Country Guide

Yemen Facts

Geography People and Society Government Economy Communications Transportation Military Transnational Issues

Geography

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:
total:527,968 sq kmcountry comparison to the world: 50
land:527,968 sq km
water:0 sq km
note:includes Perim, Socotra, the former Yemen Arab Republic (YAR or North Yemen), and the former People's Democratic Republic of Yemen (PDRY or South Yemen)


Area - comparative:
Area comparison map: '>


Land boundaries:
total:1,746 km
border countries:Oman 288 km, Saudi Arabia 1,458 km


Coastline:
1,906 km


Maritime claims:
territorial sea:12 nm
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 extremes:
lowest point:Arabian Sea 0 m
highest point:Jabal an Nabi Shu'ayb 3,760 m


Natural resources:
petroleum, fish, rock salt, marble; small deposits of coal, gold, lead, nickel, and copper; fertile soil in west


Land use:
arable land:2.2%
permanent crops:0.55%
other:97.25% (2011)


Irrigated land:
6,801 sq km (2004)


Total renewable water resources:
2.1 cu km (2011)


Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
2.1 cu km (2011)

Natural hazards:
sandstorms and dust storms in summer


Environment - current issues:
limited natural freshwater resources; inadequate supplies of potable water; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification


Environment - international agreements:
party to:Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified:none of the selected agreements


Geography - note:
strategic location on Bab el Mandeb, the strait linking the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, one of world's most active shipping lanes

People and Society

Nationality:
noun: Yemeni(s)
adjective:Yemeni


Ethnic groups:
predominantly Arab; but also Afro-Arab, South Asians, Europeans


Languages:
Arabic (official)


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) (2010 est.)


Population:
26,052,966 (July 2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 48


Age structure:
0-14 years:41.7% (male 5,523,744/female 5,336,795)
15-24 years:21.1% (male 2,789,510/female 2,709,263)
25-54 years:30.9% (male 4,106,917/female 3,933,852)
55-64 years:3.7% (male 450,185/female 515,255)
65 years and over:2.6% (male 320,426/female 367,019) (2014 est.)


Dependency ratios:
total dependency ratio:74.1 %
youth dependency ratio:69 %
elderly dependency ratio:5.1 %
potential support ratio:19.7 (2014 est.)


Median age:
total:18.6 years
male:18.5 years
female:18.7 years (2014 est.)


Population growth rate:
2.72% (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 20


Birth rate:
31.02 births/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 39


Death rate:
6.45 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 153


Net migration rate:
2.61 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 37


Urbanization:
urban population:32.3% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization:4.78% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)


Major urban areas - population:
SANAA (capital) 2.419 million; Aden 784,000 (2011)


Sex ratio:
at birth:1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years:1.04 male(s)/female
15-24 years:1.03 male(s)/female
25-54 years:1.04 male(s)/female
55-64 years:1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.9 male(s)/female
total population:1.03 male(s)/female (2014 est.)


Maternal mortality rate:
200 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)


Infant mortality rate:
total:50.41 deaths/1,000 live birthscountry comparison to the world: 38
male:54.71 deaths/1,000 live births
female:45.88 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)


    Life expectancy at birth:
total population:64.83 yearscountry comparison to the world: 175
male:62.72 years
female:67.04 years (2014 est.)


Total fertility rate:
4.09 children born/woman (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 36


Contraceptive prevalence rate:
27.7% (2006)


Health expenditures:
5.5% of GDP (2011)


Physicians density:
0.2 physicians/1,000 population (2010)


Hospital bed density:
0.7 beds/1,000 population (2010)


Drinking water source:
improved:
urban: 72% of population
rural: 46.5% of population
total: 54.9% of population
unimproved:
urban: 28% of population
rural: 53.5% of population
total: 45.1% of population (2012 est.)


Sanitation facility access:
improved:
urban: 92.5% of population
rural: 34.1% of population
total: 53.3% of population
unimproved:
urban: 7.5% of population
rural: 65.9% of population
total: 46.7% of population (2012 est.)


HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 151


HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
18,800 (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 82


HIV/AIDS - deaths:
800 (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 82


Major infectious diseases:


Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
14.5% (2008)country comparison to the world: 121


Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
43.1% (2003)country comparison to the world: 3


Education expenditures:
5.2% of GDP (2008)country comparison to the world: 67

Literacy:
definition:age 15 and over can read and write
total population:65.3%
male:82.1%
female:48.5% (2011 est.)


