Country Profile: Yemen

Yemen, located in the Middle East at the southern end of the Arabian Peninsula, has a complex geographical landscape featuring coastal plains, mountains, and desert terrains. The nation, home to an estimated population of approximately 34.5 million people in 2025, grapples with significant challenges due to ongoing civil unrest and economic instability. The economy is primarily reliant on oil and gas, but the depletion of reserves and widespread poverty have exacerbated unemployment and food insecurity issues. The governance structure is in transition, with recent efforts to form a unified leadership amidst conflicts from various factions, including the Houthi movement.

Geography

Yemen shares borders with Oman and Saudi Arabia and is strategically placed along some of the world's busiest maritime routes, particularly the Bab el Mandeb strait. The country's total area is 527,968 square kilometers, making it nearly four times the size of Alabama. Yemen's terrain includes a narrow coastal plain supported by rugged mountains and desert fields.

1,906 km of coastline
1,601 km of land boundaries (including 1,307 km with Saudi Arabia)
12 nm territorial sea claims

People and Society

The Yemeni population is predominately Arab, with a total estimated population of 34,505,496 in 2025. The society is characterized by a high youth demographic, with 34.4% of the population aged between 0-14 years. The majority of Yemenis are Muslim, with 99.1% identifying as such, predominantly Sunni and Shia. Urbanization has been increasing, with about 39.8% of the population living in urban areas as of 2023.

62.2% of the population between ages 15-64
20.5 years median age (2025)
2.22% population growth rate (2025)

Economy

Yemen has a low-income economy heavily reliant on oil and gas, but it faces severe structural challenges due to the civil war, resulting in destruction of infrastructure. Real GDP is estimated at $18.719 billion in 2024, with a per capita GDP of just $200. High inflation rates, reaching 29.1% in 2022, have compounded the economic difficulties.

17.1% unemployment rate (2024)
28.7% of GDP from agriculture (2018)
20.05% of GDP from remittances (2023)

Government

The Republic of Yemen is currently operating under a transitional government, with efforts underway to stabilize the political landscape. The capital, Sanaa, has historical significance, and governance is characterized by a mixed legal system influenced by Islamic law. The country is administratively divided into 22 governorates.

Presidential Leadership Council formed in April 2022
Last parliamentary election was in 2003
18 years is the minimum voting age

Military and Security

The Yemeni Armed Forces consist of several branches, including the army, air force, and navy, along with paramilitary groups. The ongoing conflict has led to significant desertion within the military ranks and involvement from external regional forces. The legal minimum age for military service is 18.

Yemeni Armed Forces are primarily equipped with older Soviet-supplied weapons
Ongoing threats from groups like AQAP and ISIS-Yemen
Reports of child soldier recruitment by various factions

Energy

Yemen's energy sector remains underdeveloped, with 76% of the population having access to electricity as of 2022. The country has significant natural gas reserves but is also reliant on fossil fuels for electricity generation.

1.79 million kW of installed electricity generating capacity (2023)
83% of electricity capacity from fossil fuels
10.286 million cubic meters of natural gas production (2023)

Environment

Yemen faces severe environmental challenges, including limited freshwater resources, desertification, and inadequate potable water supplies. The country is a signatory to several international environmental agreements but struggles with persistent ecological issues.

44.4% of land used for agriculture (2023)
8% of municipal solid waste recycled (2016)
265 million cubic meters of total municipal water withdrawal (2022)

Transportation

The transportation infrastructure includes various airports, ports, and a limited civil aviation sector. The country has 37 airports and 10 ports, with ongoing challenges due to the civil conflict affecting logistics and transportation efficiency.

30 vessels in the merchant marine (2023)
6 airports with helipads (2025)
1 large port, 2 medium ports (2024)

Communications

Telecommunications are limited, with 20 million mobile subscriptions as of 2023. The internet penetration remains low, with only 14% of the population utilizing it by 2020.

728,000 fixed-line subscriptions (2022)
486,000 fixed broadband subscribers (2022)
State-run broadcasting media with limited options

Key Metrics

Metric	Value	Note
Population	34,505,496 (2025 est.)
Area	527,968 sq km
GDP	$18.719 billion (2024 est.)	Based on purchasing power parity
Unemployment Rate	17.1% (2024 est.)
Birth Rate	29.07 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Life Expectancy	68.2 years (2024 est.)
Energy Consumption per Capita	2.987 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Total Fertility Rate	3.65 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Health Expenditure	4.3% of GDP (2015)
Urban Population	39.8% of total population (2023)