World Context: Yemen

Source and mapping status

This page maps the site registry entry “Yemen” to the supplied dataset entity “Yemen.” Mapping status: exact-name. The source is a frozen 2025 snapshot; dates embedded in individual fields remain controlling.

• Source entity count: 1.
• Selected public fields present: 19.
• Independent corroboration in this page: none.

Place and environment

Location: Middle East, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden, and Red Sea, between Oman and Saudi Arabia Area: total : 527,968 sq km; 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) Climate: mostly desert; hot and humid along west coast; temperate in western mountains affected by seasonal monsoon; extraordinarily hot, dry, harsh desert in east 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 Natural hazards: sandstorms and dust storms in summer; volcanism: limited volcanic activity; Jebel at Tair (Jabal al-Tair, Jebel Teir, Jabal al-Tayr, Jazirat at-Tair) (244 m), which forms an island in the Red Sea, became active in 2007; 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 Environmental issues: limited natural freshwater resources; inadequate supplies of potable water; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification

Population, settlement, and language context

Population: total: 34,505,496 (2025 est.); male: 17,275,539; female: 17,229,957 Population distribution: 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 Urbanization: urban population: 39.8% of total population (2023); rate of urbanization: 3.71% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.) Languages: Arabic (official)

Public and legal context

Capital: name: Sanaa; geographic coordinates: 15 21 N, 44 12 E; time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time); etymology: the name is reputed to mean "fortified place" in an ancient language Government type: in transition Legal system: mixed system of Islamic (sharia) law, Napoleonic law, English common law, and customary law

Economy and connectivity context

Economic overview: low-income Middle Eastern economy; infrastructure, trade, and economic institutions devastated by civil war; oil/gas-dependent but decreasing reserves; massive poverty, food insecurity, and unemployment; high inflation Industries: 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 Electricity access: electrification - total population: 76% (2022 est.); electrification - urban areas: 96.1%; electrification - rural areas: 65% Internet users: percent of population: 14% (2020 est.) Airports: 37 (2025) Ports: total ports: 10 (2024); large: 1; medium: 2; small: 2; very small: 5; ports with oil terminals: 6; key ports: Aden, Al Ahmadi, Al Mukalla, Al Mukha, Ras Isa Marine Terminal

Interpretation and freshness boundary

Use these fields to ask better questions about material conditions, access, distance, public administration, and information availability. Do not use them to infer intelligence capability, government intent, personal loyalty, protected traits, or a permanent national character. Reverify any time-sensitive claim before publication or comparison.