Capital

Jemen

name: Sanaa

geographic coordinates: 15 21 N, 44 12 E

time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

etymology: the name is reputed to mean "well-fortified" in Sabaean, the South Arabian language that went extinct in Yemen in the 6th century A.D.

Citizenship

Jemen

citizenship by birth: no

citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Yemen; if the father is unknown, the mother must be a citizen

dual citizenship recognized: no

residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years

Legal system

Jemen

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

Suffrage

Jemen

18 years of age; universal

Area

Jemen

total: 527,968 sq km

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)

Land use

Jemen

agricultural land: 44.5% (2018 est.)

arable land: 2.2% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 0.6% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 41.7% (2018 est.)

forest: 1% (2018 est.)

other: 54.5% (2018 est.)

Location

Jemen

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

Age structure

Jemen

0-14 years: 35.14% (male 5,641,548/female 5,449,491)

15-64 years: 61.52% (male 9,829,725/female 9,590,956)

65 years and over: 3.34% (2023 est.) (male 464,548/female 589,334)

Birth rate

Jemen

24.1 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Death rate

Jemen

5.5 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Languages

Jemen

Arabic (official); note - a distinct Socotri language is widely used on Socotra Island and Archipelago; Mahri is still fairly widely spoken in eastern Yemen

major-language sample(s):
كتاب حقائق العالم، المصدر الذي لا يمكن الاستغناء عنه للمعلومات الأساسية (Arabic)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Life expectancy at birth

Jemen

total population: 67.8 years (2023 est.)

male: 65.5 years

female: 70.3 years

Major urban areas - population

Jemen

3.292 million SANAA (capital), 1.080 million Aden, 941,000 Taiz, 772,000 Ibb (2023)

Median age

Jemen

total: 21.6 years (2023 est.)

male: 21.5 years

female: 21.8 years

Mother's mean age at first birth

Jemen

20.8 years (2013 est.)

note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49

Net migration rate

Jemen

-0.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Population distribution

Jemen

the vast majority of the population is found in the Asir Mountains (part of the larger Sarawat Mountain system), located in the far western region of the country

Population growth rate

Jemen

1.83% (2023 est.)

Total fertility rate

Jemen

2.91 children born/woman (2023 est.)

Urbanization

Jemen

urban population: 39.8% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization: 3.71% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

Education expenditures

Jemen

NA

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

Jemen

-5.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Industrial production growth rate

Jemen

-5.23% (2018 est.)

Labor force

Jemen

7.299 million (2021 est.)

Population below poverty line

Jemen

48.6% (2014 est.)

Unemployment rate

Jemen

13.57% (2021 est.)

13.39% (2020 est.)

13.06% (2019 est.)

Public debt

Jemen

74.5% of GDP (2017 est.)

68.1% of GDP (2016 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Jemen

24.7% (2017 est.)

-12.6% (2016 est.)

Exports

Jemen

$384.5 million (2017 est.)

$940 million (2016 est.)

Exports - partners

Jemen

China 53%, Saudi Arabia 10%, United Arab Emirates 7%, Australia 5% (2019)

Imports

Jemen

$4.079 billion (2017 est.)

$3.117 billion (2016 est.)

Imports - partners

Jemen

China 25%, Turkey 10%, United Arab Emirates 9%, Saudi Arabia 8%, India 7% (2019)

Airports

Jemen

57 (2021)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

Jemen

total: 391,000 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2020 est.)

Internet users

Jemen

total: 8,229,624 (2022 est.)

percent of population: 26.6% (2022 est.)

Roadways

Jemen

total: 71,300 km (2005)

paved: 6,200 km (2005)

unpaved: 65,100 km (2005)

Telephones - fixed lines

Jemen

total subscriptions: 1.2 million (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 4 (2021 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

Jemen

total subscriptions: 15 million (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 46 (2021 est.)

Disputes - international

Jemen

Yemen-Oman: none identified

Yemen-Saudia Arabia: in 2004, Saudi Arabia reinforced its concrete-filled security barrier along sections of the fully demarcated border with Yemen to stem illegal cross-border activities, including militants and arms; in 2013 and 2015, Saudi Arabia again erected fences