Yemen

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 massive exodus of hundreds of thousands of Yemenis from the south to the north contributed to two decades of hostility between the states. The two countries 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 Huthis, a Zaydi Shia Muslim minority, continued intermittently from 2004 to 2010, and then again from 2014-present. The southern secessionist movement was revitalized in 2007.Public rallies in Sana'a against then President Ali Abdallah SALIH - inspired by similar demonstrations in Tunisia and Egypt - slowly built momentum starting in late January 2011 fueled by complaints over high unemployment, poor economic conditions, and corruption. By the following month, some protests had resulted in violence, and the demonstrations had spread to other major cities. By March the opposition had hardened its demands and was unifying behind calls for SALIH's immediate ouster. In April 2011, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), in an attempt to mediate the crisis in Yemen, proposed the GCC Initiative, an agreement in which the president would step down in exchange for immunity from prosecution. SALIH's refusal to sign an agreement led to further violence. The UN Security Council passed Resolution 2014 in October 2011 calling for an end to the violence and completing a power transfer deal. In November 2011, SALIH signed the GCC Initiative to step down and to transfer some of his powers to Vice President Abd Rabuh Mansur HADI. Following HADI's uncontested election victory in February 2012, SALIH formally transferred all presidential powers. In accordance with the GCC Initiative, Yemen launched a National Dialogue Conference (NDC) in March 2013 to discuss key constitutional, political, and social issues. HADI concluded the NDC in January 2014 and planned to begin implementing subsequent steps in the transition process, including constitutional drafting, a constitutional referendum, and national elections.The Huthis, 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, Sanaa, in September 2014. In January 2015, the Huthis surrounded the presidential palace, HADI's residence, and key government facilities, prompting HADI and the cabinet to submit their resignations. HADI fled to Aden in February 2015 and rescinded his resignation. He subsequently escaped to Oman and then moved to Saudi Arabia and asked the GCC to intervene militarily in Yemen to protect the legitimate government from the Huthis. In March, Saudi Arabia assembled a coalition of Arab militaries and began airstrikes against the Huthis and Huthi-affiliated forces. Ground fighting between Huthi-aligned forces and anti-Huthi groups backed by the Saudi-led coalition continued through 2016. In 2016, the UN brokered a months-long cessation of hostilities that reduced airstrikes and fighting, and initiated peace talks in Kuwait. However, the talks ended without agreement. The Huthis and SALIH’s political party announced a Supreme Political Council in August 2016 and a National Salvation Government, including a prime minister and several dozen cabinet members, in November 2016, to govern in Sanaa and further challenge the legitimacy of HADI’s government. However, amid rising tensions between the Huthis and SALIH, sporadic clashes erupted in mid-2017, and escalated into open fighting that ended when Huthi forces killed SALIH in early December 2017. In 2018, anti-Huthi forces made the most battlefield progress in Yemen since early 2016, most notably in Al Hudaydah Governorate. In December 2018, the Huthis and Yemeni Government participated in the first UN-brokered peace talks since 2016, agreeing to a limited ceasefire in Al Hudaydah Governorate and the establishment of a UN Mission to monitor the agreement. In April 2019, Yemen’s parliament convened in Say'un for the first time since the conflict broke out in 2014. In August 2019, violence erupted between HADI's government and the pro-secessionist Southern Transition Council (STC) in southern Yemen. In November 2019, HADI's government and the STC signed a power-sharing agreement to end the fighting between them.

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 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)
country comparison to the world: 51

Area - comparative

almost four times the size of Alabama; slightly larger than twice the size of Wyoming

Land boundaries

total: 1,601 km
border countries (2): Oman 294 km, Saudi Arabia 1307 km

Coastline

1,906 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12nm
exclusive economic zone: 200nm
contiguous zone: 24nm
continental shelf: 200nm 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

mean elevation: 999 m
lowest point: Arabian Sea 0 m
highest point: Jabal an Nabi Shu'ayb 3,666 m

Natural resources

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

Land use

agricultural land: 44.5% (2011 est.)
arable land: 2.2% (2011 est.)/permanent crops: 0.6% (2011 est.)/permanent pasture: 41.7% (2011 est.)
forest: 1% (2011 est.)
other: 54.5% (2011 est.)

