%)
  Shia Islam (5%)
  others (5%)

Islam[]

See also: List of mosques in Oman and Islam in Oman

In 2014, most of the Omani Muslims were followers of the Ibadi branch of Islam followed by the Sunni Islam.[3] In 2021, an estimated percentage of 45% Omani citizens were Ibadi and 45% were Sunni Muslims only 5% were Shias and 5% were of other faiths such as Hinduism or Christianity.[4]

Virtually all non-Muslims in Oman are foreign workers. Non-Muslim religious communities include various groups of Jains, Buddhists, Zoroastrians, Sikhs, Jews, Hindus and Christians. Christian communities are centered in the major urban areas of Muscat, Sohar and Salalah. These include Catholic, Eastern Orthodox and various Protestant congregations, organizing along linguistic and ethnic lines. More than 50 different Christian groups, fellowships and assemblies are active in the Muscat metropolitan area, formed by migrant workers from Southeast Asia.

Other religions[]

See also: Christianity in Oman, Hinduism in Oman, and History of the Jews in Oman
Shiva temple in Old Muscat is one of the oldest Hindu temple in Middle East

There are also communities of ethnic Indian Hindus and Christians. Muscat has two Hindu temples. One of them is over a hundred years old. There is a significant Sikh community in Oman. Though there are no permanent gurdwaras, many smaller gurdwaras in makeshift camps exist and are recognised by the government. The Government of India had signed an accord in 2008 with the Omani government to build a permanent gurdwara but little progress has been made on the matter.[5]

There is also a small Jewish community.[6]

Freedom of religion[]

Main article: Freedom of religion in Oman

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Oman". CIA The World Factbook.
  2. ^ "Oman - The World Factbook". www.cia.gov. Retrieved 2021-09-26.
  3. ^ Vallely, Paul (19 February 2014). "Schism between Sunni and Shia has been poisoning Islam for 1,400 years - and it's getting worse". The Independent. Oman is unusual because its Sunni and Shia residents are outnumbered by a third sect, the Ibadis, who constitute more than half the population.
  4. ^ "Oman - The World Factbook". www.cia.gov. Retrieved 2021-05-18.
  5. ^ "Oman to allow temple, gurdwara". Sify.com. 24 November 2010. Archived from the original on 29 November 2010. Retrieved 14 January 2014.
  6. ^ "Jewish Cemetery at Sohar, Oman | Archive | Diarna.org". archive.diarna.org.

External links[]

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