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| Geography |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Area: | total: 527,968 sq km 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)
Size comparison: slightly larger than twice the size of Wyoming |
| 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: 2.91% permanent crops: 0.25% other: 96.84% (2005) |
| Irrigated land: | 6,800 sq km (2008) |
| Natural hazards: | sandstorms and dust storms in summer volcanism: Yemen experiences limited volcanic activity; Jebel at Tair (Jabal al-Tair, Jebel Teir, Jabal al-Tayr, Jazirat at-Tair) (elev. 244 m), which forms an island in the Red Sea, erupted in 2007 after awakening from dormancy; 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 |
| Current Environment Issues: | limited natural freshwater resources; inadequate supplies of potable water; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification |
| International Environment 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 |
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| People |
| Population: | 24,133,492 (July 2011 est.) |
| Age structure: | 0-14 years: 43% (male 5,285,218/female 5,094,736) 15-64 years: 54.4% (male 6,666,600/female 6,459,414) 65 years and over: 2.6% (male 298,175/female 329,349) (2011 est.) |
| Median age: | total: 18.1 years male: 18 years female: 18.2 years (2011 est.) |
| Population growth rate: | 2.647% (2011 est.) |
| Birth rate: | 33.49 births/1,000 population (2011 est.) |
| Death rate: | 7.02 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.) |
| Net migration rate: | 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.) |
| Sex ratio: | at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.91 male(s)/female total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2011 est.) |
| Infant mortality rate: | total: 55.11 deaths/1,000 live births male: 59.7 deaths/1,000 live births female: 50.29 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.) |
| Life expectancy at birth: | total population: 63.74 years male: 61.7 years female: 65.87 years (2011 est.) |
| Total fertility rate: | 4.63 children born/woman (2011 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | 0.1% (2001 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | 12,000 (2001 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - deaths: | NA |
| Nationality: | noun: Yemeni(s) adjective: Yemeni |
| Ethnic groups: | predominantly Arab; but also Afro-Arab, South Asians, Europeans |
| Religions: | Muslim including Shaf'i (Sunni) and Zaydi (Shia), small numbers of Jewish, Christian, and Hindu |
| Languages: | Arabic (official) |
| Literacy: | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 50.2% male: 70.5% female: 30% (2003 est.) |
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| 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: | 21 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, 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: | 16 May 1991; amended 29 September 1994 and February 2001 |
| Legal system: | mixed legal system of Islamic law, English common law, and customary law |
| Suffrage: | 18 years of age; universal |
| Executive branch: | chief of state: President Ali Abdallah SALIH (since 22 May 1990, the former president of North Yemen, assumed office upon the merger of North and South Yemen); Vice President Maj. Gen. Abd al-Rab Mansur HADI (since 3 October 1994) head of government: Prime Minister Ali Muhammad MUJAWWAR (since 31 March 2007) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister; note - President Ali Abdallah SALIH dismissed the Council of Ministers on 20 March 2011 (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; election last held on 20 September 2006 (next to be held in September 2013); vice president appointed by the president; prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the president election results: Ali Abdallah SALIH elected president; percent of vote - Ali Abdallah SALIH 77.2%, Faysal BIN SHAMLAN 21.8%, other 1% |
| 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 to serve eight-year terms) elections: last held on 27 April 2003 (scheduled April 2009 election postponed for two years) election results: 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: | Supreme Court |
| Political parties and leaders: | General People's Congress or GPC [Abdul-Kader BAJAMMAL]; Islamic Reform Grouping or Islah [Muhammed Abdallah AL-YADUMI]; Nasserite Unionist Party [Abd al-Malik al-MAKHLAFI]; National Arab Socialist Ba'th Party [Dr. Qasim SALAM]; 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; Women National Committee other: conservative tribal groups; Huthis, southern secessionist groups; al-Qa'ida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) |
| International organization participation: | AFESD, AMF, CAEU, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAS, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer) |
| Diplomatic representation in the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador Abd al-Wahab Abdallah al-HAJRI 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 Gerald M. FEIERSTEIN 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 |
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| Economy |
