Yemen

Broadcast media

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

.ye

Internet hosts

255 (2010) country comparison to the world: 188

Internet users

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

Telephone system

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 - main lines in use

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

Telephones - mobile cellular

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

Agriculture - products

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

Central bank discount rate

NA%

Commercial bank prime lending rate

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

Current account balance

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

Debt - external

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

Distribution of family income - Gini index

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

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.

Electricity - consumption

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

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - production

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

Exchange rates

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

Exports

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

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

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

GDP (official exchange rate)

$30.02 billion (2010 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$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

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

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$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

GDP - real growth rate

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

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

Imports

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

Imports - commodities

food and live animals, machinery and equipment, chemicals

Imports - partners

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

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

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

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

Investment (gross fixed)

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

Labor force

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

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

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Natural gas - consumption

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

Natural gas - exports

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

Natural gas - imports

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

Natural gas - production

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

Natural gas - proved reserves

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

Oil - consumption

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

Oil - exports

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

Oil - imports

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

Oil - production

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

Oil - proved reserves

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

Population below poverty line

45.2% (2003)

Public debt

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

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

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

Stock of broad money

$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

$NA

Stock of domestic credit

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

Stock of narrow money

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

Unemployment rate

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

Area

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

slightly larger than twice the size of Wyoming

Climate

mostly desert; hot and humid along west coast; temperate in western mountains affected by seasonal monsoon; extraordinarily hot, dry, harsh desert in east

Coastline

1,906 km

Elevation extremes

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

Environment - current issues

limited natural fresh water 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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

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

Geographic coordinates

15 00 N, 48 00 E

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

Irrigated land

5,500 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

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

Land use

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

Location

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

Map references

Middle East

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

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, 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

petroleum, fish, rock salt, marble; small deposits of coal, gold, lead, nickel, and copper; fertile soil in west

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

Total renewable water resources

4.1 cu km (1997)

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, 'Amran, Dhamar, Hadramawt, Hajjah, Ibb, Lahij, Ma'rib, Raymah, Sa'dah, San'a' (Sanaa), Shabwah, Ta'izz

Capital

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

Constitution

16 May 1991; amended 29 September 1994 and February 2001

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]

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

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

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-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 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

Government type

republic

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)

International organization participation

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

Supreme Court

Legal system

based on Islamic law, Turkish law, English common law, and local tribal customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

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

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

National holiday

Unification Day, 22 May (1990)

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 NUMAN]; 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)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

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.

Manpower available for military service

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

Manpower fit for military service

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

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

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

Military - note

a Coast Guard was established in 2002

Military branches

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

Military expenditures

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

Military service age and obligation

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

Age structure

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

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

Death rate

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

Education expenditures

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

Ethnic groups

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

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

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

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

Infant mortality rate

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

Arabic (official)

Life expectancy at birth

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

Literacy

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

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)

Median age

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

Nationality

noun: Yemeni(s) adjective: Yemeni

Net migration rate

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

Population

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

Population growth rate

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

Religions

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

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

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

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 (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate

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

Urbanization

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

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)

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)

Merchant marine

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

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

Ports and terminals

Aden, Al Hudaydah, Al Mukalla

Roadways

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

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