Irrigated land

6,800 sq km (2012)

Population distribution

the vast majority of the population is found in the Asir Mountains (part of the larger Sarawat Mountain system), located in the far western region of the country

Natural hazards

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, 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

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

Population

28,667,230 (July 2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48

Nationality

noun: Yemeni(s)
adjective: Yemeni

Ethnic groups

predominantly Arab; but also Afro-Arab, South Asian, European

Languages

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

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.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 39.16%(male 5,711,709 /female 5,513,526)
15-24 years: 21.26%(male 3,089,817 /female 3,005,693)
25-54 years: 32.78%(male 4,805,059 /female 4,591,811)
55-64 years: 4%(male 523,769 /female 623,100)
65 years and over: 2.8%(male 366,891 /female 435,855) (2018 est.)
population pyramid:

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 76.8 (2015 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 71.7 (2015 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 5.1 (2015 est.)
potential support ratio: 19.8 (2015 est.)

Median age

total: 19.8 years (2018 est.)
male: 19.6 years
female: 19.9 years
country comparison to the world: 198

Population growth rate

2.17% (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39

Birth rate

27.6 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44

Death rate

5.9 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171

Net migration rate

0.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74

Population distribution

the vast majority of the population is found in the Asir Mountains (part of the larger Sarawat Mountain system), located in the far western region of the country

Urbanization

urban population: 37.3% of total population(2019)
rate of urbanization: 4.06% annual rate of change(2015-20 est.)

Major urban areas - population

2.874 million SANAA (capital), 950,000 Aden (2019)

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: 1.05 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.84 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2018 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

21.4 years (2013 est.)
median age at first birth among women 25-29

Maternal mortality rate

164 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54

Infant mortality rate

total: 44.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)
male: 48.6 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 40.4 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 37

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 66.2 years (2018 est.)
male: 64 years
female: 68.5 years
country comparison to the world: 176

Total fertility rate

3.48 children born/woman (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43

Contraceptive prevalence rate

33.5% (2013)

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.)

Current Health Expenditure

5.6% (2015)

Physicians density

0.31 physicians/1,000 population (2014)

Hospital bed density

0.7 beds/1,000 population (2014)

Sanitation facility access

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

<.1% (2018 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

11,000 (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100

HIV/AIDS - deaths

<500 (2018 est.)

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: high (2016)
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever (2016)
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria (2016)
water contact diseases: schistosomiasis (2016)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

17.1% (2016)
country comparison to the world: 120

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

39.9% (2013)
country comparison to the world: 1

Education expenditures

NA

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 70.1%
male: 85.1%
female: 55% (2015)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 9 years
male: 10 years
female: 8 years (2011)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 24.5%
male: 23.5%
female: 34.6% (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51

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]
etymology: name derivation remains unclear but may come from the Arab term "yumn" (happiness) and be related to the region's classical name "Arabia Felix" (Fertile or Happy Arabia); the Romans referred to the rest of the peninsula as "Arabia Deserta" (Deserted Arabia)

Government type

in transition

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

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

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]); notable earlier dates: North Yemen became independent on 1 November 1918 (from the Ottoman Empire) and became a republic with the overthrow of the theocratic Imamate on 27 September 1962; South Yemen became independent on 30 November 1967 (from the UK)

National holiday

Unification Day, 22 May (1990)

Constitution

history: adopted by referendum 16 May 1991 (following unification); note - after the National  Dialogue ended in January 2015, a Constitutional Drafting Committee appointed by the president worked to prepare a new draft constitution that was expected to be put to a national referendum before being adopted; however, the president’s resignation in January 2015 and subsequent conflict have interrupted the process
amendments: amended several times, last in 2009

Legal system

mixed legal system of Islamic (sharia) 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

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state: President Abd Rabuh Mansur HADI (since 21 February 2012); Vice President ALI MUHSIN al-Ahmar, Lt. Gen. (since 3 April 2016)
head of government: Prime Minister Maeen Abd al-Malik SAEED (since 15 October 2018)
cabinet: appointed by the president
elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 7-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 21 February 2012 (next election NA); note - a special election was held on 21 February 2012 to remove Ali Abdallah SALIH under the terms of a Gulf Cooperation Council-mediated deal during the political crisis of 2011; vice president appointed by the president; prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Abd Rabuh Mansur HADI (GPC) elected as a consensus president with about 50% popular participation; no other candidates

Legislative branch

description: bicameral Parliament or Majlis consists of:
Shura Council or Majlis Alshoora (111 seats; members appointed by the president; member tenure NA)
House of Representatives or Majlis al Nuwaab (301 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 6-year terms)
elections:
House of Representatives - last held on 27 April 2003 (next scheduled for April 2009 but postponed indefinitely)
election results:
percent of vote by party - GPC 58.0%, Islah 22.6%, YSP 3.8%, Unionist Party 1.9%, other 13.7%; seats by party - GPC 238, Islah 46, YSP 8, Nasserist Unionist Party 3, National Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party 2, independent 4

