Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
1 (2022 est.)
Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total
486,000 (2022 est.)
Communications: 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
Communications: Internet country code
.ye
Communications: Internet users: percent of population
17.49% (2019 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
2 (2022 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions
728,000 (2022 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
51 (2023 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions
20 million (2023 est.)
Economy: Agricultural products
mangoes/guavas, potatoes, milk, onions, spices, chicken, sorghum, watermelons, tomatoes, grapes (2023)
Economy: Budget: expenditures
$3.585 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Budget: revenues
$2.207 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2013
-$1.530 billion (2013 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2014
-$1.488 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2015
-$3.026 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2016
-$2.419 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2022
$7.351 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2023
$6.492 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates
1355.116 (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Currency
Yemeni rials (YER) per US dollar -
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2013
214.890 (2013 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2014
214.890 (2014 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2015
230.833 (2015 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2016
283.896 (2016 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2017
282.195 (2017 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2018
214.890 (2018 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2019
486.731 (2019 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2020
743.006 (2020 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2021
1028.108 (2021 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2022
1115.002 (2022 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2023
1355.116 (2023 est.)
Economy: Exports - commodities
gold, fish, scrap iron, shellfish, industrial acids/oils/alcohols (2023)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2011
$9.929 billion (2011 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2014
$9.287 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2015
$1.867 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2016
$938.469 million (2016 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2017
$384.5 million (2017 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2018
$1.892 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture
28.7% (2018 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: industry
25.4% (2018 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: services
41.8% (2018 est.)
Economy: GDP - per capita (PPP)
$3,164 (2013 est.)
Economy: GDP (official exchange rate)
$8.278 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (purchasing power parity) - real
$92.756 billion (2013 est.)
Economy: Imports - commodities
wheat, raw sugar, rice, iron bars, plastic products (2023)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2010
$10.629 billion (2010 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2015
$7.697 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2016
$8.256 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2017
$4.079 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2018
$10.224 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Industrial production growth rate
-1.1% (2018 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020
19.6% (2020 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021
26% (2021 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
29.1% (2022 est.)
Economy: Labor force
7.848 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Population below poverty line
48.60% (2014 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2016
68.1% of GDP (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$19.294 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$18.908 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$18.719 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2015
-27.99% (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2016
-9.38% (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2017
-5.07% (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2018
0.75% (2018 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2022
$300 (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2023
$200 (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2013
$3.342 billion (2013 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2014
$3.350 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2015
$3.350 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2021
19.44% of GDP (2021 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2022
16.02% of GDP (2022 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2023
20.05% of GDP (2023 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2015
$1.443 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2016
$877.4 million (2016 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2017
$920.6 million (2017 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2018
$2.983 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2019
$1.654 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2020
$969.613 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021
$1.688 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
$1.251 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2019
17.21% (2019 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2020
17.96% (2020 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2021
18.31% (2021 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2022
17.22% (2022 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2023
16.94% (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2024
16.97% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): female
38.4% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): male
31.8% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): total
32.4% (2024 est.)
Energy: Coal: consumption
27,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: imports
36,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - rural areas
65%
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - total population
76% (2022 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - urban areas
96.1%
Energy: Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels
83% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: solar
17% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: consumption
2.579 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: installed generating capacity
1.79 million kW (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: transmission/distribution losses
486.24 million kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Energy consumption per capita: Total energy consumption per capita 2023
2.987 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: consumption
10.286 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: production
10.286 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: proven reserves
478.555 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: crude oil estimated reserves
3 billion barrels (2021 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: refined petroleum consumption
58,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: total petroleum production
15,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from coal and metallurgical coke
93,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from consumed natural gas
21,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from petroleum and other liquids
8.08 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions
8.193 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Climate
mostly desert; hot and humid along west coast; temperate in western mountains affected by seasonal monsoon; extraordinarily hot, dry, harsh desert in east
Environment: Environmental issues
limited natural freshwater resources; inadequate supplies of potable water; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification
Environment: International environmental agreements: party to
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
Environment: International environmental agreements: signed, but not ratified
Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban
Environment: Land use: agricultural land
44.4% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 2.2% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0.6% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 41.7% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: forest
1% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: other
54.5% (2023 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: agriculture
192.2 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: energy
190.5 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: other
0.4 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: waste
135.9 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Particulate matter emissions
43.9 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Environment: Total renewable water resources
2.1 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: agricultural
3.235 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: industrial
65 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: municipal
265 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
3.71% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: urban population
36.81% (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually
4.837 million tons (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: percent of municipal solid waste recycled
8% (2016 est.)
Geography: Area - comparative
almost four times the size of Alabama; slightly larger than twice the size of Wyoming
Geography: Area: land
527,968 sq km
Geography: Area: water
0 sq km
Geography: Coastline
1,906 km
Geography: Elevation: highest point
Jabal an Nabi Shu'ayb 3,666 m
Geography: Elevation: lowest point
Arabian Sea 0 m
Geography: Elevation: mean elevation
999 m
Geography: Geographic coordinates
15 00 N, 48 00 E
Geography: 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
Geography: Irrigated land
6,800 sq km (2012)
Geography: Land boundaries: border countries
Oman 294 km; Saudi Arabia 1,307 km
Geography: Land boundaries: total
1,601 km
Geography: Land use: agricultural land
44.4% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 2.2% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0.6% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 41.7% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: forest
1% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: other
54.5% (2023 est.)
