2007 Edition

Administrative divisions

19 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Abyan, 'Adan, Ad Dali', Al Bayda', Al Hudaydah, Al Jawf, Al Mahrah, Al Mahwit, 'Amran, Dhamar, Hadramawt, Hajjah, Ibb, Lahij, Ma'rib, Sa'dah, San'a', Shabwah, Ta'izz

note

for electoral and administrative purposes, the capital city of Sanaa is treated as an additional governorate

Age structure

0-14 years: 46.4% (male 5,067,762/female 4,881,333) 15-64 years: 51% (male 5,568,078/female 5,375,263) 65 years and over: 2.6% (male 275,878/female 287,874) (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Airports

46 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways

over 3,047 m

4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 8 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1

total

16

under 914 m

1 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways

over 3,047 m

3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 11

total

30

under 914 m

4 (2006)

Area

land

527,970 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)

total

527,970 sq km

water

0 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly larger than twice the size of Wyoming

Background

North Yemen became independent of the Ottoman Empire in 1918. 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 South Yemen. Three years later, the southern government adopted a Marxist orientation. 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 in 1994 was quickly subdued. In 2000, Saudi Arabia and Yemen agreed to a delimitation of their border. Geography Yemen

Birth rate

42.89 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$6.984 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA (2006 est.)

revenues

$7.314 billion

Capital

geographic coordinates

15 21 N, 44 12 E

name

Sanaa

time difference

UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Climate

mostly desert; hot and humid along west coast; temperate in western mountains affected by seasonal monsoon; extraordinarily hot, dry, harsh desert in east

Coastline

1,906 km

Constitution

16 May 1991; amended 29 September 1994 and February 2001

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Yemen

conventional short form

Yemen

former

Yemen Arab Republic [Yemen (Sanaa) or North Yemen] and People's Democratic Republic of Yemen [Yemen (Aden) or South Yemen]

local long form

Al Jumhuriyah al Yamaniyah

local short form

Al Yaman

Currency (code)

Yemeni rial (YER)

Currency code

YER

Current account balance

$1.69 billion (2006 est.)

Death rate

8.3 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Debt - external

$5.469 billion (2006 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Thomas C. KRAJESKI

embassy

Sa'awan Street, Sanaa

mailing address

P. O. Box 22347, Sanaa

telephone

[967] (1) 755-2000 ext. 2153 or 2266

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2319 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Abd al-Wahab Abdallah al-HAJRI

telephone

[1] (202) 965-4760

Disputes - international

Yemen protests Eritrea fishing around the Hanish Islands awarded to Yemen by the ICJ in 1999; Saudi Arabia still maintains the concrete-filled pipe as a security barrier along sections of the border with Yemen in 2004 to stem illegal cross-border activities; Yemen protests Saudi erection of a concrete-filled pipe as a security barrier in 2004 to stem illegal cross-border activities in sections of the boundary

Distribution of family income - Gini index

33.4 (1998)

Economic aid - recipient

$2.3 billion (2003-07 disbursements)

Economy - overview

Yemen, one of the poorest countries in the Arab world, reported average annual growth of 3.5% from 2000 through 2006. Its economic fortunes depend mostly on oil. Oil revenues probably increased in 2006 as a result of higher prices. Yemen was on an IMF-supported structural adjustment program designed to modernize and streamline the economy, which led to substantial foreign debt relief and restructuring. However, government dedication to the program waned in 2001 for political reasons. Yemen is struggling to control excessive spending and rampant corruption. Yemen is dependent on foreign aid to finance its budget deficits and development projects. In November, Yemen secured $4.7 billion in assistance from Arabian Gulf and Western donors.

Electricity - consumption

3.792 billion kWh (2004 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - production

4.077 billion kWh (2004 est.)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

100%

hydro

0%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (2001)

Elevation extremes

highest point

Jabal an Nabi Shu'ayb 3,760 m

lowest point

Arabian Sea 0 m

Environment - current issues

very limited natural fresh water 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

Ethnic groups

predominantly Arab; but also Afro-Arab, South Asians, Europeans

Exchange rates

Yemeni rials per US dollar - 197.467 (2006), 192.67 (2005), 184.78 (2004), 183.45 (2003), 175.63 (2002)

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister

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 al-HADI (since 3 October 1994)

election results

Ali Abdallah SALIH elected president; percent of vote - Ali Abdallah SALIH 77.2%, Faysal BIN SHAMLAN 21.8%

elections

president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; election last held 20 September 2006 (next to be held September 2013); vice president appointed by the president; prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the president

head of government

Prime Minister Abd al-Qadir BA JAMAL; Deputy Prime Ministers Rashid Muhammad al-ALIMI, Alawi Salah al-SALAMI, Ahmad Muhammad Abdallah al-SUFAN

Exports

$8.214 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities

crude oil, coffee, dried and salted fish

Exports - partners

China 35.3%, India 16.2%, Thailand 11.9%, Japan 6.3%, South Korea 6.3%, Switzerland 5.5% (2005)

FAX

[1] (202) 337-2017

[967] (1) 303-182

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications Yemen

Flag description

three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black; similar to the flag of Syria, which has two green stars, and of Iraq, which has three green stars (plus an Arabic inscription), in a horizontal line centered in the white band; also similar to the flag of Egypt, which has a heraldic eagle centered in the white band Economy Yemen

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

12.5%

industry

43.8%

services

43.7% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$900 (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

3.2% (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$15.16 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$20.38 billion (2006 est.)

