Yemen
country in West Asia
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World Factbook
CIA reference data · 4 sections
Geography
Location
Middle East, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden, and Red Sea, between Oman and Saudi Arabia
Climate
mostly desert; hot and humid along west coast; temperate in western mountains affected by seasonal monsoon; extraordinarily hot, dry, harsh desert in east
Terrain
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
Natural resources
petroleum, fish, rock salt, marble; small deposits of coal, gold, lead, nickel, and copper; fertile soil in west
People & Society
Religions
Muslim 99.1% (official; virtually all are citizens, an estimated 65% are Sunni and 35% are Shia), other 0.9% (includes Jewish, Baha'i, Hindu, and Christian; many are refugees or temporary foreign residents) (2020 est.)
Government
Government type
in transition
Independence
22 May 1990 (Republic of Yemen established with the merger of the Yemen Arab Republic [Yemen (Sanaa) or North Yemen] and the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen [Yemen (Aden) or South Yemen]); notable earlier dates: 1 November 1918 (North Yemen independent from the Ottoman Empire), 27 September 1962 (North Yemen becomes republic), 30 November 1967 (South Yemen independent from the UK)
National holiday
Unification Day, 22 May (1990)
Legal system
mixed system of Islamic (sharia) law, Napoleonic law, English common law, and customary law
Economy
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$18.719 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita
$200 (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate
0.8% (2018 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
29.1% (2022 est.)
Unemployment rate
17.1% (2024 est.)
Exports - partners
UAE 28%, India 21%, Saudi Arabia 17%, Oman 7%, Malaysia 5% (2023)
Imports - partners
China 23%, UAE 15%, Saudi Arabia 11%, Turkey 8%, India 7% (2023)
Source: CIA World Factbook · public domain (US gov work, 17 USC §105) · fetched 2026-05-06
Key Facts
- Ethnic group: Arabs[3], Somalis[4]
- Member of: United Nations[5], League of Arab States[6], Organisation of Islamic Cooperation[7]
- Country: Yemen[8]
- Located in or next to body of water: Red Sea[9], Arabian Sea[10]
- Head of government: Salem Saleh bin Braik[11]
- Continent: Asia[12], Africa[13]
- Instance of: country[14]
- Head of state: Rashad al-Alimi[15]
- Capital: Sanaa[16], Aden[17]
- Official language: Arabic[18]
- Currency: Yemeni Rial[19]
- Shares border with: Saudi Arabia[20], Oman[21]
- Top-level Internet domain: .ye[22]
- Anthem: National anthem of Yemen[23]
- Basic form of government: republic[24], presidential system[25]
- Contains the administrative territorial entity: Aden Governorate[26], Saada Wadi Sabr[27], Abyan Governorate[28], Dhale Governorate[29], Al Bayda' Governorate[30], Al Hudaydah Governorate[31], Al Jawf Governorate[32], Al Mahrah Governorate[33], Al Mahwit Governorate[34], Amanat al-Asimah Governorate[35], Dhamar Governorate[36], Hadhramaut Governorate[37], Hajjah Governorate[38], Ibb Governorate[39]
- Flag: flag of Yemen[40]
- Legislative body: Parliament of Yemen[41]
- Executive body: Government of Yemen[42]
- Highest judicial authority: Supreme Court of the Republic[43]
- Coat of arms: Emblem of Yemen[44]
- Part of: Middle East[45], West Asia[46]
- Commons category: Yemen[47]
- Licence plate code: YAR[48]
- Located in time zone: UTC+03:00[49], Asia/Aden[50]
Body
Cultural Significance
Things named for Yemen include Yemenis[51], a human population[52].
Why It Matters
Yemen has Wikipedia articles in 30 language editions, a strong signal of global cultural recognition.[53] Yemen is known by 53 alternative names across languages and contexts.[54]
Entities named for Yemen include Yemenis[51], a human population[52].