Recent Fertility Decline in Oman: Experience of a pro-natalist country

The Sultanate of Oman, a Middle Eastern Arab country, is a pro-natalist country with high fertility, where official population policy is not in place. Nevertheless, the fertility rate has declined dramatically from a very high rate of 8.6 births per women in 1988 to 4.8 births per woman in 2000, a decline of nearly four births per woman with in a short period of twelve years. This paper provides critical review of the fertility transition in Oman and identify the direct and indirect determinants of declining fertility in the 1990s. The study is based on recent national level population base surveys data in Oman. The results indicate that a decrease in the age-specific proportions of women who are married, followed by an increase in contraceptive use are the most important mechanisms by which fertility has declined in Oman. Post-partum infecundability also play important role in fertility control in Oman. Women education and employment are likely factors that encourage couples to delay marriage and use modern family planning methods and thus reduce marital fertility. The decline in fertility in Oman is strongly related to socio-economic development. The findings of the study have important policy implications for national level population planning.