2012 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 and brief civil war in 1994 was quickly subdued. In 2000, Saudi Arabia and Yemen agreed to a delimitation of their border. Fighting in the northwest between the government and Huthi rebels, a group seeking a return to traditional Zaydi Islam, began in 2004 and has since resulted in six rounds of fighting - the last ended in early 2010 with a ceasefire that continues to hold. The southern secessionist movement was revitalized in 2008 when a popular socioeconomic protest movement initiated the prior year took on political goals including secession. Public rallies in Sana'a against President 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. The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in late April 2011, in an attempt to mediate the crisis in Yemen, proposed an agreement in which the president would step down in exchange for immunity from prosecution. SALIH's refusal to sign an agreement led to heavy street fighting and his injury in an explosion in June 2011. The UN Security Council passed Resolution 2014 in October 2011 calling on both sides to end the violence and complete a power transfer deal. In late November 2011, President SALIH signed the GCC-brokered agreement to step down and to transfer some of his powers to Vice President Abd Rabuh Mansur HADI. Following elections in February 2012, won by HADI, SALIH formally transferred his powers.

Area

527,968 sq km 527,968 sq km 0 sq km 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

527,968 sq km

water

0 sq km

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

Arabian Sea 0 m Jabal an Nabi Shu'ayb 3,760 m

highest point

Jabal an Nabi Shu'ayb 3,760 m

lowest point

Arabian Sea 0 m

Environment - current issues

limited natural freshwater resources; inadequate supplies of potable water; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification

Environment - international agreements

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection none of the selected 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)

6.63 cu km/yr (4%/1%/95%) 316 cu m/yr (2000)

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

6,800 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

1,746 km Oman 288 km, Saudi Arabia 1,458 km

border countries

Oman 288 km, Saudi Arabia 1,458 km

total

1,746 km

Land use

2.91% 0.25% 96.84% (2005)

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

12 nm 24 nm 200 nm 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

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 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

volcanism

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

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

42.5% (male 5,363,542/ female 5,169,554) 54.9% (male 6,900,477/ female 6,690,816) 2.6% (male 306,186/ female 341,234) (2012 est.)

0-14 years

42.5% (male 5,363,542/ female 5,169,554)

15-64 years

54.9% (male 6,900,477/ female 6,690,816)

65 years and over

2.6% (male 306,186/ female 341,234) (2012 est.)

Birth rate

32.57 births/1,000 population (2012 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

43.1% (2003)

Death rate

6.82 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.)

Education expenditures

5.2% of GDP (2008)

Ethnic groups

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

Health expenditures

5.6% of GDP (2009)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

12,000 (2001 est.)

Hospital bed density

0.7 beds/1,000 population (2009)

Infant mortality rate

53.5 deaths/1,000 live births 57.99 deaths/1,000 live births 48.78 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)

female

48.78 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)

total

53.5 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Arabic (official)

Life expectancy at birth

64.11 years 62.05 years 66.27 years (2012 est.)

female

66.27 years (2012 est.)

total population

64.11 years

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write 63.9% 81.2% 46.8% (2010 est.)

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

46.8% (2010 est.)

male

81.2%

total population

63.9%

Major cities - population

SANAA (capital) 2.229 million (2009)

Major infectious diseases

high bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever dengue fever and malaria schistosomiasis (2009)

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)

Maternal mortality rate

200 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)

Median age

18.3 years 18.3 years 18.4 years (2012 est.)

female

18.4 years (2012 est.)

male

18.3 years

total

18.3 years

Nationality

Yemeni(s) Yemeni

adjective

Yemeni

noun

Yemeni(s)

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.)

Physicians density

0.3 physicians/1,000 population (2009)

Population

24,771,809 (July 2012 est.)

Population growth rate

2.575% (2012 est.)

Religions

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

Sanitation facility access

urban: 94% of population rural: 33% of population total: 52% of population urban: 6% of population rural: 67% of population total: 48% of population

rural

67% of population

total

48% of population

urban

6% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

9 years 11 years 7 years (2005)

female

7 years (2005)

male

11 years

total

9 years

Sex ratio

1.05 male(s)/female 1.04 male(s)/female 1.03 male(s)/female 0.9 male(s)/female 1.03 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

15-64 years

1.03 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.9 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

1.03 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

under 15 years

1.04 male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

4.45 children born/woman (2012 est.)

