Yemen

In TransitionPop34.5MGDP (PPP)$18.7BCI10Beta CP−3.4↓Beta

Yemen

⌘K

Overview

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.

Geography

Area

Land: 527,968 sq km
Note: 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)
Water: 0 sq km
Total: 527,968 sq km

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

Land Use

Other: 54.5% (2023 est.)
Forest: 1% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: 44.4% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 2.2% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.6% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 41.7% (2023 est.)

Location: Middle East, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden, and Red Sea, between Oman and Saudi Arabia
Coastline: 1,906 km

Elevation

Lowest point: Arabian Sea 0 m
Highest point: Jabal an Nabi Shu'ayb 3,666 m
Mean elevation: 999 m

Irrigated land: 6,800 sq km (2012)
Map references: Middle East

Land Boundaries

Total: 1,601 km
Border countries: Oman 294 km; Saudi Arabia 1,307 km

Maritime Claims

Contiguous zone: 24 nm
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

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 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
Natural resources: petroleum, fish, rock salt, marble; small deposits of coal, gold, lead, nickel, and copper; fertile soil in west
Area comparative: almost four times the size of Alabama; slightly larger than twice the size of Wyoming
Geographic coordinates: 15 00 N, 48 00 E
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 & Society

Literacy

Female: 54.1% (2023 est.)

Languages

Note: note: a distinct Socotri language is widely used on Socotra Island and Archipelago; Mahri is still fairly widely spoken in eastern Yemen
Languages: Arabic (official)
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.)

Sex Ratio

At birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0 14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15 64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
Total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female

Birth rate: 29.07 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 6.21 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Median Age

Male: 21.9 years
Total: 20.5 years (2025 est.)
Female: 22.2 years

Population

Male: 17,275,539
Total: 34,505,496 (2025 est.)
Female: 17,229,957

Nationality

Noun: Yemeni(s)
Adjective: Yemeni

Tobacco Use

Male: 33.1% (2025 est.)
Total: 20.2% (2025 est.)
Female: 7.3% (2025 est.)

Urbanization

Urban population: 39.8% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 3.71% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

Age Structure

0 14 years: 34.4% (male 5,622,998/female 5,430,285)
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)

Ethnic groups: predominantly Arab; but also Afro-Arab, South Asian, European

Child Marriage

Women married BY age 15: 6.5% (2023)
Women married BY age 18: 29.6% (2023)

Dependency Ratios

Total dependency ratio: 70.2 (2025 est.)
Youth dependency ratio: 64.8 (2025 est.)
Potential support ratio: 18.4 (2025 est.)
Elderly dependency ratio: 5.4 (2025 est.)

Physician density: 0.1 physicians/1,000 population (2023)

Health Expenditure

Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 4.3% of GDP (2015)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 2.5% of national budget (2022 est.)

Net migration rate: -0.65 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.65 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Drinking Water Source

Improved: rural: rural: 51.8% of population (2022 est.)
Improved: total: total: 61.8% of population (2022 est.)
Improved: urban: urban: 77.2% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: rural: rural: 48.2% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: total: total: 38.2% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: urban: urban: 22.8% of population (2022 est.)

Infant Mortality Rate

Male: 49.9 deaths/1,000 live births
Total: 42.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Female: 39 deaths/1,000 live births

Population growth rate: 2.22% (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 1.78 (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

Life Expectancy at Birth

Male: 65.8 years
Female: 70.6 years
Total population: 68.2 years (2024 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio: 118 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Sanitation Facility Access

Improved: rural: rural: 44.8% of population (2022 est.)
Improved: total: total: 59.9% of population (2022 est.)
Improved: urban: urban: 83.1% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: rural: rural: 55.2% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: total: total: 40.1% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: urban: urban: 16.9% of population (2022 est.)

Alcohol Consumption Per Capita

Beer: 0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Wine: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Total: 0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Spirits: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Major urban areas population: 3.292 million SANAA (capital), 1.080 million Aden, 941,000 Taiz, 772,000 Ibb (2023)
Obesity adult prevalence rate: 17.1% (2016)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 20.8 years (2013 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15 49): 63.9% (2023 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 40.7% (2022 est.)

