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Communications

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 4, FM 1, shortwave 0

Radios [time series]

325,000 (1993 est.)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

since unification in 1990, efforts have been made to create a national telecommunications network domestic: the network consists of microwave radio relay, cable, and tropospheric scatter international : 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 - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]

131,655 (1992 est.)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

Televisions [time series]

100,000 (1993 est.)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

grain, fruits, vegetables, qat (mildly narcotic shrub), coffee, cotton; dairy products, poultry, meat; fish

Budget [time series]

revenues: $3 billion expenditures: $3.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1996 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

Yemeni rial (YRl) (new currency)

Debt - external [time series]

$8 billion (1996)

Economic aid [time series]

recipient : ODA, $148 million (1993)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

The northern city Sanaa is the political capital of a united Yemen, and the southern city Aden, with its refinery and port facilities, is the economic and commercial capital. Future economic development depends heavily on Western-assisted development of the country's moderate oil resources. Former South Yemen's willingness to merge stemmed partly from the steady decline in Soviet economic support. The low level of domestic industry and agriculture has made northern Yemen dependent on imports for practically all of its essential needs. Once self-sufficient in food production, northern Yemen has become a major importer. Land once used for export crops - cotton, fruit, and vegetables - has been turned over to growing a shrub called qat, whose leaves are chewed for their stimulant effect by Yemenis and which has no significant export market. Economic growth in former South Yemen has been constrained by a lack of incentives, partly stemming from centralized control over production decisions, investment allocation, and import choices. Yemen's GDP has been supplemented by remittances from Yemenis working abroad and by foreign aid. Since the Gulf crisis, however, remittances have dropped substantially. Floods in June 1996 caused the loss of much valuable topsoil in the agricultural sector, increasing the need for imports of foodstuffs. Oil production and GDP as a whole are expected to increase moderately in 1997.

Electricity - capacity [time series]

810,000 kW (1994)

Electricity - consumption per capita [time series]

117 kWh (1995 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

1.84 billion kWh (1994)

Exchange rates [time series]

Yemeni rials (YRl) per US$1 - 50.04 (new official fixed rate), 40.839 (1995), 12.010 (official fixed rate 1992-94); 490 (market rate, December 1994) note : on 29 March 1995 the official rate was changed from 12.01 Yemeni rials to 50.04 Yemeni rials per US dollar

Exports [time series]

total value: $2.5 billion (f.o.b., 1996 est.) commodities : crude oil, cotton, coffee, hides, vegetables, dried and salted fish partners: China 23%, South Korea 19%, Japan 12%, Singapore 10%, Brazil 9%, Thailand 7% (1995)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $39.1 billion (1996 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 14% industry: 35% services : 51%

Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $2,900 (1996 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]

2.8% (1996 est.)

Imports [time series]

total value: $2.2 billion (f.o.b., 1996 est.) commodities: textiles and other manufactured consumer goods, petroleum products, sugar, grain, flour, other foodstuffs, cement, machinery, chemicals partners: UAE 14%, Saudi Arabia 10%, US 8%, Malaysia 6%, UK 5% (1995)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

NA%

Industries [time series]

crude oil production and petroleum refining; small-scale production of cotton textiles and leather goods; food processing; handicrafts; small aluminum products factory; cement

Inflation rate (consumer prices) (Inflation rate - consumer price index) [time series]

85% (1996 est.)

Labor force [time series]

no reliable estimates exist, most people are employed in agriculture and herding or as expatriate laborers; services, construction, industry, and commerce account for less than one-half of the labor force

Unemployment rate [time series]

30% (1995 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 527,970 sq km land: 527,970 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 [time series]

slightly larger than twice the size of Wyoming

Climate [time series]

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

Coastline [time series]

1,906 km

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: Arabian Sea 0 m highest point: Jabal an Nabi Shu'ayb 3,760 m

Environment - current issues [time series]

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

International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

party to : Biodiversity, Climate Change, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates [time series]

15 00 N, 48 00 E

Geography - note [time series]

controls Bab el Mandeb, the strait linking the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, one of world's most active shipping lanes

Irrigated land [time series]

3,600 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 1,746 km border countries: Oman 288 km, Saudi Arabia 1,458 km

Land use [time series]

arable land : 3% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 30% forests and woodland: 4% other : 63% (1993 est.)

