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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]

7 (in addition, there are several low-power repeaters) (1997)

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, beef; fish

Budget [time series]

revenues: $2.3 billion expenditures: $2.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998 budget est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

Yemeni rial (YRl) (new currency)

Debt - external (Debt--external) [time series]

$4.9 billion (1998)

Economic aid (Economic aid--recipient) [time series]

$176.1 million (1995)

Economic overview (Economy--overview) [time series]

Yemen, one of the poorest countries in the Arab world, reported strong growth in the mid-1990s with the onset of oil production, but was harmed by low oil prices in 1998. Yemen has embarked on an IMF-supported structural adjustment program designed to modernize and streamline the economy, which has led to foreign debt relief and restructuring. Yemen will work in 1999 to maintain tight control over spending and implement additional components of the IMF program. The high population growth rate of 3.3%, internal political dissension, and continued low prices make the government's task especially difficult.

Electricity - consumption (Electricity--consumption) [time series]

1.9 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity - exports (Electricity--exports) [time series]

0 kWh (1996)

Electricity - imports (Electricity--imports) [time series]

0 kWh (1996)

Electricity - production (Electricity--production) [time series]

1.9 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity - production by source (Electricity--production by source) [time series]

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Exchange rates [time series]

Yemeni rials (YRl) per US$1--140.940 (October 1998), 129.286 (1997), 94.157 (1996), 40.839 (1995), 12.010 (official fixed rate 1991-94)

Exports [time series]

$1.6 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)

Exports - commodities (Exports--commodities) [time series]

crude oil, cotton, coffee, dried and salted fish

Exports - partners (Exports--partners) [time series]

China 31%, South Korea 19%, Thailand 17%, Thailand 5%, Brazil 5%, Japan 5% (1997)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

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

purchasing power parity--$12.1 billion (1998 est.)

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

agriculture: 16% industry: 46% services: 38% (1996)

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

purchasing power parity?$740 (1998 est.)

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

1.8% (1998 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 2.3% highest 10%: 30.8% (1992)

Imports [time series]

$2.8 billion (c.i.f., 1998 est.)

Imports - commodities (Imports--commodities) [time series]

food and live animals, machinery and equipment, manufactured goods

Imports - partners (Imports--partners) [time series]

UAE 9%, Saudi Arabia 8%, US 7%, France 6%, Brazil 5% (1997)

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) [time series]

11% (1998 est.)

Labor force [time series]

Labor force - by occupation (Labor force--by occupation) [time series]

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

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

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 (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 (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, Desertification, 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 (Geography--note) [time series]

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 [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, 'Adan, Al Bayda', Al Hudaydah, Al Jawf, Al Mahrah, Al Mahwit, 'Ataq, Dhamar, Hadhramawt, Hajjah, Ibb, Lahij, Ma'rib, Sa'dah, San'a', Ta'izz note: there may be a new governorate for the capital city of Sanaa

Capital [time series]

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 Barbara K. BODINE embassy: Dhahr Himyar Zone, Sheraton Hotel District, Sanaa mailing address: P. O. Box 22347, Sanaa

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Abd al-Wahhab Abdallah al-HAJRI chancery: Suite 705, 2600 Virginia Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037

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 Dr. Abd al-Karim Ali al-IRYANI (since NA April 1998) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister elections: President SALIH was elected by the House of Representatives for a five-year term, however, future presidents will be elected by direct, popular vote for five-year terms; 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

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 with and the Marxist-dominated People's Democratic Republic of Yemen 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, ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, 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, Islah 52, Nasserite Unionist Party 3, National Arab Socialist Baath Party 2, independents 54, election pending 1 note: in May 1997, the president created a consultative council, sometimes referred to as the upper house of Parliament; its 59 members are all appointed by the president

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 prominent are: General SALAAM] note: President SALIH's General People's Congress or GPC won a landslide victory in the April 1997 legislative election and no longer governs in coalition with Shaykh Abdallah bin Husayn al-AHMAR's Islamic Reform Grouping or Islaah--the two parties had been in coalition since the end of the civil war in 1994; 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, Air Defense Forces, paramilitary (includes Police)

Military expenditures - dollar figure (Military expenditures--dollar figure) [time series]

$413.6 million (1999)

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

7.6% (1999)

Military manpower - availability (Military manpower--availability) [time series]

males age 15-49: 3,776,075 (1999 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service (Military manpower--fit for military service) [time series]

males age 15-49: 2,119,308 (1999 est.)

Military manpower - military age (Military manpower--military age) [time series]

18 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually (Military manpower--reaching military age annually) [time series]

males: 212,005 (1999 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 48% (male 4,118,292; female 3,971,886) 15-64 years: 49% (male 4,243,809; female 4,065,429) 65 years and over: 3% (male 278,133; female 264,681) (1999 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

43.31 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate [time series]

9.88 deaths/1,000 population (1999 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]

69.82 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Languages [time series]

Arabic

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 59.98 years male: 58.17 years female: 61.88 years (1999 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 (1999 est.)

Population [time series]

16,942,230 (July 1999 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

3.34% (1999 est.)

Religions [time series]

Muslim including Shaf'i (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: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.05 male(s)/female total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

7.06 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international (Disputes--international) [time series]

a large section of boundary with Saudi Arabia is not defined; Hanish Islands dispute with Eritrea resolved by arbitral tribunal in October 1998

Transportation

Airports [time series]

48 (1998 est.)

Airports - with paved runways (Airports--with paved runways) [time series]

total: 12 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways (Airports--with unpaved runways) [time series]

total: 36 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 12 under 914 m: 3 (1998 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 64,725 km paved: 5,243 km unpaved: 59,482 km (1996 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 (1998 est.)

Pipelines [time series]

crude oil 644 km; petroleum products 32 km

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Aden, Al Hudaydah, Al Mukalla, As Salif, Mocha, Nishtun

Railways [time series]

0 km