Yemen
Republic of Yemen
Population
34.51M
Area
527,968 km²
GDP
$8.28B
GDP Per Capita
$200
Pop. Density
65/km²
Background
The Kingdom of Yemen (colloquially known as North Yemen) became independent from the Ottoman Empire in 1918 and in 1962 became the Yemen Arab Republic. The British, who had set up a protectorate area around the southern port of Aden in the 19th century, withdrew in 1967 from what became the People's Republic of Southern Yemen (colloquially known as South Yemen). Three years later, the southern government adopted a Marxist orientation and changed the country's name to the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen. The exodus of hundreds of thousands of Yemenis from the south to the north contributed to two decades of hostility between the states, which were formally unified as the Republic of Yemen in 1990. A southern secessionist movement and brief civil war in 1994 was quickly subdued. In 2000, Saudi Arabia and Yemen agreed to delineate their border. Fighting in the northwest between the government and the Houthis, a Zaydi Shia Muslim minority, continued intermittently from 2004 to 2010, and then again from 2014 to the present. The southern secessionist movement was revitalized in 2007.
Public rallies in Sana'a against then President Ali Abdallah SALIH -- inspired by similar Arab Spring demonstrations in Tunisia and Egypt -- slowly gained momentum in 2011, fueled by complaints over high unemployment, poor economic conditions, and corruption. Some protests resulted in violence, and the demonstrations spread to other major cities. The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) mediated the crisis with the GCC Initiative, an agreement in which the president would step down in exchange for immunity from prosecution. SALIH eventually agreed to step down and transfer some powers to Vice President Abd Rabuh Mansur HADI. After HADI's uncontested election victory in 2012, SALIH formally transferred all presidential powers. In accordance with the GCC Initiative, Yemen launched a National Dialogue Conference (NDC) in 2013 to discuss key constitutional, political, and social issues. HADI concluded the NDC in 2014 and planned to proceed with constitutional drafting, a constitutional referendum, and national elections.
The Houthis, perceiving their grievances were not addressed in the NDC, joined forces with SALIH and expanded their influence in northwestern Yemen, which culminated in a major offensive against military units and rival tribes and enabled their forces to overrun the capital, Sana'a, in 2014. In 2015, the Houthis surrounded key government facilities, prompting HADI and the cabinet to resign. HADI fled first to Aden -- where he rescinded his resignation -- and then to Oman before moving to Saudi Arabia and asking the GCC to intervene militarily in Yemen. Saudi Arabia assembled a coalition of Arab militaries and began airstrikes, and ground fighting continued through 2016. In 2016, the UN initiated peace talks that ended without agreement. Rising tensions between the Houthis and SALIH culminated in Houthi forces killing SALIH. In 2018, the Houthis and the Yemeni Government participated in UN-brokered peace talks, agreeing to a limited cease-fire and the establishment of a UN mission.
In 2019, Yemen’s parliament convened for the first time since the conflict broke out in 2014. Violence then erupted between HADI's government and the pro-secessionist Southern Transitional Council (STC) in southern Yemen. HADI's government and the STC signed a power-sharing agreement to end the fighting, and in 2020, the signatories formed a new cabinet. In 2020 and 2021, fighting continued as the Houthis gained territory and also conducted regular UAV and missile attacks against targets in Saudi Arabia. In 2022, the UN brokered a temporary truce between the Houthis and the Saudi-led coalition. HADI and his vice-president resigned and were replaced by an eight-person Presidential Leadership Council. Although the truce formally expired in 2022, the parties nonetheless refrained from large-scale conflict through the end of 2023. Saudi Arabia, after the truce expired, continued to negotiate with the Yemeni Government and Houthis on a roadmap agreement that would include a permanent ceasefire and a peace process under UN auspices.
Geography17
Location
Middle East, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden, and Red Sea, between Oman and Saudi Arabia
Geographic coordinates
15 00 N, 48 00 E
Map references
Middle East
Area
land: 527,968 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative
almost four times the size of Alabama; slightly larger than twice the size of Wyoming
Land boundaries
border countries: Oman 294 km; Saudi Arabia 1,307 km
Coastline
1,906 km
Maritime claims
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Climate
mostly desert; hot and humid along west coast; temperate in western mountains affected by seasonal monsoon; extraordinarily hot, dry, harsh desert in east
Terrain
narrow coastal plain backed by flat-topped hills and rugged mountains; dissected upland desert plains in center slope into the desert interior of the Arabian Peninsula
Elevation
lowest point: Arabian Sea 0 m
mean elevation: 999 m
Natural resources
petroleum, fish, rock salt, marble; small deposits of coal, gold, lead, nickel, and copper; fertile soil in west
Land use
agricultural land
agricultural land: arable land
agricultural land: permanent crops
agricultural land: permanent pasture
forest
other
Irrigated land
6,800 sq km (2012)
Population distribution
the vast majority of the population is found in the Asir Mountains (part of the larger Sarawat Mountain system), located in the far western region of the country
Natural hazards
volcanism: limited volcanic activity; Jebel at Tair (Jabal al-Tair, Jebel Teir, Jabal al-Tayr, Jazirat at-Tair) (244 m), which forms an island in the Red Sea, became active in 2007; other historically active volcanoes include Harra of Arhab, Harras of Dhamar, Harra es-Sawad, and Jebel Zubair, although many of these have not erupted in over a century
Geography - note
strategic location on Bab el Mandeb, the strait linking the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden and one of world's most active shipping lanes
People & Society33
Population
male: 17,275,539
female: 17,229,957
Nationality
adjective: Yemeni
Ethnic groups
predominantly Arab; but also Afro-Arab, South Asian, European
Languages
major-language sample(s):
كتاب حقائق العالم، المصدر الذي لا يمكن الاستغناء عنه للمعلومات الأساسية (Arabic)
The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions
Muslim 99.1% (official; virtually all are citizens, an estimated 65% are Sunni and 35% are Shia), other 0.9% (includes Jewish, Baha'i, Hindu, and Christian; many are refugees or temporary foreign residents) (2020 est.)
