The Republic of Yemen

The Republic of Yemen is located in the southwestern part of the Arabian Peninsula, overlooking one of the most important international waterways, the Bab al-Mandab Strait, which connects the Red Sea to the Indian Ocean via the Gulf of Aden. This distinctive geographic location has granted Yemen significant strategic importance throughout the ages, making it a vital link between the continents of the world and a key hub for international trade and maritime navigation.

Yemen is a country steeped in history and heritage, home to some of the oldest kingdoms and civilizations known to humanity, such as Saba, Ma’in, Qataban, Hadramawt, and Himyar. These civilizations were renowned for their agricultural and architectural achievements, most notably the Marib Dam, a remarkable landmark in the heritage of mankind.

Yemen also played a pivotal role in ancient trade routes, particularly the famed “Frankincense and Myrrh Route,” which made it a vibrant center for cultural and civilizational exchange.

In modern times, the September 26 Revolution of 1962 marked a pivotal national turning point in northern Yemen. It overthrew a theocratic regime built on oppression, subjugation, and the deliberate perpetuation of ignorance and poverty as tools of control. In the south, the October 14 Revolution of 1963 erupted against colonial forces, continuing the path of national liberation and ultimately ending British colonial presence.

These historic movements culminated in the unification of Yemen on May 22, 1990, a landmark moment in the country’s political journey, when the northern and southern regions merged to form a single state: the Republic of Yemen.

Since then, Yemen has embraced a pioneering democratic experience characterized by political pluralism and the peaceful transfer of power through elections, affirming the people’s will to participate in shaping their future.

The Republic of Yemen pursues a foreign policy grounded in fostering balanced and constructive relations with countries around the world. Particular emphasis is placed on strengthening ties with neighboring states, based on bonds of kinship, geographic proximity, and shared history. This approach reflects Yemen’s commitment to promoting regional security, stability, and peace, while advancing regional and international cooperation in support of mutual interests.

Yemen also values its relationships with friendly nations that share common interests and principles, foremost among them, Japan.

Official Name

Republic of Yemen

National Flag

Rectangular, width two-thirds of its length. It consists of three rectangles of equal length, with flag length, the highest red, the middle is white, and the third is black.

National Logo

The national emblem of Yemen depicts a golden eagle of Saladin with a scroll between its claws. The scroll bears the name of the country in Arabic: الجمهورية اليمنية or Al-Jumhuriyyah Al-Yamaniyah (“The Yemeni Republic”). The chest of the eagle contains a shield that depicts a coffee plant and the Marib Dam, with seven blue wavy stripes below. The flagstaffs on either side of the eagle hold the flag of Yemen.

General Information

Location

The Republic of Yemen is located in the south of the Arabian Peninsula in southwest Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the north, Oman to the east-northeast, the Red Sea to the west, and the Gulf of Aden and Arabian Sea to the south. Yemen is the second-largest country on the Arabian Peninsula, covering 527,970 km² (203,850 sq mi), with a coastline of approximately 2,000 km (1,200 mi).

Yemen Key International

+967

Language

Arabic is the official language. There is a minority speaking Amharic in the east of the country, and the inhabitants of Socotra Island have their own language, called the language of Socotra.

Ports

Airports:

Sana’a International Airport, Aden International Airport, Taiz International Airport, Hodeidah International Airport, Mukalla International Airport, and Sayoun Airport.

Land Ports:

Haradh Port, Al-Buqa Port, Al-Alb Port, Shahan Port, Sarfit Port, and Al-Wadiah Port.

Sea Ports:

Aden Port, Mokha Port, Hodeidah Port, Mukalla Port, Nishtun Port, Al-Dhaba Port, Bir Ali Port, Balhaf Port, Radhum Port, Salif Port, Ras Isa Port, Al Khawkhah Port, Al-Lahiya Port, and Midi Port.

Population

According to June 2011 estimates, the population of Yemen was about 24 million, 46% of whom were under the age of 15, and 2.7% over the age of 65. The population of the Republic of Yemen, according to the final results of the general census of population, housing, and establishments for the year 2004, was 19,685,161 people. By 2011, it was estimated to have reached 23,832,569. The population grows annually by 3% and the male population represents 50.91% of the total population. The female population represents 49.09% of the total population.

• Infant mortality rate is 68.29 per 1,000 births for the period 2010-2015.
• Crude mortality rate is 8.10 per 1,000 births for the year 2010-2015.
• Crude birth rate is 35.90 per 1,000 births for the year 2010-2015.

The System of Government

The system of government in the Republic of Yemen is republican and democratic. The people are the owners and source of authority. They are directly exercised through referenda and general elections. They are also indirectly exercised by the legislative, executive, and judicial bodies, and through the elected local councils. The political system in the Republic of Yemen is based on political and partisan pluralism, and power is traded and participated peacefully through general elections.

President

The President of the Republic of Yemen is the Head of State. He is elected directly by the people in a competitive election involving a number of candidates. The president is required to win a majority of the votes. The presidential term is seven years from the date of his swearing-in. The post of President of the Republic may not be held by one person for more than two presidential sessions.

Local Authority

Local authority represents a form of practice in governance in Yemen. This process is achieved through constitutional and legal rules and regulations, which are based on the principle of administrative and financial decentralization and expansion of opportunities for participation in policy making, planning, programs, decision-making, and community participation in decision-making. As well as supervising and overseeing the functioning of the executive bodies in the various governorates and districts.

The Republic of Yemen administers administratively within the framework of the local authority system to 21 governorates, including the capital secretariat, the total number of cities is 225, of which 195 are centers of directorates and 30 are secondary cities, and they have a total number of towns and villages. Yemen has more than 216 islands on the Red Sea, the Arabian Sea, and the Gulf of Aden. The number of local councils is 349, and the number of local constituencies (5620) is local (electoral center).