Yemen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Republic of Yemen
ٱلْجُمْهُورِيَّةُ ٱلْيَمَنِيَّةُ (Arabic)
al-Jumhūriyyatu l-Yamaniyyatu (formal) al-Jumhūriyyah l-Yamaniyyah (informal) |
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 Emblem
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Motto: ٱللَّهُ، ثُمَّ ٱلْوَطَنُ، ٱلثَوْرَةُ، ٱلْوَحْدَةُ
Allāhu, thumma l-Waṭanu, ath-Thawratu, al-Waḥdatu "God, then Country, Revolution, Unity" |
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Anthem: الجمهورية المتحدة
al-Jumhūriyyatu l-Muttaḥidatu "United Republic" |
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.svg) Location in the Eastern Hemisphere Yemen and its neighbors |
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| Status | |
| Capital and largest city
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Sanaa |
| Capital-in-exile | Aden |
| Official language and national language |
Arabic |
| Ethnic groups
(2000)
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92.8% Arabs 3.7% Somalis 3.5% other |
| Religion
(2020), also see Religion in Yemen
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| Demonym(s) | Yemeni Yemenite |
| Government | Unitary provisional republic |
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• Chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council
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Rashad al-Alimi (disputed) |
| Ahmad Awad bin Mubarak (disputed) | |
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• President of the House of Representatives
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Sultan al-Barakani |
| Legislature | Parliament |
| Shura Council | |
| House of Representatives | |
| Establishment | |
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• Unification
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22 May 1990 |
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• Current constitution
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16 May 1991 |
| Area | |
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• Total
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530,000 km2 (200,000 sq mi) (49th) |
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• Water (%)
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negligible |
| Population | |
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• 2023 estimate
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34,449,825  (48th) |
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• Density
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65.0/km2 (168.3/sq mi) (152nd) |
| GDP (PPP) | 2023 estimate |
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• Total
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$69.963 billion |
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• Per capita
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$2,053 (180th) |
| GDP (nominal) | 2023 estimate |
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• Total
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 $21.045 billion (123th) |
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• Per capita
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$617 (184th) |
| Gini (2014) | 36.7 medium |
| HDI (2022) | 0.424 low · 186th |
| Currency | Yemeni rial (YER) |
| Time zone | UTC+3 (AST) |
| Driving side | right |
| Calling code | +967 |
| ISO 3166 code | YE |
| Internet TLD | .ye, اليمن. |
Yemen, also known as the Republic of Yemen, is a country in West Asia. It is located in the southern part of the Arabian Peninsula. Yemen shares borders with Saudi Arabia to the north and Oman to the northeast. To the west, it has a coastline along the Red Sea, and to the south, it meets the Indian Ocean. Yemen also shares sea borders with Eritrea, Djibouti, and Somalia.
Yemen covers about 528,000 square kilometers (203,861 square miles). This makes it the second-largest country on the Arabian Peninsula. Its coastline is about 2,000 kilometers (1,243 miles) long. Sanaa is the capital city and also the largest city. Yemen's population is estimated to be around 34.7 million people. Most of its people are Arab Muslims. Yemen is a member of important groups like the Arab League and the United Nations.
Yemen is one of the world's least developed countries. This means it faces many challenges in growing and improving. It is also one of the poorest countries in the Middle East and North Africa. In 2019, the United Nations reported that about 24 million people in Yemen needed humanitarian help. This was almost 75% of its population. As of 2020, Yemen was ranked as one of the most fragile states. It also had one of the highest levels of hunger in the world.
Contents
What Does "Yemen" Mean?
The name Yamnat was first seen in old writings from the second Himyarite Kingdom. It likely meant "South" of the Arabian Peninsula. The Romans called this area Arabia Felix, which means "happy" or "fortunate" Arabia. This was different from Arabia Deserta, which meant "deserted Arabia."
Long ago, "Historical Yemen" was much bigger than the country is today. It stretched from parts of Saudi Arabia to parts of Oman.
A Quick Look at Yemen's History
Yemen's location has made it a meeting point for many civilizations for over 7,000 years. Around 1200 BCE, the Sabaeans built a successful trading kingdom. Later, the Himyarite Kingdom took over in 275 CE. This kingdom covered most of modern Yemen.
Christianity arrived in the 300s, and Islam spread quickly in the 600s. Yemeni soldiers were very important in early Islamic history. From the 800s to the 1500s, different ruling families came and went. In the 1800s, the country was split between the Ottoman Empire and the British Empire.
After World War I, the Kingdom of Yemen was formed. In 1962, it became the Yemen Arab Republic (North Yemen). In 1967, the British area became the independent People's Democratic Republic of Yemen (South Yemen). This was the first and only socialist state in the Arab world. In 1990, North and South Yemen joined to form the modern Republic of Yemen. Ali Abdullah Saleh was the first president.