Age structure
15-64 years: 62.2% (male 10,112,603/female 9,865,805)
65 years and over: 3.4% (2024 est.) (male 485,538/female 623,214)
Dependency ratios
youth dependency ratio: 64.8 (2025 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 5.4 (2025 est.)
potential support ratio: 18.4 (2025 est.)
Median age
male: 21.9 years
female: 22.2 years
Population growth rate
2.22% (2025 est.)
Birth rate
29.07 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate
6.21 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate
-0.65 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution
the vast majority of the population is found in the Asir Mountains (part of the larger Sarawat Mountain system), located in the far western region of the country
Urbanization
rate of urbanization: 3.71% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)
Major urban areas - population
3.292 million SANAA (capital), 1.080 million Aden, 941,000 Taiz, 772,000 Ibb (2023)
Sex ratio
0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth
20.8 years (2013 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio
118 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate
male: 49.9 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 39 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth
male: 65.8 years
female: 70.6 years
Total fertility rate
3.65 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate
1.78 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source
improved: urban
improved: rural
improved: total
unimproved: urban
unimproved: rural
unimproved: total
Health expenditure
Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 2.5% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density
0.1 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
Sanitation facility access
improved: urban
improved: rural
improved: total
unimproved: urban
unimproved: rural
unimproved: total
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
17.1% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita
beer: 0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use
male: 33.1% (2025 est.)
female: 7.3% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
40.7% (2022 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
63.9% (2023 est.)
Child marriage
women married by age 18: 29.6% (2023)
Literacy
Government25
Country name
conventional long form
conventional short form
local long form
local short form
former
etymology
Government type
in transition
Capital
geographic coordinates: 15 21 N, 44 12 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology: the name is reputed to mean "fortified place" in an ancient language
Administrative divisions
Legal system
mixed system of Islamic (sharia) law, Napoleonic law, English common law, and customary law
Constitution
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship
citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Yemen; if the father is unknown, the mother must be a citizen
dual citizenship recognized: no
residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
chief of state
head of government
cabinet
election/appointment process
most recent election date
election results
2012: Abd Rabuh Mansur HADI (GPC) elected consensus president
Legislative branch
legislative structure: bicameral
Legislative branch - lower chamber
chamber name
number of seats
electoral system
scope of elections
term in office
most recent election date
parties elected and seats per party
percentage of women in chamber
Legislative branch - upper chamber
number of seats: 111 (all appointed)
scope of elections: full renewal
most recent election date: 4/28/2001
percentage of women in chamber: 1.1%
Judicial branch
judge selection and term of office: judges appointed by the Supreme Judicial Council, which is chaired by the president of the republic and includes 10 high-ranking judicial officers; judges serve for life with mandatory retirement at age 65
subordinate courts: appeal courts; district or first instance courts; commercial courts
Political parties
Nasserist Unionist People's Organization
National Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party
Southern Transitional Council or STC
Yemeni Reform Grouping or Islah
Yemeni Socialist Party or YSP
Diplomatic representation in the US
chancery: 2319 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 965-4760
FAX: [1] (202) 337-2017
email address and website:
[email protected]
https://www.yemenembassy.org/
Diplomatic representation from the US
mailing address: 6330 Sanaa Place, Washington DC 20521-6330
telephone: US Embassy Riyadh [966] 11-835-4000
FAX: US Embassy Riyadh [966] 11-488-7360
email address and website:
[email protected]
https://ye.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation
AFESD, AMF, CAEU, CD, EITI (temporarily suspended), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAS, MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSMA, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMHA, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNVIM, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence
22 May 1990 (Republic of Yemen established with the merger of the Yemen Arab Republic [Yemen (Sanaa) or North Yemen] and the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen [Yemen (Aden) or South Yemen]); notable earlier dates: 1 November 1918 (North Yemen independent from the Ottoman Empire), 27 September 1962 (North Yemen becomes republic), 30 November 1967 (South Yemen independent from the UK)
National holiday
Unification Day, 22 May (1990)
Flag
meaning: the band colors come from the Arab Liberation flag and represent oppression (black) overcome through bloody struggle (red), to be replaced by a bright future (white)
National symbol(s)
golden eagle
National color(s)
red, white, black
National anthem(s)
lyrics/music: Abdullah Abdulwahab NOA'MAN/Ayyoab Tarish ABSI
history: adopted 1990; the music first served as the anthem for South Yemen before unification with North Yemen in 1990
National heritage
selected World Heritage Site locales: Old Walled City of Shibam (c); Old City of Sana'a (c); Historic Town of Zabid (c); Socotra Archipelago (n); Landmarks of the Ancient Kingdom of Saba, Marib (c)
Economy26
Economic overview
low-income Middle Eastern economy; infrastructure, trade, and economic institutions devastated by civil war; oil/gas-dependent but decreasing reserves; massive poverty, food insecurity, and unemployment; high inflation
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $18.908 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $19.294 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate
Real GDP growth rate 2017: -5.1% (2017 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2016: -9.4% (2016 est.)
