LITERATE LIFE EXPECTANCY AND ITS GENDER DIFFERENTIALS IN OMAN

Abstract

Measuring human quality and well-being by the human development index (HDI) is very challenging as it is a composite index of many socio-economic variables. However, a simple index called literate life expectancy (LLE) by combining life expectancy and literacy only can be used as an alternative measure, which is less data intensive than HDI. LLE is the average life expectancy that a person lives under literate state. Length of life in literate state has many positive implications on social, economic and political aspects of life. In this paper an attempt has been made to construct LLE for Omani population with its gender differentials. The data for the study were extracted from the 2015 Statistical Year Book and the 2010 Population and Census report of Oman published by the National Centre for Statistics & Information. Despite socioeconomic progress, levels of education among women in Oman are not the same as men. The analysis shows the remarkable differences in the LLE between men and women for almost all age groups. The Omani female population is much lag behind in literate life expectancy than the Omani male population. The results underscore the need to take necessary steps for reducing gender gap in LLE in Oman.