Government

Civica · structure

How power is organised

ExecutiveLegislative

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)

Capital

Name: Sanaa
Etymology: the name is reputed to mean "fortified place" in an ancient language
Time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Geographic coordinates: 15 21 N, 44 12 E

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Citizenship

Citizenship BY birth: no
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

Constitution

History: adopted by referendum 16 May 1991 (following unification)

Country Name

Former: Yemen Arab Republic [Yemen (Sanaa) or North Yemen] and People's Democratic Republic of Yemen [Yemen (Aden) or South Yemen]
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
Local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Yamaniyah
Local short form: Al Yaman
Conventional long form: Republic of Yemen
Conventional short form: Yemen

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)
Legal system: mixed system of Islamic (sharia) law, Napoleonic law, English common law, and customary law
Government type: in transition

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)
Subordinate courts: appeal courts; district or first instance courts; commercial courts
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

Executive Branch

Note: note: on 7 April 2022, President Abd Rabuh Mansur HADI announced his abdication, the dismissal of Vice President ALI MUHSIN al-Ahmar and the formation of a Presidential Leadership Council, an eight-member body chaired by former minister Rashad AL-ALIMI; on 19 April 2022, the Council was sworn in before Parliament and began assuming the responsibilities of the president and vice president and carrying out the political, security, and military duties of the government; in May 2025, Chairperson al-ALIMI made changes to his cabinet
Cabinet: 24 members from northern and southern Yemen, with representatives from Yemen's major political parties
Chief of state: Presidential Leadership Council Chairperson Dr. Rashad Muhammad al-ALIMI (since 19 April 2022)
Election results: 2012: Abd Rabuh Mansur HADI (GPC) elected consensus president
Head of government: Prime Minister Salim Salih BIN BURAYK (since 9 May 2025)
Most recent election date: 21 February 2012
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

National holiday: Unification Day, 22 May (1990)
National color(s): red, white, black

National Heritage

Total world heritage sites: 5 (4 cultural, 1 natural)
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)

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

Legislative Branch

Note: note: the last legislative election occurred in 2003, and the six-year term for the House of Representatives expired in 2009. Ongoing instability, beginning in 2011, has since prevented new elections. A new Shura Council was appointed in 2021 and is currently chaired by Dr. Ahmed Obaid bin Dagher (as of Jan 2025).
Legislature name: Parliament (Majlis)
Legislative structure: bicameral

National Anthem(s)

Title: "Al-qumhuriyatu l-muttahida" (United Republic)
History: adopted 1990; the music first served as the anthem for South Yemen before unification with North Yemen in 1990
Lyrics/music: Abdullah Abdulwahab NOA'MAN/Ayyoab Tarish ABSI

National symbol(s): golden eagle
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

Legislative Branch Lower Chamber

Chamber name: House of Representatives (Majlis Annowab)
Term in office: 6 years
Number of seats: 301 (all directly elected)
Electoral system: plurality/majority
Scope of elections: full renewal
Most recent election date: 4/27/2003
Percentage of women in chamber: 0%
Parties elected and seats per party: General People's Congress (GPC) (238); Yemeni Congregation for Reform (Islah) (46); Other (17)

Legislative Branch Upper Chamber

Note: note: the Shura Council serves in an advisory role to the president; it has no legislative responsibilities
Chamber name: Shura Council (Majlis Alshoora)
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%

Diplomatic Representation in the US

Fax: [1] (202) 337-2017
Chancery: 2319 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Telephone: [1] (202) 965-4760
Chief of mission: Ambassador Abdulwahab Abdullah Ahmed AL-HAJRI (since 24 July 2025)
Email address and website: Information@yemenembassy.org

https://www.yemenembassy.org/

Diplomatic Representation from the US

Fax: US Embassy Riyadh [966] 11-488-7360
Telephone: US Embassy Riyadh [966] 11-835-4000
Mailing address: 6330 Sanaa Place, Washington DC  20521-6330
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
Email address and website: YemenEmergencyUSC@state.gov

https://ye.usembassy.gov/

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

Legislature

YEMEN · LOWER HOUSE

House of Representatives

301 seats · hover a seat for the party

Total seats

301

Majority line

152

Largest party

General People's Congress

Parties

All political parties5 parties · 301 seats · click to dim in hemicycle

Upper house

YEMEN · UPPER HOUSE

Shura Council

111 seats · hover a seat for the party

Total seats

111

Majority line

Largest party

General People's Congress

Parties

All political parties5 parties · 111 seats · click to dim in hemicycle

Leaders

Current

RA
Rashad al-Alimi
- Head of StateSince 2022
SB
Salem Saleh bin Braik
- Head of GovernmentSince 2025

Economy

Budget

Revenues: $2.207 billion (2019 est.)
Expenditures: $3.585 billion (2019 est.)

