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Communications

Broadcast media [time series]

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 [time series]

.ye

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

255 (2010) country comparison to the world: 188

Internet users [time series]

2.349 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 71

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, GSM and CDMA mobile-cellular telephone systems; fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity remains low by regional standards 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 - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

997,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 79

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

8.313 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 72

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Central bank discount rate [time series]

NA%

Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]

18% (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 27 18% (31 December 2008 est.)

Current account balance [time series]

-$2.181 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 157 -$2.328 billion (2009 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$7.147 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 95 $6.552 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

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

37.7 (2005) country comparison to the world: 76 33.4 (1998)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

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 [time series]

4.133 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 117

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

5.665 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 107

Exchange rates [time series]

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

Exports [time series]

$7.462 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 96 $5.812 billion (2009 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

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

Exports - partners [time series]

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

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$30.02 billion (2010 est.)

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

$61.88 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 85 $58.82 billion (2009 est.) $56.67 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

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

agriculture: 8.2% industry: 38.8% services: 53% (2010 est.)

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

$2,600 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 173 $2,600 (2009 est.) $2,600 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

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

5.2% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 52 3.8% (2009 est.) 3.2% (2008 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

$8.35 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 97 $7.518 billion (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

food and live animals, machinery and equipment, chemicals

Imports - partners [time series]

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 [time series]

9% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 20

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; natural gas production

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

12.2% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 209 5.4% (2009 est.)

Investment (gross fixed) [time series]

19.4% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 96

Labor force [time series]

6.832 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 63

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

Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]

$NA

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 160

Natural gas - exports [time series]

454,700 cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 45

Natural gas - imports [time series]

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 113

Natural gas - production [time series]

454,700 cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 93

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

478.5 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 32

Oil - consumption [time series]

155,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 66

Oil - exports [time series]

274,400 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 43

Oil - imports [time series]

65,860 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 77

Oil - production [time series]

288,400 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 37

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

3.16 billion bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 30

Population below poverty line [time series]

45.2% (2003)

Public debt [time series]

39.1% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 76 36.7% of GDP (2009 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$5.744 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 64 $6.993 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money [time series]

$9.739 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 100 $9.552 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home [time series]

$NA

Stock of domestic credit [time series]

$5.297 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 109 $5.098 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money [time series]

$3.551 billion (31 December 2010 est) country comparison to the world: 106 $3.74 billion (31 December 2009 est)

Unemployment rate [time series]

35% (2003 est.) country comparison to the world: 184

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 527,968 sq km country comparison to the world: 49 land: 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 [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]

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

Total water withdrawal (Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)) [time series]

total: 6.63 cu km/yr (4%/1%/95%) per capita: 316 cu m/yr (2000)

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 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 [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

Total renewable water resources [time series]

4.1 cu km (1997)

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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 [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 Gerald M. FEIERSTEIN 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 Ali Muhammad MUJAWWAR (since 31 March 2007) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website) 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 election results: Ali Abdallah SALIH elected president; percent of vote - Ali Abdallah SALIH 77.2%, Faysal BIN SHAMLAN 21.8%

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

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 [time series]

republic

Independence [time series]

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 [time series]

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 [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]

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

National anthem(s) (National anthem) [time series]

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

National holiday [time series]

Unification Day, 22 May (1990)

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

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

Muslim Brotherhood; Women National Committee other: conservative tribal groups; Huthis, southern secessionist groups; al-Qa'ida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)

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

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

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

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]

male: 279,283 female: 269,824 (2010 est.)

Military - note [time series]

a Coast Guard was established in 2002

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

Army, Navy (includes Marines), Yemen Air Force (Al Quwwat al Jawwiya al Jamahiriya al Yemeniya; includes Air Defense Force), Republican Guard (2010)

Military expenditures [time series]

6.6% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 7

Military service age and obligation [time series]

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

People

Age structure [time series]

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 [time series]

34.37 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 36

Death rate [time series]

7.24 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 126

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

5.2% of GDP (2008) country comparison to the world: 60

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

0.1% (2001 est.) country comparison to the world: 153

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

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

12,000 (2001 est.) country comparison to the world: 96

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 56.77 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 38 male: 61.46 deaths/1,000 live births female: 51.85 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Languages [time series]

Arabic (official)

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 63.36 years country comparison to the world: 173 male: 61.35 years female: 65.47 years (2010 est.)

Literacy [time series]

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

Major infectious diseases [time series]

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 [time series]

total: 17.9 years male: 17.8 years female: 18 years (2010 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Yemeni(s) adjective: Yemeni

Net migration rate [time series]

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population country comparison to the world: 99

Population [time series]

23,495,361 (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 48

Population growth rate [time series]

2.713% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 23

Religions [time series]

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

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]

total: 9 years male: 11 years female: 7 years (2005)

Sex ratio [time series]

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 [time series]

4.81 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 30

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 31% of total population (2008) rate of urbanization: 4.9% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

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 [time series]

refugees (country of origin): 91,587 (Somalia) (2007)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

55 (2010) country comparison to the world: 85

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

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 [time series]

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 [time series]

total: 6 country comparison to the world: 128 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)

Pipelines [time series]

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

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

Aden, Al Hudaydah, Al Mukalla

Roadways [time series]

total: 71,300 km country comparison to the world: 67 paved: 6,200 km unpaved: 65,100 km (2005)

Transportation - note [time series]

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