Urbanization

32% of total population (2010) 4.6% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

rate of urbanization

4.6% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

32% of total population (2010)

Administrative divisions

20 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah) and 1 municipality*; 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

Capital

Sanaa 15 21 N, 44 12 E UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

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

Republic of Yemen Yemen Al Jumhuriyah al Yamaniyah Al Yaman Yemen Arab Republic [Yemen (Sanaa) or North Yemen] and People's Democratic Republic of Yemen [Yemen (Aden) or South Yemen]

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

Ambassador Gerald M. FEIERSTEIN Sa'awan Street, Sanaa P. O. Box 22347, Sanaa [967] (1) 755-2000 ext. 2153 or 2266 [967] (1) 303-182

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

Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Adel Ali Ahmed AL-SUNAINI 2319 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 [1] (202) 965-4760 [1] (202) 337-2017

chancery

2319 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Adel Ali Ahmed AL-SUNAINI

FAX

[1] (202) 337-2017

telephone

[1] (202) 965-4760

Executive branch

President Abd Rabuh Mansur HADI (Field Marshal) (since 25 February 2012) Prime Minister Muhammad Salim BA SINDWAH (since 27 November 2011) on 27 November 2011, Vice President HADI requested Interim Prime Minister Muhammad Salim BA SINDWAH to form a new government following the resignation of President SALIH on 24 November president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term based on constitution; however a special election was held on 21 February 2012 to remove Ali Abdallah SALIH based on a GCC-mediated deal during the political crisis of 2011 (next election to be held in 2014); vice president appointed by the president but position is vacant; prime minister appointed by the president Abd Rabuh Mansur HADI elected as a consensus president with about 50% popular participation; no other candidates

cabinet

on 27 November 2011, Vice President HADI requested Interim Prime Minister Muhammad Salim BA SINDWAH to form a new government following the resignation of President SALIH on 24 November

chief of state

President Abd Rabuh Mansur HADI (Field Marshal) (since 25 February 2012)

election results

Abd Rabuh Mansur HADI elected as a consensus president with about 50% popular participation; no other candidates

elections

president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term based on constitution; however a special election was held on 21 February 2012 to remove Ali Abdallah SALIH based on a GCC-mediated deal during the political crisis of 2011 (next election to be held in 2014); vice president appointed by the president but position is vacant; prime minister appointed by the president

head of government

Prime Minister Muhammad Salim BA SINDWAH (since 27 November 2011)

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) 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 law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

International organization participation

AFESD, AMF, CAEU, CD, EITI (compliant country), 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, 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 (observer)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court

Legal system

mixed legal system of Islamic law, Napoleonic law, English common law, and customary law

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 in single-member constituencies to serve six-year terms) last held on 27 April 2003 (scheduled April 2009 election postponed for two years) House of Representatives 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

election results

House of Representatives 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

"al-qumhuriyatu l-muttahida" (United Republic) Abdullah Abdulwahab NOA'MAN/Ayyoab Tarish ABSI adopted 1990; the music first served as the anthem for South Yemen before unification with North Yemen in 1990

lyrics/music

Abdullah Abdulwahab NOA'MAN/Ayyoab Tarish ABSI

name

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

National holiday

Unification Day, 22 May (1990)

National symbol(s)

golden eagle

Political parties and leaders

General People's Congress or GPC [Ali Abdallah SALIH]; Islamic Reform Grouping or Islah [Muhammed Abdallah AL-YADUMI]; Nasserite Unionist Party [Sultan al-ATWANI]; 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 conservative tribal groups; Huthis, southern secessionist groups; al-Qa'ida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)

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

Budget

$7.63 billion $12.01 billion (2012 est.)

expenditures

$12.01 billion (2012 est.)

revenues

$7.63 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-12% of GDP (2012 est.)

Central bank discount rate

NA%

Commercial bank prime lending rate

25% (31 December 2012 est.) 25% (31 December 2011 est.)

Current account balance

-$2.19 billion (2012 est.) -$1.663 billion (2011 est.)

Debt - external

$6.726 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $6.314 billion (31 December 2011 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 toward economic and political reform. The Arab revolution that began in early 2011 caused GDP to plunge more than 10% in 2011, and GDP in 2012 began a modest recovery but has not reached pre-2011 levels. Yemen continues to face difficult long term challenges, including declining water resources, high unemployment, and a high population growth rate.