Real GDP per capita
Real GDP per capita 2023: $200 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2022: $300 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$8.278 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021: 26% (2021 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020: 19.6% (2020 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
industry: 25.4% (2018 est.)
services: 41.8% (2018 est.)
Agricultural products
mangoes/guavas, potatoes, milk, onions, spices, chicken, sorghum, watermelons, tomatoes, grapes (2023)
Industries
crude oil production and petroleum refining; small-scale production of cotton textiles, leather goods; food processing; handicrafts; aluminum products; cement; commercial ship repair; natural gas production
Industrial production growth rate
-1.1% (2018 est.)
Labor force
7.848 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate
Unemployment rate 2023: 17.1% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2022: 17.4% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
male: 31.8% (2024 est.)
female: 38.4% (2024 est.)
Remittances
Remittances 2022: 16.02% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2021: 19.44% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget
expenditures: $3.585 billion (2019 est.)
Public debt
Current account balance
Current account balance 2015: -$3.026 billion (2015 est.)
Current account balance 2014: -$1.488 billion (2014 est.)
Exports
Exports 2016: $938.469 million (2016 est.)
Exports 2015: $1.867 billion (2015 est.)
Exports - partners
UAE 28%, India 21%, Saudi Arabia 17%, Oman 7%, Malaysia 5% (2023)
Exports - commodities
gold, fish, scrap iron, shellfish, industrial acids/oils/alcohols (2023)
Imports
Imports 2016: $8.256 billion (2016 est.)
Imports 2015: $7.697 billion (2015 est.)
Imports - partners
China 23%, UAE 15%, Saudi Arabia 11%, Turkey 8%, India 7% (2023)
Imports - commodities
wheat, raw sugar, rice, iron bars, plastic products (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021: $1.688 billion (2021 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2020: $969.613 million (2020 est.)
Debt - external
Exchange rates
Currency
Exchange rates 2023
Exchange rates 2022
Exchange rates 2021
Exchange rates 2020
Exchange rates 2019
Energy7
Electricity access
electrification - urban areas: 96.1%
electrification - rural areas: 65%
Electricity
consumption: 2.579 billion kWh (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 486.24 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources
solar: 17% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal
imports: 36,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum
refined petroleum consumption: 58,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves: 3 billion barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas
consumption: 10.286 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
proven reserves: 478.555 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita
Communications6
Telephones - fixed lines
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 51 (2023 est.)
Broadcast media
state-run TV with 2 stations; state-run radio with 2 national radio stations and 5 local stations; stations from Oman and Saudi Arabia can be accessed
Internet country code
.ye
Internet users
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2022 est.)
Transportation5
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
7O
Airports
37 (2025)
Heliports
6 (2025)
Merchant marine
by type: general cargo 2, oil tanker 1, other 27
Ports
total ports
large
medium
small
very small
ports with oil terminals
key ports
Military & Security5
Military and security forces
Ministry of Interior: Security Forces, Emergency Forces, Counterterrorism Units (2025)
Military and security service personnel strengths
not available
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the Yemeni Government forces have an inventory consisting primarily of older foreign-supplied weapons systems, mostly of Russian or Soviet origin (2025)
Military service age and obligation
limited available information; 18 is the legal minimum age for military service under the Yemeni Government (2025)
Military - note
government forces under the Yemeni Ministry of Defense are responsible for both external and internal defense; their priorities are the Houthi separatists (aka Ansarallah), the terrorist groups al-Qa’ida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) and the Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham in Yemen (ISIS-Yemen), and maritime security, particularly against arms smuggling; in 2022, the Yemeni Government and the Houthis signed a truce, halting most fighting and establishing humanitarian measures; the former front lines of conflict, in some areas mirroring Yemen’s pre-unification borders, remain static; AQAP and ISIS-Yemen continue to be active in remote areas (2025)
Transnational Issues2
Refugees and internally displaced persons
IDPs: 4,795,983 (2024 est.)