Sunday 08 / November / 2026
Muscat: The Sultanate of Oman registered an increase in the Healthy Life Expectancy at Birth index, reaching 68.2 years in 2023, compared to 63.2 years in 2021, marking an increase of five years, according to data published on the World Health Organization's platform.
The recorded value exceeded the target set by Oman Vision 2040 for the index, which is 67 years by 2030, by 1.2 years, while it remains 1.8 years away from the 2040 target of 70 years.
The data showed that the Sultanate of Oman recorded an average exceeding the global average of 62.8 years by a margin of 5.4 years, and the Eastern Mediterranean Region's average of 60.4 years by a margin of 7.8 years, based on 2023 estimates.
This progress comes during the recovery phase from the repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic, at a time when restoring healthy life years remains a challenge on a global scale. The World Health Organization announced, upon issuing its new estimates on 2 October 2026, that the global average remained 0.4 years below its pre-pandemic level recorded in 2019, pointing to the increasing impact of non-communicable diseases and mental health disorders.
These results highlight the importance of continuing to develop the healthcare system, focusing on prevention and early detection, reducing years of morbidity, and elevating the quality of treatment, rehabilitation, and integrated care, while taking into account the needs of various groups and regions.
The implications of the index relate to the integration of health services with health-supporting policies in the education, labor, environment, and urban planning sectors. This is alongside the role of community partnership in preserving health gains by raising health awareness, encouraging physical activity and balanced nutrition, avoiding tobacco, utilising screening services, and following up on chronic diseases.
The index reaching 68.2 years reflects progress in the trajectory of improving the quality of healthy life. It affirms the importance of continued investment in human capital, thereby providing individuals with longer years in better health, and a greater capacity to contribute and participate in society.
The Healthy Life Expectancy at Birth index is considered a measure that combines longevity and health status. It estimates the average number of years a person is expected to live in full health, accounting for the impact of diseases and injuries, which adds a qualitative dimension to the traditional life expectancy index.
The recorded value does not imply that every individual will live to 68.2 years without contracting a disease. Rather, it represents a statistical estimate at the population level utilised in guiding health policies and determining priorities. It reflects the importance of measuring health progress by the ability of individuals to continue their lives with activity, independence, and active participation within the family and society.
