Not Free
24
/ 100
| Political Rights | 6 / 40 |
| Civil Liberties | 18 / 60 |
Last Year's Score & Status
24 / 100 Not Free
A country or territory’s Freedom in the World status depends on its aggregate Political Rights score, on a scale of 0–40, and its aggregate Civil Liberties score, on a scale of 0–60. See the methodology.
- Several Omani citizens were arrested in June and charged with inciting sectarian strife and discord in society after they followed the Mecca-based religious calendar rather than the official Omani date to begin celebrating Eid al-Adha.
- In a rare terrorist attack in July, three Omani brothers stormed a Shiite mosque in Muscat, killing six people and injuring many others before being killed themselves. The Islamic State militant group subsequently claimed responsibility for the attack.
- Pro-Palestinian demonstrations continued to occur during the year, and security forces did not appear to disrupt or suppress them.
- In August, the Ministry of Labor imposed a six-month ban on issuing work permits to expatriates in 13 professions, including a number in the construction sector. In September, the ministry announced that 611 foreign individuals had been arrested since June for working in positions reserved for Omani nationals.
- A new media law issued in November featured broadly worded language that granted the Ministry of Information extensive discretion to restrict media content, including content that “conflicts with public morals” or “aims to mislead the public.” Other articles allowed the ministry to revoke media licenses for virtually any reason and limited social media users’ ability to share or comment on news developments. Violations of the law could draw up to three years in prison and heavy fines. Separately in March, the writer Mohammed Ali Bakhit was detained by the Internal Security Service in Salalah after he allegedly insulted government officials on social media, but a court acquitted him later that month.
This report has been abridged for Freedom in the World 2025 due to ongoing budget constraints. Freedom in the World is entirely funded by nongovernmental sources such as private foundations, corporations, and individuals like you. Please consider making a donation to support future editions of this vital resource.
For additional background information, see last year’s full report.
A1 0-4 pts
| Was the current head of government or other chief national authority elected through free and fair elections? | 0 / 4 |
A2 0-4 pts
| Were the current national legislative representatives elected through free and fair elections? | 1 / 4 |
A3 0-4 pts
| Are the electoral laws and framework fair, and are they implemented impartially by the relevant election management bodies? | 1 / 4 |
B1 0-4 pts
| Do the people have the right to organize in different political parties or other competitive political groupings of their choice, and is the system free of undue obstacles to the rise and fall of these competing parties or groupings? | 0 / 4 |
B2 0-4 pts
| Is there a realistic opportunity for the opposition to increase its support or gain power through elections? | 0 / 4 |
B3 0-4 pts
| Are the people’s political choices free from domination by forces that are external to the political sphere, or by political forces that employ extrapolitical means? | 1 / 4 |
B4 0-4 pts
| Do various segments of the population (including ethnic, racial, religious, gender, LGBT+, and other relevant groups) have full political rights and electoral opportunities? | 1 / 4 |
C1 0-4 pts
| Do the freely elected head of government and national legislative representatives determine the policies of the government? | 0 / 4 |
C2 0-4 pts
| Are safeguards against official corruption strong and effective? | 2 / 4 |
C3 0-4 pts
| Does the government operate with openness and transparency? | 0 / 4 |
D1 0-4 pts
| Are there free and independent media? | 1 / 4 |
D2 0-4 pts
| Are individuals free to practice and express their religious faith or nonbelief in public and private? | 2 / 4 |
D3 0-4 pts
| Is there academic freedom, and is the educational system free from extensive political indoctrination? | 1 / 4 |
D4 0-4 pts
| Are individuals free to express their personal views on political or other sensitive topics without fear of surveillance or retribution? | 1 / 4 |
E1 0-4 pts
| Is there freedom of assembly? | 1 / 4 |
E2 0-4 pts
| Is there freedom for nongovernmental organizations, particularly those that are engaged in human rights– and governance-related work? | 1 / 4 |
E3 0-4 pts
| Is there freedom for trade unions and similar professional or labor organizations? | 2 / 4 |
F1 0-4 pts
| Is there an independent judiciary? | 0 / 4 |
F2 0-4 pts
| Does due process prevail in civil and criminal matters? | 1 / 4 |
F3 0-4 pts
| Is there protection from the illegitimate use of physical force and freedom from war and insurgencies? | 2 / 4 |
F4 0-4 pts
| Do laws, policies, and practices guarantee equal treatment of various segments of the population? | 1 / 4 |
G1 0-4 pts
| Do individuals enjoy freedom of movement, including the ability to change their place of residence, employment, or education? | 1 / 4 |
G2 0-4 pts
| Are individuals able to exercise the right to own property and establish private businesses without undue interference from state or nonstate actors? | 2 / 4 |
G3 0-4 pts
| Do individuals enjoy personal social freedoms, including choice of marriage partner and size of family, protection from domestic violence, and control over appearance? | 1 / 4 |
G4 0-4 pts
| Do individuals enjoy equality of opportunity and freedom from economic exploitation? | 1 / 4 |
