Local time--:--:--Sana'a ·

Asia / Western Asia · Card 051

Yemen

Yemen is a country in Western Asia. Its capital is Sana'a.

Find Yemen

● Capital · Gold highlights this card’s area.
Map: Natural Earth. Boundaries show geographic context, not a position on sovereignty. Small islands may use enlarged markers.

At a glance

Capital: Sana'aSana’a is the constitutional capital. Aden serves as a base for the internationally recognized government; control is divided.
Languages: Arabic
Currency: Yemeni rial (YER)
Population: 41.8 million2025 · World Bank
Area: 527,968 km²203,850 square miles
Unification: 1990

Yemen in context

Asia and its surrounding regions. The dot marks Sana'a; the mapped territory is highlighted in gold.

Natural Earth · locator map

Geography & languages

Physical geography

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.

Languages

Languages used in public life include Arabic.

Location

Middle East, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden, and Red Sea, between Oman and Saudi Arabia. Sana’a is the constitutional capital. Aden serves as a base for the internationally recognized government; control is divided.

Flag

Three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black

Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile · UN Security Council · Yemen

History & independence

North Yemen became independent from Ottoman rule in 1918, while South Yemen gained independence from Britain in 1967. The two states united in 1990. Political upheaval and armed conflict intensified after 2011, with rival authorities and severe humanitarian consequences.

1967
South Yemen gains independence
1990
North and South Yemen unite
2014
Houthis take control of Sana’a

Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile · UN Security Council · Yemen

Economy

Main activities

Agriculture, trade, fisheries, remittances and energy production have supported the economy. War, damaged infrastructure and disrupted exports have sharply constrained livelihoods and public revenue.

Industry and production

crude oil production and petroleum refining; small-scale production of cotton textiles, leather goods; food processing; handicrafts; aluminum products; cement; commercial ship repair; natural gas production

Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile · UN Security Council · Yemen

Population & economic trends

Dated World Bank observations. Population uses selected years; real GDP uses all available annual observations.

Population, 1970–2025

Millions of people

41.82025 · millions of people

Population estimates may be revised. Selected years are shown.

Sources: World Bank · Population

View data table

Population: source values and plotted units
Year	People	Millions of people
1970	7,065,279	7.065
1980	9,543,358	9.543
1990	13,887,862	13.888
2000	19,624,141	19.624
2010	26,754,387	26.754
2020	36,134,863	36.135
2025	41,773,878	41.774

Real GDP, 1990–2018

Billions of constant 2015 US dollars

36.82018 · billions of constant 2015 US dollars

Constant prices adjust for inflation. This is total economic output, not current-dollar GDP or income per person. Missing years are left as gaps.

Sources: World Bank · Real GDP

View data table

Real GDP: source values and plotted units
Year	Constant 2015 US$	Billions of constant 2015 US dollars
1990	23,918,014,719	23.918
1991	25,423,293,506	25.423
1992	27,509,935,271	27.510
1993	28,610,873,632	28.611
1994	30,534,082,001	30.534
1995	32,265,172,489	32.265
1996	33,760,652,689	33.761
1997	35,526,710,256	35.527
1998	37,660,691,242	37.661
1999	39,082,582,125	39.083
2000	41,498,634,364	41.499
2001	43,077,095,457	43.077
2002	44,772,278,889	44.772
2003	46,450,074,455	46.450
2004	48,295,394,891	48.295
2005	50,995,951,706	50.996
2006	52,612,732,131	52.613
2007	54,369,170,289	54.369
2008	56,352,323,546	56.352
2009	58,531,033,712	58.531
2010	63,038,676,061	63.039
2011	55,023,373,390	55.023
2012	56,340,077,331	56.340
2013	59,057,651,713	59.058
2014	58,946,215,687	58.946
2015	42,444,490,074	42.444
2016	38,465,266,584	38.465
2017	36,514,386,855	36.514
2018	36,789,138,480	36.789

Human development

The Human Development Index combines health, education and income. Scores range from 0 to 1.

HDI · 20230.470Low human developmentRank 184 of 193 · 2025 report

Human Development Index over time

19900.359

20000.439

20100.502

20200.459

20230.470

69.3 yearsLife expectancy at birth

5.5 yearsMean schooling, adults aged 25+

The latest values refer to 2023. All historical scores use the same report edition. HDI does not describe every aspect of inequality or quality of life.

Sources: UNDP · Human Development Report 2025

Government

Formally a republic, but governing authority is divided by conflict. The internationally recognized government is led by a Presidential Leadership Council; Houthi authorities control Sana’a and other areas. Institutions do not operate as a single nationwide system.

Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile · UN Security Council · Yemen

Knowledge check

Three questions about Yemen.

QUESTION 1 OF 3

Which currency is listed for Yemen?

Sources & notes

Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile · UN Security Council · Yemen

Prepared 24 September 2026. World Bank series: SP.POP.TOTL (persons) and NY.GDP.MKTP.KD (constant 2015 US dollars); downloaded 24 September 2026, provider update 13 July 2026. UNDP values use the 2025 report and 2023 observation year. These are dated statistical snapshots, not live population or economic counters.

Maps use Natural Earth geographic data. Background geography, flag descriptions and selected historical facts use archived public-domain CIA World Factbook profiles, supplemented by the sources linked above. The Factbook is no longer updated; dated statistics here come from the separately named providers.