| Yemen is a low income country that is highly dependent on declining oil resources for revenue. Petroleum accounts for roughly 25% of GDP and 70% of government revenue. Yemen has tried to counter the effects of its declining oil resources 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 towards economic and political reform, and in August 2010 the IMF approved a three-year $370 million program to further this effort. Despite these ambitious endeavors, Yemen continues to face difficult long term challenges, including declining water resources and a high population growth rate. |
| GDP (purchasing power parity): | GDP (purchasing power parity): $63.4 billion (2010 est.) $58.69 billion (2009 est.) $56.51 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars |
| GDP (official exchange rate): | GDP (official exchange rate): $31.27 billion (2010 est.) |
| GDP - real growth rate: | 8% (2010 est.) 3.9% (2009 est.) 3.6% (2008 est.) |
| GDP - per capita (PPP): | GDP - per capita (PPP): $2,700 (2010 est.) $2,600 (2009 est.) $2,500 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars |
| GDP - composition by sector: | agriculture: 8.2% industry: 39% services: 52.8% (2010 est.) |
| Labor force: | 6.832 million (2010 est.) |
| 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.) |
| 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) 33.4 (1998) |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices): | Inflation rate (consumer prices): 11.2% (2010 est.) 5.4% (2009 est.) |
| Investment (gross fixed): | Investment (gross fixed): 19.3% of GDP (2010 est.) |
| Budget: | revenues: $6.911 billion expenditures: $8.492 billion (2010 est.) |
| Public debt: | 36.1% of GDP (2010 est.) 35.4% of GDP (2009 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 and leather goods; food processing; handicrafts; small aluminum products factory; cement; commercial ship repair; natural gas production |
| Industrial production growth rate: | 9% (2010 est.) |
| Electricity - production: | 6.153 billion kWh (2008 est.) |
| Electricity - consumption: | 4.646 billion kWh (2008 est.) |
| Electricity - exports: | 0 kWh (2009 est.) |
| Electricity - imports: | 0 kWh (2009 est.) |
| Oil - production: | 258,800 bbl/day (2010 est.) |
| Oil - consumption: | 157,000 bbl/day (2010 est.) |
| Oil - exports: | 207,700 bbl/day (2009 est.) |
| Oil - imports: | 64,610 bbl/day (2009 est.) |
| Oil - proved reserves: | 3 billion bbl (1 January 2011 est.) |
| Natural gas - production: | 520 million cu m (2009 est.) |
| Natural gas - consumption: | 100 million cu m (2009 est.) |
| Natural gas - exports: | 420 million cu m (2009 est.) |
| Natural gas - imports: | 0 cu m (2009 est.) |
| Natural gas - proved reserves: | 478.5 billion cu m (1 January 2011 est.) |
| Current account balance: | -$1.944 billion (2010 est.) -$2.565 billion (2009 est.) |
| Exports: | $7.535 billion (2010 est.) $5.855 billion (2009 est.) |
| Exports - commodities: | crude oil, coffee, dried and salted fish, liquefied natural gas |
| Exports - partners: | China 34.4%, India 23%, Thailand 6.6%, South Africa 5.7%, Japan 5.3%, UAE 4.8% (2010) |
| Imports: | $8.35 billion (2010 est.) $7.868 billion (2009 est.) |
| Imports - commodities: | food and live animals, machinery and equipment, chemicals |
| Imports - partners: | UAE 13.5%, China 12.2%, India 8.9%, Saudi Arabia 6.4%, Kuwait 4.7%, France 4.3%, Brazil 4.1% (2010) |
| Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: | $5.942 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $6.993 billion (31 December 2009 est.) |
| Debt - external: | $6.477 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $6.356 billion (31 December 2009 est.) |
| Stock of direct foreign investment - at home: | $NA |
| Market value of publicly traded shares: | $NA |
| Exchange rates: | Yemeni rials (YER) per US dollar - 220.05 (2010) 202.85 (2009) 199.76 (2008) 199.14 (2007) 197.18 (2006) |
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| Communications |
| Telephones in use: | 997,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 80 |
| Cellular Phones in use: | 8.313 million (2009) |
| 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 |
| Radio broadcast stations: | |
| Television broadcast stations: | |
| Internet country code: | .ye |
| Internet hosts: | 255 (2010) |
| Internet users: | 2.349 million (2009) |
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| Transportation |
| Airports: | 55 (2010) country comparison to the world: 84 |
| Airports (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 (2010) |
| Airports (unpaved runways): | total: 38 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 14 under 914 m: 10 (2010) |
| Pipelines: | gas 423 km; liquid petroleum gas 22 km; oil 1,367 km (2010) |
| Roadways: | total: 71,300 km paved: 6,200 km unpaved: 65,100 km (2005) |
| Merchant marine: | total: 6 by type: cargo 1, chemical tanker 2, petroleum tanker 2, roll on/roll off 1 registered in other countries: 14 (Moldova 1, Panama 4, Saint Kitts and Nevis 1, Sierra Leone 2, unknown 6) (2010) |
| Ports and terminals: | Aden, Al Hudaydah, Al Mukalla |
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| Military |
| A Coast Guard was established in 2002 |
| Military branches: | Army, Navy (includes Marines), Yemen Air Force (Al Quwwat al Jawwiya al Jamahiriya al Yemeniya; includes Air Defense Force), Republican Guard Forces (2011) |
| Military service age and obligation: | voluntary military service program authorized in 2001; 2-year service obligation (2006) |
| 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.) |
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