School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total:9 years
male:11 years
female:8 years (2011)


Child labor - children ages 5-14:



Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
total:33.7%country comparison to the world: 22
male:26%
female:74% (2010)

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Yemen
conventional short form:Yemen
local long form:Al Jumhuriyah al Yamaniyah
local short form:Al Yaman
former:Yemen Arab Republic [Yemen (Sanaa) or North Yemen] and People's Democratic Republic of Yemen [Yemen (Aden) or South Yemen]


Government type:
republic


Capital:
name:Sanaa
geographic coordinates:15 21 N, 44 12 E
time difference:UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)


Administrative divisions:
20 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah) and 1 municipality*; Abyan, 'Adan (Aden), Ad Dali', Al Bayda', Al Hudaydah, Al Jawf, Al Mahrah, Al Mahwit, Amanat al 'Asimah (Sanaa City)*, 'Amran, Dhamar, Hadramawt, Hajjah, Ibb, Lahij, Ma'rib, Raymah, Sa'dah, San'a' (Sanaa), Shabwah, Ta'izz


Independence:
22 May 1990 (Republic of Yemen was established with the merger of the Yemen Arab Republic [Yemen (Sanaa) or North Yemen] and the Marxist-dominated People's Democratic Republic of Yemen [Yemen (Aden) or South Yemen]); note - previously North Yemen became independent in November 1918 (from the Ottoman Empire) and became a republic with the overthrow of the theocratic Imamate in 1962; South Yemen became independent on 30 November 1967 (from the UK)


National holiday:
Unification Day, 22 May (1990)


Constitution:
adopted by referendum 16 May 1991 (following unification); amended several times, last in 2009; note - in early 2013, the Yemeni Government launched a National Dialogue to seek reforms and recommendations for a new constitution (2013)


Legal system:
mixed legal system of Islamic law, Napoleonic law, English common law, and customary law


International law organization participation:
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt


Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal


Executive branch:
chief of state:President Abd Rabuh Mansur HADI (Field Marshal) (since 25 February 2012)
head of government:Prime Minister Muhammad Salim BA SINDWAH (since 27 November 2011); Deputy Prime Ministers Abdallah Muhsin al-AKWA and Ahmad Ubayd BIN DAGHIR
cabinet:on 27 November 2011, Vice President HADI requested Interim Prime Minister Muhammad Salim BA SINDWAH to form a new government following the resignation of President SALIH on 24 November 2011
elections:president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term based on constitution; however a special election was held on 21 February 2012 to remove Ali Abdallah SALIH based on a GCC-mediated deal during the political crisis of 2011 (next election expected in 2014); vice president appointed by the president but position is vacant; prime minister appointed by the president
election results:Abd Rabuh Mansur HADI elected as a consensus president with about 50% popular participation; no other candidates


Legislative branch:
bicameral legislature consisting of a Shura Council (111 seats; members appointed by the president) and House of Representatives (301 seats; members elected by popular vote in single-member constituencies to serve six-year terms)
elections:last held on 27 April 2003 (scheduled April 2009 election postponed)
election results:House of Representatives percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - GPC 238, Islah 47, YSP 6, Nasserite Unionist Party 3, National Arab Socialist Ba'th Party 2, independents 5


    Judicial branch:
highest court(s):Supreme Court (consists of the president of the Court, 2 deputies, and nearly 50 judges; court organized into constitutional, civil, commercial, family, administrative, criminal, military, and appeals scrutiny divisions)
judge selection and term of office:judges appointed by the Supreme Judicial Council, chaired by the president of the republic and consisting of 10 high-ranking judicial officers; judges appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 65
subordinate courts:appeal courts; district or first instance courts; commercial courts


Political parties and leaders:
General People's Congress or GPC [Ali Abdallah SALIH, Abd Rabuh Mansur HADI]
Islamic Reform Grouping or Islah [Muhammed Abdallah al-YADUMI, Abdul Wahab al-ANSI]
Nasserite Unionist Party [Sultan al-ATWANI]
Yemeni Socialist Party or YSP [Yasin Said NU'MAN]
note:there are at least seven more active political parties


Political pressure groups and leaders:
Muslim Brotherhood


International organization participation:
AFESD, AMF, CAEU, CD, EITI (compliant country), 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, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)


Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission:Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Adel Ali Ahmed AL-SUNAINI
chancery:2319 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:[1] (202) 965-4760
FAX:[1] (202) 337-2017


Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission:Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Karen H. SASAHARA (since July 2013)
embassy:Sa'awan Street, Sanaa
mailing address:P. O. Box 22347, Sanaa
telephone:[967] (1) 755-2000 ext. 2153 or 2266
FAX:[967] (1) 303-182


Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black; the band colors derive 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 anthem:
name:'al-qumhuriyatu l-muttahida' (United Republic)

lyrics/music:Abdullah Abdulwahab NOA'MAN/Ayyoab Tarish ABSI
note:adopted 1990; the music first served as the anthem for South Yemen before unification with North Yemen in 1990

Economy

Economy - overview:
Yemen is a low income country that is highly dependent on declining oil resources for revenue. Petroleum accounts for roughly 25% of GDP and 63% of government revenue. Yemen has tried to counter the effects of its declining oil resources and continuing attacks on its oil pipelines by diversifying its economy through an economic reform program initiated in 2006 that is designed to bolster non-oil sectors of the economy and foreign investment. In October 2009, Yemen exported its first liquefied natural gas as part of this diversification effort. In January 2010, the international community established the Friends of Yemen group that aims to support Yemen's efforts toward economic and political reform. In 2012, the Friends of Yemen pledged nearly $7 billion in assistance to Yemen. The Yemeni Government also endorsed a Mutual Accountability Framework to facilitate the efficient implementation of donor aid. The unrest that began in early 2011 caused GDP to plunge almost 11% in 2011. Availability of basic services, including electricity, water, and fuel, has improved since the transition, but progress toward achieving more sustainable economic stability has been slow and uneven. Yemen continues to face difficult long-term challenges, including declining water resources, high unemployment, severe food scarcity, and a high population growth rate.


GDP (purchasing power parity):
$61.63 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89
$58.45 billion (2012 est.)
$57.36 billion (2011 est.)
note:data are in 2013 US dollars


GDP (official exchange rate):
$43.89 billion (2013 est.)


GDP - real growth rate:
3.8% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
0.1% (2012 est.)
-10.5% (2011 est.)


GDP - per capita (PPP):
$2,500 (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187
$2,500 (2012 est.)
$2,500 (2011 est.)
note:data are in 2013 US dollars


Gross national saving:
4.2% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
9.6% of GDP (2012 est.)
6.3% of GDP (2011 est.)


GDP - composition, by end use:
household consumption:80.3%
government consumption:12.5%
investment in fixed capital:18.4%
investment in inventories:-4%
exports of goods and services:17.8%
imports of goods and services:-24.9%
(2013 est.)


GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture:7.7%
industry:30.9%
services:61.4% (2013 est.)


Agriculture - products:
grain, fruits, vegetables, pulses, qat, coffee, cotton; dairy products, livestock (sheep, goats, cattle, camels), poultry; fish


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:
4.8% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60

Labor force:
7.1 million (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63


Labor force - by occupation:
note:most people are employed in agriculture and herding; services, construction, industry, and commerce account for less than one-fourth of the labor force


Unemployment rate:
35% (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 188

Population below poverty line:
45.2% (2003)


    Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%:2.9%
highest 10%:30.8% (2005)


Distribution of family income - Gini index:
37.7 (2005)
country comparison to the world: 74
33.4 (1998)


Budget:
revenues:$7.769 billion
expenditures:$12.31 billion (2013 est.)


Taxes and other revenues:
17.7% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
-10.3% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 206


Public debt:
47.1% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
45.4% of GDP (2012 est.)


Fiscal year:
calendar year


Inflation rate (consumer prices):
11.8% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 213
9.9% (2012 est.)


Central bank discount rate:
NA%


Commercial bank prime lending rate:
22% (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
23% (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of narrow money:
$5.753 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96
$5.142 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of broad money:
$14.2 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93
$12.35 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of domestic credit:
$11.2 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93
$9.576 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA


Current account balance:
-$3.312 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161
-$985 million (2012 est.)


Exports:
$6.694 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105
$7.57 billion (2012 est.)


Exports - commodities:
crude oil, coffee, dried and salted fish, liquefied natural gas


Exports - partners:
China 41%, Thailand 19.2%, India 11.4%, South Korea 4.4% (2013 est.)


Imports:
$10.97 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96
$12.49 billion (2012 est.)


Imports - commodities:
food and live animals, machinery and equipment, chemicals


Imports - partners:
EU 48.8%, UAE 9.8%, Switzerland 8.8%, China 7.4%, India 5.8% (2013 est.)


Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$5.538 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
$6.158 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Debt - external:
$7.806 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106
$7.419 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$NA


Exchange rates:
Yemeni rials (YER) per US dollar -
214.9 (2013 est.)
214.35 (2012 est.)
219.59 (2010 est.)
202.85 (2009)
199.76 (2008)

Energy

Electricity - production:
7.292 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106


Electricity - consumption:
5.515 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111


Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 216


Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 217


Electricity - installed generating capacity:
1.53 million kW (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114


Electricity - from fossil fuels:
100% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 2


Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 208


Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 210


Electricity - from other renewable sources:
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143


Crude oil - production:
156,500 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44


Crude oil - exports:
175,200 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31


Crude oil - imports:
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145


    Crude oil - proved reserves:
3 billion bbl (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31


Refined petroleum products - production:
86,330 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76


Refined petroleum products - consumption:
177,000 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62


Refined petroleum products - exports:
14,330 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78


Refined petroleum products - imports:
59,050 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62


Natural gas - production:
9.62 billion cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42


Natural gas - consumption:
869.9 million cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90


Natural gas - exports:
8.75 billion cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28


Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82


Natural gas - proved reserves:
478.5 billion cu m (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33


Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
23.75 million Mt (2011 est.)

Communications

Telephones - main lines in use:
1.1 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 72


Telephones - mobile cellular:
13.9 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 60


Telephone system:
general assessment:since unification in 1990, efforts have been made to create a national telecommunications network
domestic:the national network consists of microwave radio relay, cable, tropospheric scatter, GSM and CDMA mobile-cellular telephone systems; fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity remains low by regional standards
international:country code - 967; landing point for the international submarine cable Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG); satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (2 Indian Ocean and 1 Atlantic Ocean), 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region), and 2 Arabsat; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia and Djibouti (2006)



    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 (2007)


Internet country code:
.ye


Internet hosts:
33,206 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 105


Internet users:
2.349 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 71

Transportation

Airports
57 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 83


Airports - with paved runways
total:17
over 3,047 m:4
2,438 to 3,047 m:9
1,524 to 2,437 m:3
914 to 1,523 m:1 (2013)


Airports - with unpaved runways
total:40
over 3,047 m:3
2,438 to 3,047 m:5
1,524 to 2,437 m:7
914 to 1,523 m:16
under 914 m:
9 (2013)


Pipelines
gas 641 km; liquid petroleum gas 22 km; oil 1,370 km (2013)


    Roadways
total:71,300 kmcountry comparison to the world: 66
paved:6,200 km
unpaved:65,100 km (2005)


Merchant marine
total:5country comparison to the world: 126
by type:chemical tanker 2, petroleum tanker 2, roll on/roll off 1
registered in other countries:14 (Moldova 4, Panama 4, Sierra Leone 2, Togo 1, unknown 3) (2010)



Ports and terminals
major seaport(s):Aden, Al Hudaydah, Al Mukalla

Transportation - note
the International Maritime Bureau reports offshore waters in the Gulf of Aden are high risk for piracy; numerous vessels, including commercial shipping and pleasure craft, have been attacked and hijacked both at anchor and while underway; crew, passengers, and cargo are held for ransom; the presence of several naval task forces in the Gulf of Aden and additional anti-piracy measures on the part of ship operators reduced the incidence of piracy in that body of water by more than half in 2010

Military

Military branches
Land Forces; Naval and Coastal Defense Forces (includes Marines); Air and Air Defense Force (al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Yemeniya); Border Guards; Strategic Reserve Forces (2013)


Military service age and obligation
18 is the legal minimum age for voluntary military service; no conscription; 2-year service obligation (2012)


Manpower available for military service
males age 16-49:5,652,256
females age 16-49:5,387,160 (2010 est.)


Manpower fit for military service
males age 16-49:4,056,944
females age 16-49:4,116,895 (2010 est.)


    Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually
male:287,141
female:277,612 (2010 est.)


Military expenditures
4.02% of GDP (2012)
country comparison to the world: 11
3.48% of GDP (2011)
4.02% of GDP (2010)


Military - note
a Coast Guard was established in 2002

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international
Saudi Arabia has reinforced its concrete-filled security barrier along sections of the fully demarcated border with Yemen to stem illegal cross-border activities


Refugees and internally displaced persons
refugees (country of origin):5,740 (Ethiopia) (2013); 233,723 (Somalia) (2014)
IDPs:309,823 (conflict in Sa'ada governorate; clashes between AQAP and government forces) (2014)



    Trafficking in persons

Information/ Data by CIA - The World Factbook