View Intelligence Dossier Back to 2006 CSV Excel Print All Years

Communications

Internet country code [time series]

.ye

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

171 (2006)

Internet users [time series]

220,000 (2005)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 6, FM 1, shortwave 2 (1998)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: since unification in 1990, efforts have been made to create a national telecommunications network domestic: the national network consists of microwave radio relay, cable, tropospheric scatter, and GSM cellular mobile telephone systems 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 - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

798,100 (2004)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

2 million (2005)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

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

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $5.616 billion expenditures: $5.719 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA (2005 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency (code)) [time series]

Yemeni rial (YER)

Current account balance [time series]

$1.224 billion (2005 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$5.347 billion (2005 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income (Distribution of family income - Gini index) [time series]

33.4 (1998)

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

$2.3 billion (2003-07 disbursements)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

Yemen, one of the poorest countries in the Arab world, has reported meager growth since 2000. Its economic fortunes depend mostly on oil. Oil revenues increased in 2005 due to 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. The people have grown increasingly upset over the economic situation. In July 2005, a reduction in fuel subsidies sparked riots; over 20 Yemenis were killed and hundreds were injured.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

2.827 billion kWh (2003 est.)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2003)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2003)

Electricity - production [time series]

3.848 billion kWh (2003 est.)

Exchange rates [time series]

Yemeni rials per US dollar - 192.67 (2005), 184.78 (2004), 183.45 (2003), 175.63 (2002), 168.67 (2001)

Exports [time series]

$6.387 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

crude oil, coffee, dried and salted fish

Exports - partners [time series]

China 36.5%, Chile 19.2%, Thailand 12.5%, Japan 5.4%, South Korea 4.4%, US 4.1% (2005)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$14.34 billion (2005 est.)

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

$19.36 billion (2005 est.)

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

agriculture: 13.5% industry: 47.2% services: 39.3% (2005 est.)

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

$900 (2005 est.)

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

2.8% (2005 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 3% highest 10%: 25.9% (2003)

Imports [time series]

$4.19 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

food and live animals, machinery and equipment, chemicals

Imports - partners [time series]

UAE 14.6%, Saudi Arabia 11.6%, China 9.1%, Kuwait 5%, India 4.5% (2005)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

3% (2003 est.)

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; commercial ship repair

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

11.8% (2005 est.)

Investment (gross fixed) [time series]

14.2% of GDP (2005 est.)

Labor force [time series]

5.83 million (2005 est.)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

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

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

0 cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - imports [time series]

0 cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

478.6 billion cu m (2005)

Oil - consumption [time series]

80,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - exports [time series]

370,300 bbl/day (2003)

Oil - imports [time series]

NA bbl/day

Oil - production [time series]

387,500 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

4.37 billion bbl (2005 est.)

Population below poverty line [time series]

45.2% (2003)

Public debt [time series]

34.4% of GDP (2005 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$6.143 billion (2005 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

35% (2003 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, 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

Geographic coordinates [time series]

15 00 N, 48 00 E

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]

5,500 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries [time series]

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

Land use [time series]

arable land: 2.91% permanent crops: 0.25% other: 96.84% (2005)

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]

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

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]

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

Capital [time series]

name: Sanaa geographic coordinates: 15 21 N, 44 12 E time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution [time series]

16 May 1991; amended 29 September 1994 and February 2001

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

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

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 FAX: [967] (1) 303-182

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Abd al-Wahab Abdallah al-HAJRI chancery: 2319 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 965-4760 FAX: [1] (202) 337-2017

Executive branch [time series]

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) 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 cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister 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 election results: Ali Abdallah SALIH elected president; percent of vote - Ali Abdallah SALIH 77.2%, Faisal bin SHAMLAN 21.8%

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 heraldic eagle centered in the white band

Government type [time series]

republic

Independence [time series]

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)

International organization participation [time series]

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

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court

Legal system [time series]

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

Legislative branch [time series]

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

National holiday [time series]

Unification Day, 22 May (1990)

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

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

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

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.

Military

Manpower available for military service [time series]

males age 18-49: 4,058,223 females age 18-49: 3,868,112 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 18-49: 2,790,705 females age 18-49: 2,792,406 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually [time series]

males age 18-49: 236,517 females age 18-49: 230,641 (2005 est.)

Military - note [time series]

a Coast Guard was established in 2002

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

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

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

6.4% (2005 est.)

Military service age and obligation [time series]

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

People

Age structure [time series]

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.)

Birth rate [time series]

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

Death rate [time series]

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

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

12,000 (2001 est.)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 59.88 deaths/1,000 live births male: 64.55 deaths/1,000 live births female: 54.98 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Languages [time series]

Arabic

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 62.12 years male: 60.23 years female: 64.11 years (2006 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 50.2% male: 70.5% female: 30% (2003 est.)

Median age [time series]

total: 16.6 years male: 16.6 years female: 16.6 years (2006 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Yemeni(s) adjective: Yemeni

Net migration rate [time series]

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

Population [time series]

21,456,188 (July 2006 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

3.46% (2006 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: 0.96 male(s)/female total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

6.58 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

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

Refugees and internally displaced persons [time series]

refugees (country of origin): 63,511 (Somalia) (2005)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

46 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 16 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 under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 30 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 under 914 m: 4 (2006)

Merchant marine [time series]

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

Pipelines [time series]

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

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

Aden, Nishtun

Roadways [time series]

total: 71,300 km paved: 6,200 km unpaved: 65,100 km (2005)