Since 2011, Yemen has faced a difficult political situation. There were protests against poverty and unemployment. By 2015, a civil war began. Many groups are fighting for control. This conflict has involved other countries and has caused a very serious humanitarian crisis.
Exploring Yemen's Geography
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Yemen covers about 530,000 square kilometers (203,861 square miles). It is in the southern part of the Arabian Peninsula. Saudi Arabia is to the north, the Red Sea to the west, and the Gulf of Aden to the south. Oman is to the east.
Several islands belong to Yemen. These include the Hanish Islands, Kamaran, and Perim in the Red Sea. Socotra is another island in the Arabian Sea. Socotra is the largest of these islands. Many islands are volcanic. For example, Jabal al-Tair Island had eruptions in 1883 and 2007.
Yemen's Regions and Climate
| BWh Hot desert BWk Cold desert BSh Hot semi-arid BSk Cold semi-arid CWb Subtropical highland |
Yemen has four main geographical areas. These are the western coastal plains, the western highlands, the eastern highlands, and the Rub' al Khali desert in the east.
The Tihamah is a very dry and flat coastal plain along the Red Sea. Even though it's dry, it has many marshy areas. These areas are good for mosquitoes. There are also large sand dunes here. Water from the highlands sinks into the ground in the Tihamah. This creates underground water reserves. Farmers use this water for their crops.
The western highlands rise sharply from the Tihamah. This area has the most rainfall in Arabia. Rainfall can quickly increase from 100 mm (4 inches) per year to over 1,000 mm (39 inches) in some places. Temperatures are warm during the day but get much cooler at night.
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The central highlands are a high plateau, over 2,000 meters (6,562 feet) high. This area is drier than the western highlands. But it still gets enough rain in wet years for farming. People store water to irrigate fields of wheat and barley. Sana'a is in this region. The highest point in Yemen and Arabia is Jabal An-Nabi Shu'ayb, which is about 3,666 meters (12,028 feet) high.
Yemen's part of the Rub al Khali desert in the east is much lower. It is usually below 1,000 meters (3,281 feet). This area gets almost no rain. Only Bedouin herders with camels live there.
Yemen's Amazing Biodiversity
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Yemen has six different natural areas, called ecoregions. Its plants are a mix of tropical African and Saharo-Arabian types. The African plants are found where there is more rain, like in the western mountains. The Saharo-Arabian plants grow in drier areas, such as the coastal plains and deserts.
Many of Yemen's plants are similar to those found in tropical Africa. Examples include Ficus trees and different types of Acacia. Some plants are unique to the sandy coastal plain called the Tihamah.
Among the animals, the Arabian leopard is very rare in the mountains.
How Yemen is Governed
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Yemen is a republic, which means its leaders are elected. It has a two-house parliament. The 1991 constitution sets up this system. There is an elected president, an elected 301-seat Assembly of Representatives, and an appointed 111-member Shura Council. These groups share power.
The president is the country's head of state. The prime minister is the head of the government. The president is chosen by popular vote. The prime minister is chosen by the president and must be approved by the parliament. The president serves for seven years, and parliament members serve for six years. People aged 18 and older can vote.
How Yemen is Divided
Yemen is divided into 21 areas called governorates. There is also one special city area for the capital, Sana'a. In 2013, a new governorate was created for Socotra Island.
These governorates are then split into 333 districts. These districts are further divided into sub-districts, and then into many villages.
In 2014, a plan was made to divide Yemen into six regions. This would create a federal system of government. However, this plan contributed to the start of the civil war.
- Saada
- Al Jawf
- Hadhramaut
- Al Mahrah
- Hajjah
- 'Amran
- Al Mahwit
- Sanaa Municipality
- Sana'a Governorate
- Ma'rib
- Al Hudaydah
- Raymah
- Dhamar
- Ibb
- Dhale
- Al Bayda
- Shabwah
- Taiz
- Lahij
- Abyan
- Aden
- Socotra
Yemen's Economy
Since 1990, Yemen has been one of the poorest countries in the Middle East. In 2013, its total economic output was about $61.63 billion. The average income per person was $2,500.
The biggest part of Yemen's economy is services, like shops and businesses. This makes up 61.4% of the economy. Industry, which includes making things, is 30.9%. Agriculture, or farming, is 7.7%. Oil production is a big part of the industry. It makes up about 25% of the economy and 63% of the government's money. After the civil war started in 2014, Yemen's economy dropped by more than half.