Exports

Civica canonical (reconciled): $1.9B

Note: note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Exports 2015: $1.867 billion (2015 est.)
Exports 2016: $938.469 million (2016 est.)
Exports 2017: $384.5 million (2017 est.)

Imports

Civica canonical (reconciled): $10.2B

Note: note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Imports 2015: $7.697 billion (2015 est.)
Imports 2016: $8.256 billion (2016 est.)
Imports 2017: $4.079 billion (2017 est.)

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
Labor force: 7.848 million (2024 est.)

Public Debt

Civica canonical (reconciled): 68.1% of GDP (2016 est.)

Public debt 2016: 68.1% of GDP (2016 est.)

Remittances

Note: note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Remittances 2021: 19.44% of GDP (2021 est.)
Remittances 2022: 16.02% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2023: 20.05% of GDP (2023 est.)

Exchange Rates

Currency: Yemeni rials (YER) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2019: 486.731 (2019 est.)
Exchange rates 2020: 743.006 (2020 est.)
Exchange rates 2021: 1,028.108 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2022: 1,115.002 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2023: 1,355.116 (2023 est.)

Debt External

Note: note: present value of external debt in current US dollars
Debt external 2023: $6.492 billion (2023 est.)

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

Unemployment Rate

Civica canonical (reconciled): 17.3%

Note: note: % of labor force seeking employment
Unemployment rate 2022: 17.4% (2022 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023: 17.1% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2024: 17.1% (2024 est.)

Exports partners: UAE 28%, India 21%, Saudi Arabia 17%, Oman 7%, Malaysia 5% (2023)
Imports partners: China 23%, UAE 15%, Saudi Arabia 11%, Turkey 8%, India 7% (2023)

Real GDP Per Capita

Civica canonical (reconciled): $200 (2024 est.)

Note: note: data in 2015 dollars
Real GDP per capita 2022: $300 (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023: $200 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2024: $200 (2024 est.)

Real GDP Growth Rate

Civica canonical (reconciled): 0.8%

Note: note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
Real GDP growth rate 2016: -9.4% (2016 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2017: -5.1% (2017 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2018: 0.8% (2018 est.)

Agricultural products: mangoes/guavas, potatoes, milk, onions, spices, chicken, sorghum, watermelons, tomatoes, grapes (2023)
Exports commodities: gold, fish, scrap iron, shellfish, industrial acids/oils/alcohols (2023)
Imports commodities: wheat, raw sugar, rice, iron bars, plastic products (2023)

Current Account Balance

Civica canonical (reconciled): -$2.4B

Note: note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
Current account balance 2014: -$1.488 billion (2014 est.)
Current account balance 2015: -$3.026 billion (2015 est.)
Current account balance 2016: -$2.419 billion (2016 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate): $8.278 billion (2024 est.)

Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)

Civica canonical (reconciled): 29.1% (2022 est.)

Note: note: annual % change based on consumer prices
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020: 19.6% (2020 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021: 26% (2021 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 29.1% (2022 est.)

Industrial production growth rate: -1.1% (2018 est.)

Real GDP (Purchasing Power Parity)

Civica canonical (reconciled): $18.719 billion (2024 est.)

Note: note: data in 2015 dollars
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $19.294 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $18.908 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $18.719 billion (2024 est.)

Youth Unemployment Rate (Ages 15 24)

Male: 31.8% (2024 est.)
Note: note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
Total: 32.4% (2024 est.)
Female: 38.4% (2024 est.)

Reserves of Foreign Exchange and Gold

Note: note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2020: $969.613 million (2020 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021: $1.688 billion (2021 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $1.251 billion (2022 est.)

GDP Composition, BY Sector of Origin

Note: note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
Industry: 25.4% (2018 est.)
Services: 41.8% (2018 est.)
Agriculture: 28.7% (2018 est.)

Energy

Coal

Imports: 36,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Consumption: 27,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum

Total petroleum production: 15,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Crude oil estimated reserves: 3 billion barrels (2021 est.)
Refined petroleum consumption: 58,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Electricity

Consumption: 2.579 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Installed generating capacity: 1.79 million kW (2023 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 486.24 million kWh (2023 est.)

Natural Gas

Production: 10.286 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Consumption: 10.286 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Proven reserves: 478.555 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Electricity Access

Electrification rural areas: 65%
Electrification urban areas: 96.1%
Electrification total population: 76% (2022 est.)

Energy Consumption Per Capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 2.987 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Electricity Generation Sources

Solar: 17% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Fossil fuels: 83% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Communications

Internet Users

Percent of population: 14% (2020 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

Telephones Fixed Lines

Total subscriptions: 728,000 (2022 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (2022 est.)