Geography: Map references
Middle East
Geography: Maritime claims: contiguous zone
24 nm
Geography: Maritime claims: continental shelf
200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Geography: Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone
200 nm
Geography: Maritime claims: territorial sea
12 nm
Geography: Natural hazards
sandstorms and dust storms in summer 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: 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
Geography: 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
Government: Administrative divisions
22 governorates ( muhafazat , singular - muhafazah ); Abyan, 'Adan (Aden), Ad Dali', Al Bayda', Al Hudaydah, Al Jawf, Al Mahrah, Al Mahwit, Amanat al 'Asimah (Sanaa City), 'Amran, Arkhabil Suqutra (Socotra Archipelago), Dhamar, Hadramawt, Hajjah, Ibb, Lahij, Ma'rib, Raymah, Sa'dah, San'a' (Sanaa), Shabwah, Ta'izz
Government: Capital: etymology
the name is reputed to mean "fortified place" in an ancient language
Government: Capital: geographic coordinates
15 21 N, 44 12 E
Government: Capital: time difference
UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by birth
no
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by descent only
the father must be a citizen of Yemen; if the father is unknown, the mother must be a citizen
Government: Citizenship: dual citizenship recognized
no
Government: Citizenship: residency requirement for naturalization
10 years
Government: Constitution: history
adopted by referendum 16 May 1991 (following unification)
Government: Country name: conventional short form
Yemen
Government: Country name: etymology
the name origin is unclear but may come from the Arabic word al-yamin , meaning "the right," as a reference to its geographic position in relation to Mecca
Government: Country name: former
Yemen Arab Republic [Yemen (Sanaa) or North Yemen] and People's Democratic Republic of Yemen [Yemen (Aden) or South Yemen]
Government: Country name: local long form
Al Jumhuriyah al Yamaniyah
Government: Country name: local short form
Al Yaman
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission
Ambassador Steven H. FAGIN (since 1 June 2022); note - the embassy closed in March 2015; Yemen Affairs Unit currently operates out of US Embassy Riyadh
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: email address and website
YemenEmergencyUSC@state.gov https://ye.usembassy.gov/
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: FAX
US Embassy Riyadh [966] 11-488-7360
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: mailing address
6330 Sanaa Place, Washington DC 20521-6330
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: telephone
US Embassy Riyadh [966] 11-835-4000
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chancery
2319 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission
Ambassador Abdulwahab Abdullah Ahmed AL-HAJRI (since 24 July 2025)
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: email address and website
Information@yemenembassy.org https://www.yemenembassy.org/
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: FAX
[1] (202) 337-2017
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: telephone
[1] (202) 965-4760
Government: Executive branch: cabinet
24 members from northern and southern Yemen, with representatives from Yemen's major political parties
Government: Executive branch: chief of state
Presidential Leadership Council Chairperson Dr. Rashad Muhammad al-ALIMI (since 19 April 2022)
Government: Executive branch: election results
2012: Abd Rabuh Mansur HADI (GPC) elected consensus president
Government: Executive branch: election/appointment process
formerly, the president was directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 7-year term (eligible for a second term); vice president appointed by the president; prime minister appointed by the president
Government: Executive branch: head of government
Prime Minister Salim Salih BIN BURAYK (since 9 May 2025)
Government: Executive branch: most recent election date
21 February 2012
Government: Flag
description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black 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)
Government: International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Government: 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
Government: Judicial branch: highest court(s)
Supreme Court (consists of the court president, 2 deputies, and nearly 50 judges; court organized into constitutional, civil, commercial, family, administrative, criminal, military, and appeals scrutiny divisions)
Government: 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
Government: Judicial branch: subordinate courts
appeal courts; district or first instance courts; commercial courts
Government: Legal system
mixed system of Islamic (sharia) law, Napoleonic law, English common law, and customary law
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: chamber name
House of Representatives (Majlis Annowab)
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: electoral system
plurality/majority
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: most recent election date
4/27/2003
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: number of seats
301 (all directly elected)
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: parties elected and seats per party
General People's Congress (GPC) (238); Yemeni Congregation for Reform (Islah) (46); Other (17)
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: percentage of women in chamber
0%
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: scope of elections
full renewal
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: term in office
6 years
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: chamber name
Shura Council (Majlis Alshoora)
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: most recent election date
4/28/2001
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: number of seats
111 (all appointed)
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: percentage of women in chamber
1.1%
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: scope of elections
full renewal
Government: Legislative branch: legislative structure
bicameral
Government: Legislative branch: legislature name
Parliament (Majlis)
Government: National anthem(s): history
adopted 1990; the music first served as the anthem for South Yemen before unification with North Yemen in 1990
Government: National anthem(s): lyrics/music
Abdullah Abdulwahab NOA'MAN/Ayyoab Tarish ABSI
Government: National color(s)
red, white, black
Government: 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)
Government: National heritage: total World Heritage Sites
5 (4 cultural, 1 natural)
Government: National holiday
Unification Day, 22 May (1990)
Government: National symbol(s)
golden eagle
Government: Political parties
General People’s Congress or GPC (3 factions: pro-Hadi, pro-Houthi, pro-Salih) 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
Government: Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Introduction: 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.
