Yemen
Republic of Yemen
Local name: اليمن
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- Capital
- Sana’a
- Population
- 41.8 million
- 37th in the world (2025)
- Area
- 527,968 km²
- 49th in the world
- Density
- 79 people/km²
- 105th in the world
In brief
Yemen is a country in Western Asia. Its capital is Sana’a. Controlled by the Houthis since 2014; the recognised government sits in Aden. With 41.8 million inhabitants in 2025, it ranks 37th in the world by population, out of the 195 countries recognised by the UN. Its area is 527,968 km². It shares land borders with Oman and Saudi Arabia.
GDP per capita stands at $634 (2018), 188th in the world. Life expectancy at birth is 69.4 years (2024). 37% of the population lives in cities.
History of Yemen
The kingdom of Saba, that of the Queen of Sheba, prospered thanks to the incense route and the great Marib Dam. Converted to Islam in the 7th century, the north was ruled for more than a thousand years by Zaydi imams, until the revolution of 1962. The south, around the port of Aden, British from 1839, became independent in 1967 under a Marxist regime. The two Yemens united on 22 May 1990. Since 2014 a war has pitted the Houthi rebels, who hold Sanaa, against the government backed by a Saudi-led coalition, causing one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world.
Geography of Yemen
In the south-west of the Arabian Peninsula, Yemen is dominated in the west by mountains holding the highest peak in Arabia, Jabal an-Nabi Shu’ayb (3,666 m). It borders the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. The Socotra archipelago is home to unique species such as the dragon’s blood tree. The old town of Shibam, with its mud-brick tower houses, is nicknamed the “Manhattan of the desert”.
Map of Yemen
Flag of Yemen
The flag of Yemen is red, white and black. Its official proportions are 2:3 (height to width).
- Red34%
- White33%
- Black33%
Share of the flag’s surface taken by each colour.
What the flag stands for
Red, white and black, the pan-Arab colours, adopted at unification in 1990. Red evokes the blood of the martyrs and unity, white a better future, black the dark past.
Sources: Wikipedia, articles “Yemen” and “Flag of Yemen”.
Download the flag (SVG) All 4 red, white and black flags All the flags of the world
Fact file
| Official name | Republic of Yemen |
|---|---|
| Capital | Sana’a Controlled by the Houthis since 2014; the recognised government sits in Aden. |
| Official language | Arabic |
| Currency | Yemeni rial (YER, ﷼) |
| Demonym | Yemeni |
| Continent | Asia, Western Asia |
| Access to the sea | Yes |
| Area | 527,968 km² |
| Calling code | +967 |
| Internet domain | .ye |
| UN status | Member state |
Economy and society
GDP per capita
$634
188th in the world (2018)
Life expectancy
69.4 years
at birth (2024)
Urban population
37%
Sources: World Bank (2025) for population and economy, Natural Earth for the map, mledoze/countries and Wikidata for reference data. Method.