Geographic coordinates

15 00 N, 48 00 E

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 Yemen

Government type

republic

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

12,000 (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

25.9% (2003)

lowest 10%

3%

Imports

$5.042 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities

food and live animals, machinery and equipment, chemicals

Imports - partners

UAE 18.9%, Saudi Arabia 8.9%, Switzerland 8.6%, Kuwait 6.7%, China 6.1%, US 4.5% (2005)

Independence

22 May 1990 (Republic of Yemen 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 had become independent in November of 1918 (from the Ottoman Empire) and South Yemen had become independent on 30 November 1967 (from the UK)

Industrial production growth rate

3% (2003 est.)

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

Infant mortality rate

female

54.98 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

male

64.55 deaths/1,000 live births

total

59.88 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

14.8% (2006 est.)

International organization participation

AFESD, AMF, CAEU, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, ONUB, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

Internet country code

.ye

Internet hosts

171 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

1 (2000)

Internet users

220,000 (2005) Transportation Yemen

Investment (gross fixed)

15.7% of GDP (2006 est.)

Irrigated land

5,500 sq km (2003)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court

Labor force

5.759 million (2006 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

Land boundaries

border countries

Oman 288 km, Saudi Arabia 1,458 km

total

1,746 km

Land use

arable land

2.91%

other

96.84% (2005)

permanent crops

0.25%

Languages

Arabic

Legal system

based on Islamic law, Turkish law, English common law, and local tribal customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch

a new constitutional amendment ratified on 20 February 2001 created a bicameral legislature consisting of a Shura Council (111 seats; members appointed by the president) and a House of Representatives (301 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - GPC 228, Islah 47, YSP 7, Nasserite Unionist Party 3, National Arab Socialist Ba'th Party 2, independents 14

elections

last held 27 April 2003 (next to be held in April 2009)

Life expectancy at birth

female

64.11 years (2006 est.)

male

60.23 years

total population

62.12 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

30% (2003 est.) Government Yemen

male

70.5%

total population

50.2%

Location

Middle East, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden, and Red Sea, between Oman and Saudi Arabia

Manpower available for military service

females age 18-49

3,868,112 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

4,058,223

Manpower fit for military service

females age 18-49

2,792,406 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

2,790,705

Manpower reaching military service age annually

females age 18-49

230,641 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

236,517

Map references

Middle East

Maritime claims

contiguous zone

24 nm

continental shelf

200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Median age

female

16.6 years (2006 est.)

male

16.6 years

total

16.6 years

Merchant marine

by type

cargo 1, chemical tanker 1, petroleum tanker 1, roll on/roll off 1

registered in other countries

9 (Bolivia 1, Cambodia 3, North Korea 2, Panama 3) (2006)

total

4 ships (1000 GRT or over) 15,400 GRT/18,072 DWT

Military - note

a Coast Guard was established in 2002 Transnational Issues Yemen

Military branches

Army (includes Special Forces), Navy (includes Marines), Unified Yemen Air Force (includes Air Defense Force) (2006)

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$992.2 million (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

6.4% (2005 est.)

Military service age and obligation

in May 2001, Yemen's National Defense Council abolished compulsory military service and authorized a voluntary program for military service (2004)

National holiday

Unification Day, 22 May (1990)

Nationality

adjective

Yemeni

noun

Yemeni(s)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

478.6 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Natural hazards

sandstorms and dust storms in summer

Natural resources

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

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Oil - consumption

85,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports

370,300 bbl/day (2003)

Oil - imports

NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - production

387,500 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

3.72 billion bbl (2006 est.)

Pipelines

gas 71 km; liquid petroleum gas 22 km; oil 1,284 km (2006)

Political parties and leaders

there are more than 12 political parties active in Yemen, some of

the more prominent are

General People's Congress or GPC [President Ali Abdallah SALIH]; Islamic Reform Grouping or Islah [Shaykh Abdallah bin Husayn al-AHMAR]; Nasserite Unionist Party [Abdal Malik al-MAKHLAFI]; National Arab Socialist Ba'th Party [Dr. Qasim SALAM]; Yemeni Socialist Party or YSP [Ali Salih MUQBIL]

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Population

21,456,188 (July 2006 est.)

Population below poverty line

45.2% (2003)

Population growth rate

3.46% (2006 est.)

Ports and terminals

Aden, Nishtun Military Yemen

Public debt

30% of GDP (2006 est.)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 6, FM 1, shortwave 2 (1998)

Radios

1.05 million (1997)

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin)

78,582 (Somalia) (2006) This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

Religions

Muslim including Shaf'i (Sunni) and Zaydi (Shi'a), small numbers of Jewish, Christian, and Hindu

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$6.735 billion (2006 est.)

Roadways

paved

6,200 km

total

71,300 km

unpaved

65,100 km (2005)

Sex ratio

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

1.04 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

under 15 years

1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.96 male(s)/female

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Telephone system

domestic

the national network consists of microwave radio relay, cable, tropospheric scatter, and GSM cellular mobile telephone systems

general assessment

since unification in 1990, efforts have been made to create a national telecommunications network

international

country code - 967; 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

Telephones - main lines in use

900,000 (2006)

Telephones - mobile cellular

2,074,846 (2006)

Television broadcast stations

7 (plus several low-power repeaters) (1997)

Televisions

470,000 (1997)

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

Total fertility rate

6.58 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Unemployment rate

35% (2003 est.)