North Yemen became independent from 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 and brief civil war in 1994 was quickly subdued. In 2000, Saudi Arabia and Yemen agreed to delineate their border. Fighting in the northwest between the government and the Huthis, a Zaydi Shia Muslim minority, continued intermittently from 2004 to 2010. The southern secessionist movement was revitalized in 2007.

Public rallies in Sana'a against then 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. In April 2011, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), in an attempt to mediate the crisis in Yemen, proposed the GGC Initiative, an agreement in which the president would step down in exchange for immunity from prosecution. SALIH's refusal to sign an agreement led to further violence. The UN Security Council passed Resolution 2014 in October 2011 calling for an end to the violence and completing a power transfer deal. In November 2011, SALIH signed the GCC Initiative to step down and to transfer some of his powers to Vice President Abd Rabuh Mansur HADI. Following HADI's uncontested election victory in February 2012, SALIH formally transferred his powers. In accordance with the GCC initiative, Yemen launched a National Dialogue Conference (NDC) in March 2013 to discuss key constitutional, political, and social issues. HADI concluded the NDC in January 2014 and planned to begin implementing subsequent steps in the transition process, including constitutional drafting, a constitutional referendum, and national elections.

The Huthis, perceiving their grievances were not addressed in the NDC, joined forces with SALIH and expanded their influence in northwestern Yemen, culminating in a major offensive against military units and rival tribes and enabling their forces to overrun the capital, Sanaa, in September 2014. In January 2015, the Huthis surrounded the presidential palace, HADI's residence, and key government facilities, prompting HADI and the cabinet to submit their resignations. HADI fled to Aden in February 2015 and rescinded his resignation. He subsequently escaped to Oman and then moved to Saudi Arabia and asked the GCC to intervene militarily in Yemen to protect the legitimate government from the Huthis. In March, Saudi Arabia assembled a coalition of Arab militaries and began airstrikes against the Huthis and Huthi-affiliated forces. Ground fighting between Huthi-aligned forces and resistance groups backed by the Saudi-led coalition continued through 2016. The UN brokered a cessation of hostilities (COH) that reduced airstrikes and fighting across the country for several months in mid-2016. Meanwhile, UN-backed peace talks in Kuwait broke down in August 2016 without agreement. The conflict escalated, and subsequent attempts to declare a COH or resume peace talks have failed. The Huthis and SALIH’s political party announced a Supreme Political Council in August 2016 and a National Salvation Government, including a prime minister and several dozen cabinet members, in November 2016, to govern in Sanaa and further challenge the legitimacy of HADI’s government.

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

15 00 N, 48 00 E

Middle East

almost four times the size of Alabama; slightly larger than twice the size of Wyoming

1,906 km

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

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

highest point: Jabal an Nabi Shu'ayb 3,666 m

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

arable land 2.2%; permanent crops 0.6%; permanent pasture 41.7%

6,800 sq km (2012)

the vast majority of the population is found in the Asir Mountains (part of the larger Sarawat Mountain system), located in the far western region of the country

sandstorms and dust storms in summer

limited natural freshwater resources; inadequate supplies of potable water; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification

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

28,036,829 (July 2017 est.)

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

Arabic (official)

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) (2010 est.)

2.28% (2017 est.)

28.4 births/1,000 population (2017 est.)

6 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.)

0.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)

the vast majority of the population is found in the Asir Mountains (part of the larger Sarawat Mountain system), located in the far western region of the country

SANAA (capital) 2.962 million; Aden 882,000 (2015)

21.4 years

median age at first birth among women 25-29 (2013 est.)

385 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

3.63 children born/woman (2017 est.)

33.5% (2013)

5.6% of GDP (2014)

0.31 physicians/1,000 population (2014)

0.7 beds/1,000 population (2012)

urban: 72% of population

rural: 46.5% of population

total: 54.9% of population

urban: 28% of population

rural: 53.5% of population

total: 45.1% of population (2012 est.)

urban: 92.5% of population

rural: 34.1% of population

total: 53.3% of population

urban: 7.5% of population

rural: 65.9% of population

total: 46.7% of population (2012 est.)

<.1% (2016 est.)

9,900 (2016 est.)

<500 (2016 est.)

17.1% (2016)

39.9% (2013)

4.6% of GDP (2008)

in transition

22 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, Arkhabil Suqutra (Socotra Archipelago), Dhamar, Hadramawt, Hajjah, Ibb, Lahij, Ma'rib, Raymah, Sa'dah, San'a' (Sanaa), Shabwah, Ta'izz

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)

Unification Day, 22 May (1990)

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

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

18 years of age; universal

General People's Congress or GPC [Ali Abdallah SALIH]

National Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party [Qassem Salam SAID]

Nasserist Unionist People's Organization [Abdulmalik al-MEKHLAFI]

Yemeni Reform Grouping or Islah [Muhammed Abdallah al-YADUMI]

Yemeni Socialist Party or YSP [Dr. Abd al-Rahman Umar al-SAQQAF]

Huthis

Muslim Brotherhood

Women National Committee

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

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)

golden eagle; national colors: red, white, black

Yemen is a low-income country that faces difficult long-term challenges to stabilizing and growing its economy, and the current conflict has only exacerbated those issues. The ongoing war has halted Yemen’s exports, pressured the currency’s exchange rate, accelerated inflation, severely limited food and fuel imports, and caused widespread damage to infrastructure. More than 80% of the population is in need of humanitarian assistance and over half are food insecure.