Military and Security: 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)
Military and Security: Military and security forces
Yemeni Armed Forces: Yemeni National Army, Air Force and Air Defense, Navy and Coastal Defense Forces, Border Guard, Strategic Reserve Forces (includes Special Forces and Presidential Protection Brigades, which are under the Ministry of Defense but responsible to the president), Popular Committee Forces (aka Popular Resistance Forces; government-backed tribal militia) Ministry of Interior: Security Forces, Emergency Forces, Counterterrorism Units (2025)
Military and Security: Military and security service personnel strengths
not available
Military and Security: 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 and Security: Military service age and obligation
limited available information; 18 is the legal minimum age for military service under the Yemeni Government (2025)
People and Society: Age structure: 0-14 years
34.4% (male 5,622,998/female 5,430,285)
People and Society: Age structure: 15-64 years
62.2% (male 10,112,603/female 9,865,805)
People and Society: Age structure: 65 years and over
3.4% (2024 est.) (male 485,538/female 623,214)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: beer
0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: other alcohols
0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: spirits
0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: total
0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: wine
0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Birth rate
29.07 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Child marriage: women married by age 15
6.5% (2023)
People and Society: Child marriage: women married by age 18
29.6% (2023)
People and Society: Children under the age of 5 years underweight
40.7% (2022 est.)
People and Society: Current health expenditure
9.70% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Currently married women (ages 15-49)
63.9% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Death rate
6.21 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: elderly dependency ratio
5.4 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: potential support ratio
18.4 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio
70.2 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: youth dependency ratio
64.8 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: rural
rural: 51.8% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: total
total: 61.8% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: urban
urban: 77.2% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: rural
rural: 48.2% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: total
total: 38.2% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: urban
urban: 22.8% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Ethnic groups
predominantly Arab; but also Afro-Arab, South Asian, European
People and Society: Gross reproduction rate
1.78 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
4.3% of GDP (2015)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
2.5% of national budget (2022 est.)
People and Society: HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
0.10% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Hospital bed density
0.5 beds/1,000 population (2023 est.)
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: female
39 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: male
49.9 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: total
33.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
People and Society: Languages: Languages
Arabic (official)
People and Society: 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.
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: female
71.5 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: male
67.4 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: female
54.1% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Major urban areas - population
3.292 million SANAA (capital), 1.080 million Aden, 941,000 Taiz, 772,000 Ibb (2023)
People and Society: Maternal mortality ratio
118 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
People and Society: Median age: female
22.2 years
People and Society: Median age: male
21.9 years
People and Society: Mother's mean age at first birth
20.8 years (2013 est.)
People and Society: Nationality: adjective
Yemeni
People and Society: Net migration rate
-0.65 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Obesity - adult prevalence rate
17.1% (2016)
People and Society: Physician density
0.1 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
People and Society: Population
40,583,164 (2024 est.)
People and Society: 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
People and Society: Population growth rate
2.22% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Population: female
17,229,957
People and Society: Population: male
17,275,539
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: rural
rural: 44.8% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: total
total: 59.9% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: urban
urban: 83.1% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: rural
rural: 55.2% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: total
total: 40.1% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: urban
urban: 16.9% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sex ratio: 0-14 years
1.04 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 15-64 years
1.03 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 65 years and over
0.78 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: at birth
1.05 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: total population
1.02 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: female
7.3% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: male
33.1% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: total
20.2% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Total fertility rate
4.50 children born/woman (2024 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
3.71% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: urban population
36.81% (2024 est.)
Terrorism: Terrorist group(s)
Ansarallah (Houthis); Hizballah; Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)/Qods Force; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) - Yemen; al-Qa'ida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: IDPs
4,795,983 (2024 est.)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees
60,921 (2024 est.)
Transnational Issues: Trafficking in persons: tier rating
Special Case; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/yemen/
Transportation: Airports
37 (2025)
Transportation: Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
7O
Transportation: Heliports
6 (2025)
Transportation: Merchant marine: by type
general cargo 2, oil tanker 1, other 27
Transportation: Merchant marine: total
30 (2023)
Transportation: Ports: key ports
Aden, Al Ahmadi, Al Mukalla, Al Mukha, Ras Isa Marine Terminal
Transportation: Ports: large
1
Transportation: Ports: medium
2
Transportation: Ports: ports with oil terminals
6
Transportation: Ports: small
2
Transportation: Ports: total ports
10 (2024)
Transportation: Ports: very small
5
Warning: Some information might be outdated or incorrect, please check statistics before using(most of the economical stats are correct, its mostly the Population stats that are incorrect). Some dates are listed but some are missed, if you have any issues please report it to the Github at github.com.