Farming and Agriculture in Yemen
Most Yemenis work in agriculture. Key farm products include grain, vegetables, fruits, and coffee. They also raise livestock like sheep, goats, and camels. Sorghum is the most common crop grown. Cotton and mangoes are also important.
A big challenge for Yemen is the growing of Khat (or qat). This is a plant that people chew for a stimulating effect. Growing qat uses a lot of water, up to 40% of the water from the Sana'a area each year. This is drying up water sources and replacing food crops. This has led to higher food prices and more poverty. Some groups are trying to replace qat farms with coffee plantations.
Yemen's Industries
Yemen's main industries are making crude oil and refining petroleum. Other industries include food processing, handicrafts, and making cotton textiles and leather goods. They also produce aluminum products, repair ships, and make cement. Yemen has large amounts of natural gas. Its first plant to make liquefied natural gas started in 2009.
What Yemen Trades
In 2013, Yemen exported goods worth $6.694 billion. The main things it exported were crude oil, coffee, dried fish, and liquefied natural gas. These were mostly sent to China, Thailand, India, and South Korea.
Yemen imported goods worth $10.97 billion. The main imports were machinery, food, livestock, and chemicals. These came mostly from the EU, UAE, Switzerland, China, and India.
Government Money and Water Challenges
In 2013, the Yemeni government had $7.769 billion in income and spent $12.31 billion. This means it spent more than it earned. Yemen also has a lot of public debt.
A very big problem in Yemen is a severe shortage of water. This is especially true in the highlands. Some experts have even said Yemen could be the first country to run out of water. Yemen is both the poorest country and the country with the least water in the Arab world.
The main source of water is from underground, but water levels have dropped a lot. For example, in Sana'a, the water level was 30 meters (98 feet) below the surface in the 1970s. By 2012, it had dropped to 1,200 meters (3,937 feet) below the surface. The government has not controlled how much groundwater is used.
The civil war has made the water problem even worse. It has stopped projects to improve water access. It is thought that up to 80% of the population struggles to get water for drinking and washing. Bombing has forced many people to move, putting more strain on water sources in new areas. Organizations like UNICEF are working to provide safe drinking water to millions of people in Yemen.
Who Lives in Yemen?
Yemen's population is about 34 million people. A large part of the population, 46%, is under 15 years old. In 1950, the population was only 4.3 million. It is expected to grow to about 60 million by 2050. Yemeni families tend to have many children, with an average of 4.45 children per woman. Sana'a's population has grown very fast, from about 55,000 in 1978 to nearly 1 million today.
The People of Yemen
Yemen is mostly a tribal society. This means that many people belong to different tribes. When North and South Yemen were formed, most minority groups left. There are also some people of Persian origin.
Yemenite Jews used to be a large minority group with their own unique culture. Most of them moved to Israel in the mid-1900s. There are also people of Indian origin, mainly in the southern part of the country. Many people of Arab descent in Southeast Asia, East Africa, and India have roots in southern Yemen.
Yemen is considered the birthplace of the Arabs and the Arabic language.
Yemen has welcomed refugees from other countries. In 2007, it hosted about 124,600 refugees, mostly from Somalia, Iraq, and Ethiopia. Also, more than 334,000 Yemenis have had to move from their homes because of conflict within the country. Many Yemenis also live in other countries, especially in Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom.
Languages Spoken in Yemen
Modern Standard Arabic is the official language of Yemen. However, Yemeni Arabic is the language people use every day. In some eastern areas and on Socotra Island, other non-Arabic languages are spoken. Yemeni Sign Language is used by people who are deaf.
The Mehri language is the largest non-Arabic language spoken in Yemen. It has over 70,000 speakers. The Soqotri language is spoken on Socotra Island. It has been kept separate from Arabic influences. English is the most important foreign language. It is widely taught and spoken, especially in the south, which was once a British area.
Religion in Yemen
| Religion in Yemen | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunni Islam | 56.36% | |||
| Zaidiyyah (Shia Islam) | 42.1% | |||
| Others | 1.54% | |||
Islam is the official religion in Yemen. Most people in Yemen are Muslims. There are two main groups of Muslims: Sunni and Shia. Sunni Muslims make up about 53% of the population, and Shia Muslims make up about 45%.
Sunnis are mostly found in the south and southeast. Shias are mostly in the north and northwest, where most of Yemen's population lives. Larger cities have mixed communities. Yemen has one of the highest percentages of people who say they are religious in the world.
A very small number of Yemenis are not Muslim. These include Christians, Jews, or Hindus. There are very few Jews left in Yemen.
Education in Yemen
In 2010, about 64% of adults in Yemen could read and write. The government wants to reduce illiteracy to less than 10% by 2025. Education for children aged six to 15 is supposed to be free and required. However, this rule is not always enforced.