Prior to the start of the conflict in 2014, Yemen was highly dependent on declining oil and gas resources for revenue. Oil and gas earnings accounted for roughly 25% of GDP and 65% of government revenue. The Yemeni Government regularly faced annual budget shortfalls and tried to diversify the Yemeni economy through a reform program designed to bolster non-oil sectors of the economy and foreign investment. In July 2014, the government continued reform efforts by eliminating some fuel subsidies and in August 2014, the IMF approved a three-year, $570 million Extended Credit Facility for Yemen.

However, the conflict that began in 2014 stalled these reform efforts and ongoing fighting continues to accelerate the country’s economic decline. In September 2016, President HADI announced the move of the main branch of Central Bank of Yemen from Sanaa to Aden where his government could exert greater control over the central bank’s dwindling resources. Regardless of which group controls the main branch, the central bank system is struggling to function. Yemen’s Central Bank’s foreign reserves, which stood at roughly $5.2 billion prior to the conflict, have declined to negligible amounts. The Central Bank can no longer fully support imports of critical goods or the country’s exchange rate. The country also is facing a growing liquidity crisis and rising inflation. The private sector is hemorrhaging, with almost all businesses making substantial layoffs. Access to food and other critical commodities such as medical equipment is limited across the country due to security issues on the ground. The Social Welfare Fund, a cash transfer program for Yemen’s neediest, is no longer operational and has not made any disbursements since late 2014.

Yemen will require significant international assistance during and after the protracted conflict to stabilize its economy. Long-term challenges include a high population growth rate, high unemployment, declining water resources, and severe food scarcity.

$69.17 billion (2016 est.)

$75.7 billion (2015 est.)

$104.1 billion (2014 est.)

$27.32 billion (2016 est.)

-9.8% (2016 est.)

-28.1% (2015 est.)

-0.2% (2014 est.)

$2,400 (2016 est.)

$2,700 (2015 est.)

$3,900 (2014 est.)

-4.1% of GDP (2016 est.)

-3.7% of GDP (2015 est.)

6.2% of GDP (2014 est.)

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

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

-48.8% (2016 est.)

7.418 million (2016 est.)

27% (2014 est.)

35% (2003 est.)

54% (2014 est.)

37.9 (2009 est.)

37.3 (1999 est.)

6.2% of GDP (2016 est.)

-11.8% of GDP (2016 est.)

119.1% of GDP (2016 est.)

85.2% of GDP (2015 est.)

calendar year

5% (2016 est.)

29.6% (2015 est.)

NA%

27% (31 December 2016 est.)

25% (31 December 2015 est.)

$6.718 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

$6.202 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$11.95 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

$14.9 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$4.515 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

$9.727 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$NA

$-1.532 billion (2016 est.)

$-3.026 billion (2015 est.)

$163.6 million (2016 est.)

$1.439 billion (2015 est.)

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

Egypt 26%, Saudi Arabia 15.4%, Oman 11.3%, Malaysia 9.8%, Thailand 5.8%, UAE 4.9% (2016)

$3.117 billion (2016 est.)

$6.423 billion (2015 est.)

food and live animals, machinery and equipment, chemicals

UAE 12.8%, China 12%, Turkey 8%, Saudi Arabia 8%, Indonesia 6.8%, Brazil 6.6%, India 4.8% (2016)

$592.6 million (31 December 2016 est.)

$2.035 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$7.181 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

$7.287 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$NA

Yemeni rials (YER) per US dollar -

214.9 (2016 est.)

214.9 (2015 est.)

228 (2014 est.)

214.89 (2013 est.)

214.35 (2012 est.)

5.006 billion kWh (2015 est.)

3.634 billion kWh (2015 est.)

0 kWh (2016 est.)

0 kWh (2016 est.)

1.534 million kW (2015 est.)

99% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

2% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

21,670 bbl/day (2016 est.)

49,590 bbl/day (2014 est.)

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

3 billion bbl (1 January 2017 es)

56,840 bbl/day (2014 est.)

140,000 bbl/day (2015 est.)

27,290 bbl/day (2014 est.)

84,340 bbl/day (2014 est.)

2.85 billion cu m (2015 est.)

1.19 billion cu m (2015 est.)

8.8 billion cu m (2014 est.)

0 cu m (2013 est.)

478.5 billion cu m (1 January 2017 es)

22 million Mt (2013 est.)

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)

.ye

7O (2016)

57 (2013)

gas 641 km; liquid petroleum gas 22 km; oil 1,370 km (2013)

3.97% of GDP (2014)

4.08% of GDP (2013)

4.57% of GDP (2012)

4.93% of GDP (2011)

Land Forces, Naval and Coastal Defense Forces (includes Marines), Air and Air Defense Force (al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Yemeniya), Border Guards, Strategic Reserve Forces (2013)

18 is the legal minimum age for voluntary military service; no conscription; 2-year service obligation (2012)

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; one attack was reported in 2016 and one reported during the first half of 2017

Saudi Arabia has reinforced its concrete-filled security barrier along sections of the fully demarcated border with Yemen to stem illegal cross-border activities