Location [time series]

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

Map references [time series]

Middle East

Maritime claims [time series]

contiguous zone: 18 nm in the North; 24 nm in the South continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Natural hazards [time series]

sandstorms and dust storms in summer

Natural resources [time series]

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

Terrain [time series]

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

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

17 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Abyan, Aden, Al Bayda, Al Hudaydah, Al Jawf, Al Mahrah, Al Mahwit, Ataq, Dhamar, Hadhramaut, Hajjah, Ibb, Lahij, Ma'rib, Sa'dah, San'a', Ta'izz note: there may be a new governorate for the capital city of Sanaa

Constitution [time series]

16 May 1991; amended 29 September 1994

Country name [time series]

conventional long form : Republic of Yemen conventional short form: Yemen local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Yamaniyah local short form: Al Yaman

Data code [time series]

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador David G. NEWTON embassy: Dhahr Himyar Zone, Sheraton Hotel District, Sanaa mailing address : P. O. Box 22347, Sanaa telephone: [967] (1) 238843 through 238852

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant) chancery : Suite 705, 2600 Virginia Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037 telephone: [1] (202) 965-4760, 4761

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Lt. Gen. 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 NA October 1994) head of government: Prime Minister Abd al-Aziz ABD AL-GHANI (since NA October 1994); Deputy Prime Ministers Abd al-Wahhab al-ANISI (since NA October 1994), Dr. Abd al-Karim Ali al-IRYANI (since NA October 1994), Dr. Muhammad Said al-ATTAR (since NA October 1994), and Abd al-Qadir al-BA JAMAL (since NA October 1994) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister elections : president elected by the House of Representatives for a five-year term; election last held 1 October 1994 (next to be held NA 1999); vice president appointed by the president; prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the president election results: Ali Abdallah SALIH elected president; percent of House of Representatives vote - NA

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[1] (202) 337-2017

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[967] (1) 251563

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

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 symbolic eagle centered in the white band

Government type [time series]

republic

Independence [time series]

22 May 1990 Republic of Yemen was established on 22 May 1990 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}; previously North Yemen had become independent on NA November 1918 (from the Ottoman Empire) and South Yemen had become independent on 30 November 1967 (from the UK)

International organization participation [time series]

ACC, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court

Legal system [time series]

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

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral House of Representatives (301 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 27 April 1997 (next to be held NA April 2001) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - GPC 189, Islaah 52, Nasserite Unionist Party 3, Baath Party 2, independents 54, election pending 1

Capital (National capital) [time series]

Sanaa

National holiday [time series]

Proclamation of the Republic, 22 May (1990)

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

there are over 12 political parties active in Yemen, some of the more important are: General People's Congress (GPC), President Ali Abdallah SALIH; Yemeni Reform Grouping or Islaah, Shaykh Abdallah bin Husayn al-AHMAR; Yemeni Socialist Party (YSP), Ali Salih UBAYD; Nasserite Unionist Party, leader NA; Baath Party, leader NA note: following the May-July 1994 civil war, President SALIH's General People's Congress and Shaykh Abdallah bin Husayn al-AHMAR's Yemeni Reform Grouping, or Islaah, formed a coalition government, but it is unclear whether this coalition will continue in light of the GPC's landslide victory in the April 1997 legislative election; the YSP, a loyal opposition party, boycotted the April 1997 legislative election

Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Military

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary (includes Police)

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$NA

Military expenditures (Military expenditures - percent of GDP) [time series]

NA%

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49 : 3,109,553 (1997 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males: 1,753,779 (1997 est.)

Military manpower - military age [time series]

18 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually [time series]

males: 148,864 (1997 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 48% (male 3,421,216; female 3,237,594) 15-64 years : 49% (male 3,454,912; female 3,479,395) 65 years and over: 3% (male 162,600; female 216,760) (July 1997 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

44.83 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Death rate [time series]

9.17 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

predominantly Arab; Afro-Arab concentrations in western coastal locations; South Asians in southern regions; small European communities in major metropolitan areas

Infant mortality rate [time series]

68.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)

Languages [time series]

Arabic

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 60.31 years male : 58.9 years female: 61.78 years (1997 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 38% male: 53% female: 26% (1990 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Yemeni(s) adjective: Yemeni

Net migration rate [time series]

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Population [time series]

13,972,477 (July 1997 est.) note: other estimates range as high as 16.6 million

Population growth rate [time series]

3.57% (1997 est.)

Religions [time series]

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

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years : 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (1997 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

7.18 children born/woman (1997 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

a large section of boundary with Saudi Arabia is not defined; a dispute with Eritrea over sovereignty of the Hanish Islands in the southern Red Sea has been submitted to arbitration under the auspices of the International Court of Justice ZAMBIA

Transportation

Airports [time series]

42 (1996 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 12 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 under 914 m: 3 (1996 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 30 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m : 10 1,524 to 2,437 m: 8 914 to 1,523 m : 10 (1996 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 51,392 km paved : 4,831 km unpaved: 46,561 km (1992 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 12,059 GRT/18,563 DWT ships by type : cargo 1, oil tanker 2 (1996 est.)

Pipelines [time series]

crude oil 644 km; petroleum products 32 km

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Aden, Al Hudaydah, Al Mukalla, Mocha, Nishtun

Railways [time series]

0 km