Yemen

Yemen

Introduction

Background

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. Fighting in the northwest between the government and Huthi rebels, a group seeking a return to traditional Zaydi Islam, began in 2004 and has since resulted in six rounds of fighting – the last ended in early 2010 with a ceasefire that continues to hold. The southern secessionist movement was revitalized in 2008 when a popular socioeconomic protest movement initiated the prior year took on political goals including secession. Public rallies in Sana’a against President SALIH – inspired by similar demonstrations in Tunisia and Egypt – slowly built momentum starting in late January 2011 fueled by complaints over high unemployment, poor economic conditions, and corruption. By the following month, some protests had resulted in violence, and the demonstrations had spread to other major cities. By March the opposition had hardened its demands and was unifying behind calls for SALIH’s immediate ouster. The Gulf Cooperation Council in late April 2011, in an attempt to mediate the crisis in Yemen, proposed an agreement in which the president would step down in exchange for immunity from prosecution. SALIH’s third refusal to sign the GCC agreement in late May led to heavy street fighting, and in early June an explosion at the mosque in the presidential compound injured SALIH, who was evacuated to Saudi Arabia for treatment. June witnessed an increasing number of clashes with government and anti-government forces – some with links to al-Qa’ida in the Arabian Peninsula – in a number of cities and towns in southern Yemen. In late September, SALIH returned to Sanaa amid heavy shelling and machinegun fire between loyal regime forces and defector military forces. The UN Security Council passed Resolution 2014 in October calling on both sides to end the violence and complete a power transfer deal.

Geography

Location

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

Geographic coordinates

15 00 N, 48 00 E

Map references

Middle East

Area

total: 527,968 sq km
country comparison to the world: 50 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

slightly larger than twice the size of Wyoming

Land boundaries

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

Coastline

1,906 km

Maritime claims

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

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

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Arabian Sea 0 m
highest point:Jabal an Nabi Shu’ayb 3,760 m

Natural resources

petroleum, fish, rock salt, marble

small deposits of coal, gold, lead, nickel, and copper

fertile soil in west

Land use

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

Irrigated land

6,800 sq km (2008)

Total renewable water resources

4.1 cu km (1997)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

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

Natural hazards

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), 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

Environment – current issues

limited natural freshwater resources

inadequate supplies of potable water

overgrazing

soil erosion

desertification

Environment – international agreements

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

Geography – note

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

People and Society

Nationality

noun: Yemeni(s)
adjective:Yemeni

Ethnic groups

predominantly Arab

but also Afro-Arab, South Asians, Europeans

Languages

Arabic (official)

Religions

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

Population

24,133,492 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49

Age structure

0-14 years: 43% (male 5,285,218/female 5,094,736)
15-64 years:54.4% (male 6,666,600/female 6,459,414)
65 years and over:2.6% (male 298,175/female 329,349) (2011 est.)

Median age

total: 18.1 years
male:18 years
female:18.2 years (2011 est.)

Population growth rate

2.647% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21

Birth rate

33.49 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35

Death rate

7.02 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73

Urbanization

urban population: 32% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization:4.6% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Major cities – population

SANAA (capital) 2.229 million (2009)

Sex ratio

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 (2011 est.)

Maternal mortality rate

210 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)
country comparison to the world: 57

Infant mortality rate

total: 55.11 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 39 male:59.7 deaths/1,000 live births
female:50.29 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 63.74 years
country comparison to the world: 172 male:61.7 years
female:65.87 years (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

4.63 children born/woman (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30

Health expenditures

5.6% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 125

Physicians density

0.3 physicians/1,000 population (2009)
country comparison to the world: 135

Hospital bed density

0.7 beds/1,000 population (2009)
country comparison to the world: 161

Drinking water source

improved:
urban: 72% of population
rural: 57% of population
total: 62% of population
unimproved:
urban: 28% of population
rural: 43% of population
total: 38% of population (2008)

Sanitation facility access

improved:
urban: 94% of population
rural: 33% of population
total: 52% of population
unimproved:
urban: 6% of population
rural: 67% of population
total: 48% of population (2008)

HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate

0.1% (2001 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112

HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS

12,000 (2001 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91

HIV/AIDS – deaths

NA

Major infectious diseases

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)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

43.1% (2003)
country comparison to the world: 2

Education expenditures

5.2% of GDP (2008)
country comparison to the world: 54

Literacy

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

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

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

Government

Country name

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]

Government type

republic

Capital

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

Administrative divisions

21 governorates (muhafazat, singular – muhafazah)

Abyan, ‘Adan (Aden), Ad Dali’, Al Bayda’, Al Hudaydah, Al Jawf, Al Mahrah, Al Mahwit, Amanat al ‘Asimah (Sanaa City), ‘Amran, Dhamar, Hadramawt, Hajjah, Ibb, Lahij, Ma’rib, Raymah, Sa’dah, San’a’ (Sanaa), Shabwah, Ta’izz

Independence

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)

National holiday

Unification Day, 22 May (1990)

Constitution

16 May 1991

amended 29 September 1994 and February 2001

Legal system

mixed legal system of Islamic law, English common law, and customary law

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration

non-party state to the ICCt

Suffrage

18 years of age

universal

Executive branch

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-Rabuh Mansur 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

note – President Ali Abdallah SALIH dismissed the Council of Ministers on 20 March 2011
(For more information visit the World 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%, other 1%

Legislative branch

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

Judicial branch

Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders

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 NU'MAN]

note – there are at least seven more active political parties

Political pressure groups and leaders

Muslim Brotherhood

Women National Committee
other:conservative tribal groups

Huthis, southern secessionist groups

al-Qa’ida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)

International organization participation

AFESD, AMF, CAEU, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAS, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

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

Flag description

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

National symbol(s)

golden eagle

National anthem

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

Economy

Economy – overview

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.