Exchange rates

Yemeni rials (YER) per US dollar - 215.6 (2012 est.) 213.8 (2011 est.) 219.59 (2010 est.) 202.85 (2009) 199.76 (2008)

Exports

$7.958 billion (2012 est.) $8.662 billion (2011 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

China 29.5%, Thailand 13.4%, South Korea 10.6%, India 7.5%, Japan 6%, US 5.8%, UAE 4.7% (2011)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition by sector

7.9% 40.6% 51.5% (2012 est.)

agriculture

7.9%

industry

40.6%

services

51.5% (2012 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$2,200 (2012 est.) $2,300 (2011 est.) $2,700 (2010 est.) data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

-1.9% (2012 est.) -10.5% (2011 est.) 7.7% (2010 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$36.37 billion (2012 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$57.76 billion (2012 est.) $58.91 billion (2011 est.) $65.8 billion (2010 est.) data are in 2012 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

2.9% 30.8% (2005)

highest 10%

30.8% (2005)

lowest 10%

2.9%

Imports

$8.893 billion (2012 est.) $8.248 billion (2011 est.)

Imports - commodities

food and live animals, machinery and equipment, chemicals

Imports - partners

UAE 18.8%, China 11.8%, Saudi Arabia 8.9%, Kuwait 6.6%, India 6.5%, France 4.7%, US 4.2% (2011)

Industrial production growth rate

9% (2010 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

11.4% (2012 est.) 19.5% (2011 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

17.8% of GDP (2012 est.)

Labor force

7.158 million (2012 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

most people are employed in agriculture and herding; services, construction, industry, and commerce account for less than one-fourth of the labor force

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

Population below poverty line

45.2% (2003)

Public debt

42.5% of GDP (2012 est.) 36.9% of GDP (2011 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$4.7 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $4.531 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of broad money

$10.59 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $10.17 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$NA

Stock of domestic credit

$8.817 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $7.662 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$4.868 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $4.645 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

21% of GDP (2012 est.)

Unemployment rate

35% (2003 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

26.5 million Mt (2010 est.)

Crude oil - exports

191,100 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Crude oil - production

162,100 bbl/day (2011 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

2.88 billion bbl (1 January 2013 est.)

Electricity - consumption

4.7 billion kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2010 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

100% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2010 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

1.33 million kW (2009 est.)

Electricity - production

6.339 billion kWh (2009 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

760 million cu m (2010 est.)

Natural gas - exports

5.48 billion cu m (2010 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2010 est.)

Natural gas - production

6.24 billion cu m (2010 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

478.5 billion cu m (1 January 2012 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

177,000 bbl/day (2011 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

18,140 bbl/day (2008 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

61,950 bbl/day (2008 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

83,130 bbl/day (2008 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

33,206 (2012)

Internet users

2.349 million (2009)

Telephone system

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

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

1.075 million (2011)

Telephones - mobile cellular

11.668 million (2011)

Airports

57 (2012)

Airports - with paved runways

1 (2012)

1,524 to 2,437 m

3

2,438 to 3,047 m

9

914 to 1,523 m

1 (2012)

over 3,047 m

4

total

17

Airports - with unpaved runways

9 (2012)

1,524 to 2,437 m

7

2,438 to 3,047 m

5

914 to 1,523 m

16

over 3,047 m

3

total

40

under 914 m

9 (2012)

Merchant marine

chemical tanker 2, petroleum tanker 2, roll on/roll off 1 14 (Moldova 4, Panama 4, Sierra Leone 2, Togo 1, unknown 3) (2010)

registered in other countries

14 (Moldova 4, Panama 4, Sierra Leone 2, Togo 1, unknown 3) (2010)

total

5

Pipelines

gas 423 km; liquid petroleum gas 22 km; oil 1,367 km (2010)

Ports and terminals

Aden, Al Hudaydah, Al Mukalla

Roadways

71,300 km 6,200 km 65,100 km (2005)

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; 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 by more than half in 2010

Manpower available for military service

5,652,256 5,387,160 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

5,387,160 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

5,652,256

Manpower fit for military service

4,056,944 4,116,895 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

4,116,895 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

4,056,944

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

287,141 277,612 (2010 est.)

female

277,612 (2010 est.)

male

287,141

Military - note

a Coast Guard was established in 2002

Military branches

Land Forces, Naval Forces (includes Marines), Air Force (includes Air Defense Force), Border Guards (2012)

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

4,686 (Ethiopia) (2011); 226,909 (Somalia) (2013) at least 431,000 (conflict in Sa'ada governorate; clashes between AQAP and government forces) (2012)

IDPs

at least 431,000 (conflict in Sa'ada governorate; clashes between AQAP and government forces) (2012)

refugees (country of origin)

4,686 (Ethiopia) (2011); 226,909 (Somalia) (2013)