Yemen

Table of Contents

Introduction & Quick Facts
Land
- Relief and drainage
- Climate
- Plant and animal life
People
- Ethnic groups
- Languages
- Religion
- Settlement patterns
- Demographic trends
Economy
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing
- Resources and power
- Manufacturing
- Finance
- Trade
- Services
- Labour and taxation
- Transportation and telecommunications
Government and society
- Constitutional framework
- Local government
- Justice
- Political process
- Security
- Health and welfare
- Housing
- Education
Cultural life
- Daily life and social customs
- The arts
- Cultural institutions
- Sports and recreation
- Media and publishing
History
- The pre-Islamic period
- The advent of Islam
- The age of imperialism
- Two Yemeni states
- Unification of Yemen
- War of secession and political unrest
- Territorial disputes
- Economic challenges
- Unraveling of unification
  - Yemen and the “war on terror”
  - Mounting challenge to the Saleh regime
- Arab Spring uprising
  - Protests against Pres. Ali Abdullah Saleh
  - Transfer of power to Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi
- Yemeni Civil War (2014– )
  - Capture of Sanaa
  - Saudi-led intervention

References & Edit History Facts & Stats

Images, Videos & Interactives

Saywūn, Yemen: palace of the sultan

Physical features of Yemen

Yemen: Rubʿ al-Khali desert

Explore the unique landscapes and traditions of Yemen

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Yemen: Facts & Stats

Written and fact-checked by The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Facts

Also Known As	Al-Jumhūriyyah al-Yamaniyyah • Republic of Yemen • Al-Yaman
Head Of Government	Prime Minister: Maeen Abdulmalik Saeed
Capital	Sanaa
Population	(2024 est.) 33,513,000
Head Of State	Chair of the Presidential Leadership Council²: Rashad al-Alimi
Form Of Government	interim government led by transitional council¹
Official Language	Arabic
Official Religion	Islam
Official Name	Al-Jumhūriyyah al-Yamaniyyah (Republic of Yemen)
Total Area (Sq Km)	455,000
Total Area (Sq Mi)	175,676
Monetary Unit	Yemeni rial (YR)
Population Rank	(2023) 46
Population Projection 2030	35,660,000
Density: Persons Per Sq Mi	(2024) 190.8
Density: Persons Per Sq Km	(2024) 73.7
Urban-Rural Population	Urban: (2024) 40.5% • Rural: (2024) 59.5%
Life Expectancy At Birth	Male: (2020–2025) 64.1 years • Female: (2020–2025) 65.9 years
Literacy: Percentage Of Population Age 15 And Over Literate	Male: (2004) 73% • Female: (2004) 35%
Gni (U.S.$ ’000,000)	(2018) 26,002
Gni Per Capita (U.S.$)	(2018) 840
¹Comprises eight political and military leaders representing the internationally recognized government in Aden.²Delegated presidential powers by the former president Abd Rabbuh Mansur al-Hadi upon his resignation in 2022.

Photos and Videos

Saywūn, Yemen: palace of the sultan

Physical features of Yemen

Yemen: Rubʿ al-Khali desert

Explore the unique landscapes and traditions of Yemen

National anthem of Yemen

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Topics

Ali Abdullah Saleh Yaḥyā Najāḥid Dynasty Ziyādid Dynasty Ṣulayḥid dynasty Asia Sanaa Arab League Hodeidah Aden United States India United Kingdom China Canada Russia Germany Australia Japan France

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