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$63.4 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85 $58.69 billion (2009 est.)
$56.51 billion (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate)

$31.27 billion (2010 est.)

GDP – real growth rate

8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20 3.9% (2009 est.)
3.6% (2008 est.)

GDP – per capita (PPP)

$2,700 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172 $2,600 (2009 est.)
$2,500 (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP – composition by sector

agriculture: 8.3%
industry:38.5%
services:53.3% (2010 est.)

Labor force

6.832 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62

Labor force – by occupation

note: most people are employed in agriculture and herding

services, construction, industry, and commerce account for less than one-fourth of the labor force

Unemployment rate

35% (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 181

Population below poverty line

45.2% (2003)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Distribution of family income – Gini index

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

Investment (gross fixed)

19.1% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128

Budget

revenues: $8.861 billion
expenditures:$8.492 billion (2010 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

28.3% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

1.2% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27

Public debt

30.8% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89 35.4% of GDP (2009 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

11.2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 206 5.4% (2009 est.)

Central bank discount rate

NA%

Commercial bank prime lending rate

25% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33 18% (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$3.679 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101 $3.659 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$10.13 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102 $9.346 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$6.183 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106 $4.988 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Agriculture – products

grain, fruits, vegetables, pulses, qat, coffee, cotton

dairy products, livestock (sheep, goats, cattle, camels), poultry

fish

Industries

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

Industrial production growth rate

9% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32

Electricity – production

6.153 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107

Electricity – consumption

4.646 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114

Electricity – exports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity – imports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Oil – production

258,800 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38

Oil – consumption

157,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65

Oil – exports

207,700 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55

Oil – imports

64,610 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82

Oil – proved reserves

3 billion bbl (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30

Natural gas – production

520 million cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70

Natural gas – consumption

100 million cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104

Natural gas – exports

420 million cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40

Natural gas – imports

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 206

Natural gas – proved reserves

478.5 billion cu m (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31

Current account balance

-$1.944 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158 -$2.565 billion (2009 est.)

Exports

$7.718 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100 $5.855 billion (2009 est.)

Exports – commodities

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

Exports – partners

China 34.4%, India 23%, Thailand 6.6%, South Africa 5.7%, Japan 5.3%, UAE 4.8% (2010)

Imports

$8.701 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94 $7.868 billion (2009 est.)

Imports – commodities

food and live animals, machinery and equipment, chemicals

Imports – partners

UAE 13.5%, China 12.2%, India 8.9%, Saudi Arabia 6.4%, Kuwait 4.7%, France 4.3%, Brazil 4.1% (2010)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$5.942 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82 $6.993 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Debt – external

$6.586 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103 $6.356 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment – at home

$NA

Exchange rates

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

Transportation

Airports

55 (2010)
country comparison to the world:85

Airports – with paved runways

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

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)

Pipelines

gas 423 km

liquid petroleum gas 22 km

oil 1,367 km (2010)

Roadways

total: 71,300 km
country comparison to the world: 66 paved:6,200 km
unpaved:65,100 km (2005)

Merchant marine

total: 6
country comparison to the world: 127 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)

Ports and terminals

Aden, Al Hudaydah, Al Mukalla

Transportation – note

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

the presence of several naval task forces in the Gulf of Aden and additional anti-piracy measures on the part of ship operators reduced the incidence of piracy in that body of water by more than half in 2010

Military

Military branches

Army, Navy (includes Marines), Yemen Air Force (Al Quwwat al Jawwiya al Jamahiriya al Yemeniya

includes Air Defense Force), Republican Guard Forces (2011)

Military service age and obligation

voluntary military service program authorized in 2001

2-year service obligation (2006)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 5,652,256
females age 16-49:5,387,160 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 4,056,944
females age 16-49:4,116,895 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 287,141
female:277,612 (2010 est.)

Military expenditures

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

Military – note

a Coast Guard was established in 2002

Transnational Issues

Disputes – international

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

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

Trafficking in persons

current situation: Yemen is a country of origin and, to a much lesser extent, a transit and destination country for men, women and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking

Yemeni children, mostly boys, migrate to the Yemeni cities, Saudi Arabia or, to a lesser extent, to Oman and are forced to work in domestic service, small shops, or as beggars

some of these children are subjected to prostitution

to a lesser extent, Yemen is also a source country for girls subjected to sex trafficking within the country and in Saudi Arabia
tier rating:Tier 3 – the Yemeni cabinet approved the country’s accession to the 2000 UN Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Protocol and the government reportedly prosecuted and convicted traffickers

despite these efforts, the Yemeni Government did not take steps to address trafficking for commercial sexual exploitation or to institute formal procedures to identify and protect victims of trafficking (2011)