In 2003, the government created a plan to provide education to 95% of children aged six to 14. This plan also aimed to reduce the difference in education between boys and girls, and between city and rural areas. Yemen has increased its spending on education.
Some of the top universities in Yemen include the Yemeni University of Science & Technology and Sanaa University.
Yemen's Culture
Sports in Yemen
Football is the most popular sport in Yemen. The Yemen Football Association is part of FIFA and the AFC. The Yemeni national football team plays in international games. Yemen also has many football clubs that play in national and international leagues.
Yemen's mountains offer great chances for outdoor sports. These include biking, rock climbing, trekking, and hiking. Mountain climbing tours are organized to peaks over 3,000 meters (9,843 feet) high. The coastal areas and Socotra Island are good for water sports like surfing, bodyboarding, sailing, swimming, and scuba diving. Socotra is known for some of the best surfing spots in the world.
Camel jumping is a traditional sport that is becoming more popular. In this sport, people run and jump over as many camels as they can. The person who jumps over the most camels wins.
Yemen's biggest sports event was hosting the 20th Arabian Gulf Cup in Aden and Abyan in 2010.
World Heritage Sites in Yemen
Yemen has four World Heritage sites recognized by UNESCO. These are special places that are important to the world's history and nature.
The Old Walled City of Shibam in Wadi Hadhramaut was recognized in 1982. It is called "Manhattan of the Desert" because of its tall, skyscraper-like buildings. This 16th-century city is surrounded by a strong wall made of mud and straw. It is one of the oldest examples of a city built with tall buildings.
The Old City of Sana'a was recognized in 1986. It is located high up, over 2,134 meters (7,000 feet) above sea level. People have lived here for more than 2,500 years. Sana'a became an important Islamic center in the 600s. It still has 103 mosques, 14 traditional bathhouses, and over 6,000 houses from before the 11th century.
The historic town of Zabid is near the Red Sea coast. It was recognized in 1993. Zabid was Yemen's capital from the 1200s to the 1400s. It was a very important place for learning in the Arab and Islamic world because of its university.
The newest World Heritage Site in Yemen is the Socotra Archipelago. This group of four islands and two rocky islets is very remote. It has amazing biodiversity. For example, 37% of its 825 plant species are found nowhere else in the world. It is also home to unique animals and the famous Dragon's Blood Tree. The islands also have their own special language, Soqotri.
Images for kids
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A Sabaean gravestone of a woman holding a stylized sheaf of wheat, a symbol of fertility in ancient Yemen
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A funerary stela featuring a musical scene, first century AD
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Himyarite King Dhamar Ali Yahbur II
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The ruins of The Great Dam of Marib
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The interior of the Great Mosque of Sana'a, the oldest mosque in Yemen
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Jibla became the capital of the Sulayhid dynasty.
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Queen Arwa al-Sulaihi Palace
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Al-Qahyra (Cairo) Castle's Garden in Taiz, the capital of Yemen during the Rasulid's era
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Al Bakiriyya Ottoman Mosque in Sana'a, was built in 1597
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Mocha was Yemen's busiest port in the 17th and 18th centuries.
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Saint Joseph church in Aden was built by the British in 1850 and is currently abandoned.
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The Ottoman Grand Vizier and Wāli of Yemen Ahmed Muhtar Pasha
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Imam Yahya hamid ed-Din's house in Sana'a
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British colony of Aden: Queen Elizabeth II stamp, 1953
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Queen Elizabeth II holding a sword prepared to knight subjects in Aden in 1954
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Egyptian military intervention in North Yemen in 1962
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Prayers during Ramadan in Sana'a
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"Sana'a risks becoming the first capital in the world to run out of a viable water supply as Yemen's streams and natural aquifers run dry", according to The Guardian.
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Protest in Sana'a, 3 February 2011
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Saudi-led air strike on Sana'a, 12 June 2015: Saudi Arabia is operating without a UN mandate.
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A topographic map of Yemen
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Mountains of north Yemen
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A water reservoir in Haraz, Yemen
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Dracaena cinnabari at Socotra Island
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Former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh at the Pentagon, 8 June 2004
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Ousted Yemeni President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, 7 May 2015
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Yemeni soldiers
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A proportional representation of Yemen's exports
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A Souq in Old Sana'a
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Saleh Mosque in Sana'a.
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The National Museum in Sana'a
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New Sana'a University in Sana.
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A Yemeni doctor examines an infant in a USAID-sponsored health care clinic.
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Yemen's population (1961–2008). Yemen has a growth rate of 3.46% (2008 est.)
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See also
In Spanish: Yemen para niños