Judicial branch

highest courts: 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)
judge selection and term of office: judges appointed by the Supreme Judicial Council, which is chaired by the president of the republic and includes 10 high-ranking judicial officers; judges serve for life with mandatory retirement at age 65
subordinate courts: appeal courts; district or first instance courts; commercial courts

Political parties and leaders

General People’s Congress or GPC – Aden
General People's Congress or GPC - Sana'a [Sadiq Ameen Abu RAS]
National Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party [Qassem Salam SAID]
Nasserist Unionist People's Organization [Abdulmalik al-MEKHLAFI]
Southern Transitional Council or STC [Aidarus al-ZOUBAIDA]
Yemeni Reform Grouping or Islah [Muhammed Abdallah al-YADUMI]
Yemeni Socialist Party or YSP [Dr. Abd al-Rahman Umar al-SAQQAF]

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, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US

Ambassador Ahmad Awadh BIN MUBARAK (since 3 August 2015)
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 Christopher HENZEL (since 20 May 2019); note - the embassy closed in March 2015; Yemen Affairs Unit currently operates out of US Embassy Riyadh
telephone: US Embassy Riyadh [966] 11-488-3800
embassy: Sa'awan Street, Sanaa
mailing address: US Embassy Riyadh
FAX: US Embassy Riyadh [966] 11-488-7360

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)
note: similar to the flag of Syria, which has two green stars in the white band, and of Iraq, which has an Arabic inscription centered in the white band; also similar to the flag of Egypt, which has a heraldic eagle centered in the white band

National symbol(s)

golden eagle; national colors: red, white, black

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 faces difficult long-term challenges to stabilizing and growing its economy, and the current conflict has only exacerbated those issues. The ongoing war has halted Yemen’s exports, pressured the currency’s exchange rate, accelerated inflation, severely limited food and fuel imports, and caused widespread damage to infrastructure. The conflict has also created a severe humanitarian crisis - the world’s largest cholera outbreak currently at nearly 1 million cases, more than 7 million people at risk of famine, and more than 80% of the population in need of humanitarian assistance.Prior to the start of the conflict in 2014, Yemen was highly dependent on declining oil and gas resources for revenue. Oil and gas earnings accounted for roughly 25% of GDP and 65% of government revenue. The Yemeni Government regularly faced annual budget shortfalls and tried to diversify the Yemeni economy through a reform program designed to bolster non-oil sectors of the economy and foreign investment. In July 2014, the government continued reform efforts by eliminating some fuel subsidies and in August 2014, the IMF approved a three-year, $570 million Extended Credit Facility for Yemen.However, the conflict that began in 2014 stalled these reform efforts and ongoing fighting continues to accelerate the country’s economic decline. In September 2016, President HADI announced the move of the main branch of Central Bank of Yemen from Sanaa to Aden where his government could exert greater control over the central bank’s dwindling resources. Regardless of which group controls the main branch, the central bank system is struggling to function. Yemen’s Central Bank’s foreign reserves, which stood at roughly $5.2 billion prior to the conflict, have declined to negligible amounts. The Central Bank can no longer fully support imports of critical goods or the country’s exchange rate. The country also is facing a growing liquidity crisis and rising inflation. The private sector is hemorrhaging, with almost all businesses making substantial layoffs. Access to food and other critical commodities such as medical equipment is limited across the country due to security issues on the ground. The Social Welfare Fund, a cash transfer program for Yemen’s neediest, is no longer operational and has not made any disbursements since late 2014.Yemen will require significant international assistance during and after the protracted conflict to stabilize its economy. Long-term challenges include a high population growth rate, high unemployment, declining water resources, and severe food scarcity.

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$73.63 billion (2017 est.)
$78.28 billion (2016 est.)
$90.63 billion (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world: 97

GDP (official exchange rate)

$31.27 billion (2017 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

-5.9% (2017 est.)
-13.6% (2016 est.)
-16.7% (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 219

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$2,500 (2017 est.)
$2,700 (2016 est.)
$3,200 (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world: 199

Gross national saving

-1.9% of GDP (2017 est.)
-3.7% of GDP (2016 est.)
-4.5% of GDP (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 116.6% (2017 est.)
government consumption: 17.6% (2017 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 2.2% (2017 est.)
investment in inventories: 0% (2017 est.)
exports of goods and services: 7.5% (2017 est.)
imports of goods and services: -43.9% (2017 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 20.3% (2017 est.)
industry: 11.8% (2017 est.)
services: 67.9% (2017 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

8.9% (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21

Labor force

7.425 million (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65

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

27% (2014 est.)
35% (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 198

Population below poverty line

54% (2014 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.6%
highest 10%: 30.3% (2008 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

37.9 (2009 est.)
37.3 (1999 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81

Budget

revenues: 2.821 billion (2017 est.)
expenditures: 4.458 billion (2017 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

9% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 216

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-5.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171

Public debt

74.5% of GDP (2017 est.)
68.1% of GDP (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41

Fiscal year

calendar year

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

24.7% (2017 est.)
-12.6% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 218

Central bank discount rate

NA

Commercial bank prime lending rate

30% (31 December 2017 est.)
27% (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6

Stock of narrow money

$4.736 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$6.718 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108

Stock of broad money

$4.736 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$6.718 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112

Stock of domestic credit

$2.326 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$4.515 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146

Market value of publicly traded shares

NA

Current account balance

-$1.236 billion (2017 est.)
-$1.868 billion (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149

Exports

$384.5 million (2017 est.)
$940 million (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 184

Exports - partners

Egypt 29.4%, Thailand 16.7%, Belarus 13.5%, Oman 10.5%, UAE 6.5%, Saudi Arabia 5% (2017)

Exports - commodities

crude oil, coffee, dried and salted fish, liquefied natural gas

Imports

$4.079 billion (2017 est.)
$3.117 billion (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140

Imports - commodities

food and live animals, machinery and equipment, chemicals

Imports - partners

UAE 12.2%, China 12.1%, Turkey 8.7%, Brazil 7.3%, Saudi Arabia 6.5%, Argentina 5.5%, India 4.7% (2017)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$245.4 million (31 December 2017 est.)
$592.6 million (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 170

Debt - external

$7.068 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$7.181 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

NA

Exchange rates

Yemeni rials (YER) per US dollar -
275 (2017 est.)
214.9 (2016 est.)
214.9 (2015 est.)
228 (2014 est.)
214.89 (2013 est.)

Energy

Electricity access

population without electricity: 15 million (2017)
electrification - total population: 47% (2017)
electrification - urban areas: 72% (2017)
electrification - rural areas: 32% (2017)

Electricity - production

4.784 billion kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122

Electricity - consumption

3.681 billion kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 219

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 219

Electricity - installed generating capacity

1.819 million kW (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116

Electricity - from fossil fuels

79% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 213

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 215

Electricity - from other renewable sources

21% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37

Crude oil - production

61,000 bbl/day (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49

Crude oil - exports

8,990 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 217

Crude oil - proved reserves

3 billion bbl (1 January 2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29

Refined petroleum products - production

20,180 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89

Refined petroleum products - consumption

104,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78

Refined petroleum products - exports

12,670 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78

Refined petroleum products - imports

75,940 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65

Natural gas - production

481.4 million cu m (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72

Natural gas - consumption

481.4 million cu m (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 214

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 214

Natural gas - proved reserves

478.5 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

13.68 million Mt (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95

Communications

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 1,165,828
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 4 (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 16,433,055
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 59 (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63

Telephone system

general assessment: due to 75% of population needing humanitarian assistance, and given the civil conflict, telecommunications services are vital but disrupted; mobile towers are often deliberately targeted; maintenance is dangerous to staff; aid organization rely on satellite and radio communications; scarcity of telecommunications equipment in rural areas (2018)
domestic: the national network consists of microwave radio relay, cable, tropospheric scatter, GSM and CDMA mobile-cellular telephone systems; fixed-line teledensity remains low by regional standards at 4 per 100 but mobile cellular use expanding at 59 per 100 (2018)
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

Broadcast media

state-run TV with 2 stations; state-run radio with 2 national radio stations and 5 local stations; stations from Oman and Saudi Arabia can be accessed

Internet country code

.ye

Internet users

total: 6,732,928
percent of population: 24.6% (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total: 430,400
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85

Military and Security

Military expenditures

3.98% of GDP (2014)
4.08% of GDP (2013)
4.57% of GDP (2012)
4.19% of GDP (2011)
note - no reliable information exists following the start of renewed conflict in 2015
country comparison to the world: 12

Military and security forces

Land Forces (includes seven Military Regional Commands, supported by Strategic Reserve Units), Naval and Coastal Defense Forces (includes Navy Infantry or Marine units and Coast Guard), Air and Air Defense Force (although it still exists in name, in practice many of the officers and soldiers in this branch have been distributed to other military branches and jobs), Border Guards, Strategic Reserve Forces (supports the Land Forces at the discretion of the Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief and also includes a Missile Group, Presidential Protection Brigades, and Special Operations Forces), Minister of Defense Intelligence Authority (consists of the Department of Military Intelligence [active], Department of Reconnaissance [active], Department of Military Security [inactive], and the Electronic Warfare Department [inactive]) (March 2018)

Military service age and obligation

18 is the legal minimum age for voluntary military service; no conscription; 2-year service obligation (2018)

Maritime threats

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 have been 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; one attack was reported in 2016 while three ships reported being fired upon in 2017

Transportation

National air transport system

number of registered air carriers: 2 (2015)
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 10 (2015)
annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 1,387,999 (2015)
annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 0mt-km (2015)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

7O (2016)

Airports

57 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 84

Airports - with paved runways

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

Airports - with unpaved runways

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

Pipelines

641 km gas, 22 km liquid petroleum gas, 1370 km oil (2013)

Roadways

total: 71,300 km (2005)
paved: 6,200 km (2005)
unpaved: 65,100 km (2005)
country comparison to the world: 68

Merchant marine

total: 31
by type: general cargo 3, oil tanker 4, other 24 (2018)
country comparison to the world: 125

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s): Aden, Al Hudaydah, Al Mukalla

Terrorism

Terrorist groups - home based

al-Qa'ida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP): aim(s): overthrow the Yemen Government and Huthi forces and, ultimately, establish an Islamic caliphate; eradicate US and Western influence and presence from Yemen and the rest of the Arabian Peninsula
area(s) of operation: a core al-Qa'ida affiliate; most active in southern, eastern, and central Yemen (2018)
Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham-Yemen (ISIS-Yemen): aim(s): replace the Yemen Government and Huthi forces with an Islamic state and implement ISIS's strict interpretation of sharia
area(s) of operation: operational primarily in south and central Yemen, where operatives conduct attacks against Huthi forces, Shia Muslims, and government facilities and personnel (2018)

Terrorist groups - foreign based

Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps -- Qods Force (IRGC-QF): aim(s):  spread Iran’s influence and counter Saudi and UAE by supporting Yemen’s Houthi government through funding, training, logistical support, and weapons, to include ballistic missile and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology
area(s) of operations:  Yemen, including the Red Sea (2019)

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): 250,860 (Somalia), 14,638 (Ethiopia) (2019)
IDPs: 3,647,250 (conflict in Sa'ada Governorate; clashes between al-Qa'ida in the Arabian Peninsula and government forces) (2019)

Trafficking in persons

current situation: Yemen is a source and, to a lesser extent, transit and destination country for men, women, and children subjected to forced labor and women and children subjected to sex trafficking; trafficking activities grew in Yemen in 2014, as the country’s security situation deteriorated and poverty worsened; armed groups increased their recruitment of Yemeni children as combatants or checkpoint guards, and the Yemeni military and security forces continue to use child soldiers; some other Yemeni children, mostly boys, migrate to Yemeni cities or Saudi Arabia and, less frequently Oman, where they end up as beggars, drug smugglers, prostitutes, or forced laborers in domestic service or small shops; Yemeni children increasingly are also subjected to sex trafficking in country and in Saudi Arabia; tens of thousands of Yemeni migrant workers deported from Saudi Arabia and thousands of Syrian refugees are vulnerable to trafficking; additionally, Yemen is a destination and transit country for women and children from the Horn of Africa who are looking for work or receive fraudulent job offers in the Gulf states but are subjected to sexual exploitation or forced labor upon arrival; reports indicate that adults and children are still sold or inherited as slaves in Yemen
tier rating: Tier 3 – Yemen does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; weak government institutions, corruption, economic problems, security threats, and poor law enforcement capabilities impeded the government’s ability to combat human trafficking; not all forms of trafficking are criminalized, and officials continue to conflate trafficking and smuggling; the status of an anti-trafficking law drafted with assistance from an international organization remains unknown following the dissolution of the government in January 2015; the government did not report efforts to investigate, prosecute, or convict anyone of trafficking or slavery offenses, including complicit officials, despite reports of officials willfully ignoring trafficking crimes and using child soldiers in the government’s armed forces; the government acknowledged the use of child soldiers and signed a UN action plan to end the practice in 2014 but made no efforts to release child soldiers from the military and provide them with rehabilitative services; authorities failed to identify victims and refer them to protective services; the status of a draft national anti-trafficking strategy remains unknown (2015)

Flag of Yemen