Telephones Mobile Cellular

Total subscriptions: 20 million (2023 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 51 (2023 est.)

Broadband Fixed Subscriptions

Total: 486,000 (2022 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2022 est.)

Transport

Ports

Large: 1
Small: 2
Medium: 2
Key ports: Aden, Al Ahmadi, Al Mukalla, Al Mukha, Ras Isa Marine Terminal
Very small: 5
Total ports: 10 (2024)
Ports with oil terminals: 6

Airports: 37 (2025)
Heliports: 6 (2025)

Merchant Marine

Total: 30 (2023)
BY type: general cargo 2, oil tanker 1, other 27

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 7O

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

Land Use

Other: 54.5% (2023 est.)
Forest: 1% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: 44.4% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 2.2% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.6% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 41.7% (2023 est.)

Urbanization

Urban population: 39.8% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 3.71% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

Methane Emissions

Other: 0.4 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste: 135.9 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Energy: 190.5 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Agriculture: 192.2 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Waste and Recycling

Municipal solid waste generated annually: 4.837 million tons (2024 est.)
Percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 8% (2016 est.)

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

Total Water Withdrawal

Municipal: 265 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Industrial: 65 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Agricultural: 3.235 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Carbon Dioxide Emissions

Total emissions: 8.193 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
From consumed natural gas: 21,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 93,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 8.08 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Particulate matter emissions: 43.9 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 2.1 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

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
Signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban

Military & 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 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 service age and obligation: limited available information; 18 is the legal minimum age for military service under the Yemeni Government (2025)
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 service personnel strengths: not available

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

Trafficking in Persons

Tier rating: Special Case; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/yemen/

Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons

Idps: 4,795,983 (2024 est.)
Refugees: 60,921 (2024 est.)

Scores & Rankings

ScoreValueGlobal rankTrendAs of

Civica Index10.0 / 100as of 2024-Q4184 / 1902024-Q4

Civica Pulse−3.4as of 2026-05-06—2026-05-06

V-Dem Liberal Democracy0.05as of 2024-Q4160 / 1702024-Q4

Freedom House StatusNot Free (8/100)as of 2024-Q4—2024-Q4

Press Freedom (RSF)Restricted press (22/100)as of 2024—2024

Corruption Perceptions Index16 / 100as of 2023176 / 1802023

Cite this page

Cite this pageAPA · BibTeX · Chicago · JSON

Civica. (2026). Civica Atlas — Yemen — vintage 2026-Q1: Yemen factbook. Civica Atlas. Retrieved May 7, 2026, from https://civicaatlas.org/factbook/yemen

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Sources: FAO FAOSTAT, ILO ILOSTAT, IMF (WEO), UN Statistics Division, UNDP HDR, UNESCO Institute for Statistics, V-Dem, WHO Global Health Observatory, World Bank, WTO Stats, CIA World Factbook, Wikidata

Yemen

Area

Land Use

Elevation

Land Boundaries

Maritime Claims

Literacy

Languages

Sex Ratio

Median Age

Population

Nationality

Tobacco Use

Urbanization

Age Structure

Child Marriage

Dependency Ratios

Health Expenditure

Drinking Water Source

Infant Mortality Rate

Life Expectancy at Birth

Sanitation Facility Access

Alcohol Consumption Per Capita

How power is organised

Capital

Citizenship

Constitution

Country Name

Judicial Branch

Executive Branch

National Heritage

Legislative Branch

National Anthem(s)

Legislative Branch Lower Chamber

Legislative Branch Upper Chamber

Diplomatic Representation in the US

Diplomatic Representation from the US

House of Representatives

Shura Council

Current

Rashad al-Alimi

Salem Saleh bin Braik

Budget

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Public Debt

Remittances

Exchange Rates

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Unemployment Rate

Real GDP Per Capita

Real GDP Growth Rate

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Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)

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Youth Unemployment Rate (Ages 15 24)

Reserves of Foreign Exchange and Gold

GDP Composition, BY Sector of Origin

Coal

Petroleum

Electricity

Natural Gas

Electricity Access

Energy Consumption Per Capita

Electricity Generation Sources

Internet Users

Telephones Fixed Lines

Telephones Mobile Cellular

Broadband Fixed Subscriptions

Ports

Merchant Marine

Land Use

Urbanization

Methane Emissions

Waste and Recycling

Total Water Withdrawal

Carbon Dioxide Emissions

International Environmental Agreements

Trafficking in Persons

Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons