2010 Edition

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.

Area

land

527,968 sq km

total

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)

Area - comparative

slightly larger than twice the size of Wyoming

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

Elevation extremes

highest point

Jabal an Nabi Shu'ayb 3,760 m

lowest point

Arabian Sea 0 m

Environment - current issues

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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

per capita

316 cu m/yr (2000)

total

6.63 cu km/yr (4%/1%/95%)

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

Irrigated land

5,500 sq km (2003)

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%

Location

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

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

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, 801 ft), 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

Natural resources

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

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 renewable water resources

4.1 cu km (1997)

Age structure

0-14 years: 43.9% (male 5,108,423/female 4,925,523) 15-64 years: 53.5% (male 6,215,999/female 6,013,334) 65 years and over: 2.6% (male 285,752/female 309,207) (2010 est.)

Birth rate

34.37 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Death rate

7.24 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)

Education expenditures

5.2% of GDP (2008)

Ethnic groups

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

12,000 (2001 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

51.85 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

male

61.46 deaths/1,000 live births

total

56.77 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Arabic (official)

Life expectancy at birth

female

65.47 years (2010 est.)

male

61.35 years

total population

63.36 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

female

30% (2003 est.)

male

70.5%

total population

50.2%

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk

high

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne diseases

dengue fever and malaria

water contact disease

schistosomiasis (2009)

Median age

female

18 years (2010 est.)

male

17.8 years

total

17.9 years

Nationality

adjective

Yemeni

noun

Yemeni(s)

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population

Population

23,495,361 (July 2010 est.)

Population growth rate

2.713% (2010 est.)

Religions

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

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

7 years (2005)

male

11 years

total

9 years

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 (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate

4.81 children born/woman (2010 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

4.9% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

urban population

31% of total population (2008)

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, 'Amran, Dhamar, Hadramawt, Hajjah, Ibb, Lahij, Ma'rib, Raymah, Sa'dah, San'a' (Sanaa), Shabwah, Ta'izz

Capital

geographic coordinates

15 21 N, 44 12 E

name

Sanaa

time difference

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

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Gerald M. FEIERSTEIN

embassy

Sa'awan Street, Sanaa

FAX

[967] (1) 303-182

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

FAX

[1] (202) 337-2017

telephone

[1] (202) 965-4760

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister (For more information visit the World Leaders website )

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 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

head of government

Prime Minister Ali Muhammad MUJAWWAR (since 31 March 2007)

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

Government type

republic

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)

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)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court

Legal system

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

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)

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

elections

last held on 27 April 2003 (scheduled April 2009 election postponed for two years)

National anthem

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

name

"al-qumhuriyatu l-muttahida" (United Republic)

National holiday

Unification Day, 22 May (1990)

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 NUMAN]; 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)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Central bank discount rate

NA%

Commercial bank prime lending rate

18% (31 December 2009 est.) 18% (31 December 2008 est.)

Current account balance

-$2.181 billion (2010 est.) -$2.328 billion (2009 est.)

Debt - external

$7.147 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $6.552 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

37.7 (2005) 33.4 (1998)

Economy - overview

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.

Electricity - consumption

4.133 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - production

5.665 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Exchange rates

Yemeni rials (YER) per US dollar - 220.05 (2010), 202.85 (2009), 199.76 (2008), 199.14 (2007), 197.18 (2006)

Exports

$7.462 billion (2010 est.) $5.812 billion (2009 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

China 36%, Thailand 17.63%, India 13.54%, South Africa 6.16%, Japan 5.49%, UAE 4.99% (2009)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

8.2%

industry

38.8%

services

53% (2010 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$2,600 (2010 est.) $2,600 (2009 est.) $2,600 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

5.2% (2010 est.) 3.8% (2009 est.) 3.2% (2008 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$30.02 billion (2010 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$61.88 billion (2010 est.) $58.82 billion (2009 est.) $56.67 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.9% highest 10%: 30.8% (2005)

Imports

$8.35 billion (2010 est.) $7.518 billion (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities

food and live animals, machinery and equipment, chemicals

Imports - partners

China 13.98%, UAE 12.3%, India 8.63%, Saudi Arabia 5.8%, US 4.52%, Brazil 4.51%, Turkey 4.51%, Kuwait 4.33%, France 4.24% (2009)

Industrial production growth rate

9% (2010 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; natural gas production

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

12.2% (2010 est.) 5.4% (2009 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

19.4% of GDP (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

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - exports

454,700 cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - production

454,700 cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

478.5 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)

Oil - consumption

155,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - exports

274,400 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - imports

65,860 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - production

288,400 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

3.16 billion bbl (1 January 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

45.2% (2003)

Public debt

39.1% of GDP (2010 est.) 36.7% of GDP (2009 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$5.744 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $6.993 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$9.739 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $9.552 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$NA

Stock of domestic credit

$5.297 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $5.098 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$3.551 billion (31 December 2010 est) $3.74 billion (31 December 2009 est)

Unemployment rate

35% (2003 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 (2007)

Internet country code

.ye

Internet hosts

255 (2010)

Internet users

2.349 million (2009)

Telephone system

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

general assessment

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

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

Telephones - main lines in use

997,000 (2009)

Telephones - mobile cellular

8.313 million (2009)

Airports

55 (2010)

Airports - with 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 - with 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)

Merchant marine

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)

total

6

Pipelines

gas 423 km; liquid petroleum gas 22 km; oil 1,367 km (2009)

Ports and terminals

Aden, Al Hudaydah, Al Mukalla

Roadways

paved

6,200 km

total

71,300 km

unpaved

65,100 km (2005)

Transportation - note

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 are held for ransom

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 5,458,642 females age 16-49: 5,205,387 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 3,902,186 females age 16-49: 3,952,370 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

269,824 (2010 est.)

male

279,283

Military - note

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 (2010)

Military expenditures

6.6% of GDP (2006)

Military service age and obligation

voluntary military service program authorized in 2001; 2-year service obligation (2006)

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)

91,587 (Somalia) (2007) page last updated on January 20, 2011 ======================================================================