Moving to Yemen: visas, cost of living & immigrant guide

4 facts — expand for details.

Population

29,884,405

Population Growth Rate

2.5%

Urban Population

32.300000

Population in Major Urban Areas

SANAA (capital) 2.419 million; Aden 784,000

10 facts — expand for details.

Age Structure

40.480000

Median Age

18.500000

Birth Rate - births/1,000 population

32

Death Rate - deaths/1,000 population

6.64

Total Fertility Rate - children born/woman

4.27

Contraceptive Prevalance Rate - female 12-49

27.7%

Contraceptive Prevalence Rate - female 12-49

27.7%

Mean Age for Mother's First Birth (age 25-49)

19.2

Mother's mean age at first birth

19.2

Sex Ratio at Birth - male/female

1.050000

Ethnic Groups

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

Nationality Noun

Yemeni(s)

6 facts — expand for details.

Literacy - total population

50.2%

Literacy - male

70.5%

Literacy - female

30%

Literacy Definition

age 15 and over can read and write

Education Expenditures - percent of GDP

5.2%

Total School Life Expectancy - (primary to tertiary)

9.000000

12 facts — expand for details.

Life Expectancy at Birth

64.470000

Infant Mortality Rate

51.930000

Infant Mortality Rate - total deaths/1,000 live births

51.930000

Maternal Mortality Rate - deaths/100,000 live births

200

Physicians Density - physicians/1,000 population

.2

Hospital Bed Density - beds/1,000 population

.7

Health Expenditures - percent of GDP

5.5%

Major Infectious Diseases - degree of risk

high

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

14.5%

Drinking Water Source - percent of urban population improved

72.000000

Sanitation Facility Access - percent of urban population improved

92.500000

Underweight - percent of children under five years

43.1%

4 facts — expand for details.

Economic Overview

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.

The conflict has also created a severe humanitarian crisis - the world’s largest cholera outbreak currently at nearly 1 million cases, more than 7 million people at risk of famine, and more than 80% of the population in need of humanitarian assistance.

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.

Industries

• crude oil production and petroleum refining
• small-scale production of cotton textiles and leather goods
• food processing
• handicrafts
• small aluminum products factory
• cement

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$2,800.00 (USD)

GDP - real growth rate

-28.1%

9 facts — expand for details.

GDP - Gross Domestic Product (PPP)

$73,630,000,000 (USD)

GDP Per Capita

$2,800.00 (USD)

GDP - real growth rate

-28.1%

GDP - official exchange rate

$34,930,000,000 (USD)

GDP - composition, by end use

• consumption: 102.9% government
• consumption: 11.7% investment in fixed
• capital: 8.9% investment in
• inventories: -5.2% exports of goods and
• services: 8.5% imports of goods and
• services: -26.8%

GDP by Sector- agriculture

19%

GDP by Sector- Industry

10.6%

GDP by Sector- services

70.4%

Industrial Growth Rate

9%

5 facts — expand for details.

Inflation Rate

12.2%

Exchange Rate per US Dollar

Yemeni rial (YER)

Currency Name and Code

Yemeni Rial (YER)

Fiscal Year

calendar year

Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate

22%

7 facts — expand for details.

Labor Force

6,832,000

Unemployment Rate

35%

Major Industries

• crude oil production and petroleum refining
• small-scale production of cotton textiles and leather goods
• food processing
• handicrafts
• small aluminum products factory
• cement

Agriculture Products

• grain, fruits, vegetables, pulses, qat (mildly narcotic shrub), coffee, cotton
• dairy products, livestock (sheep, goats, cattle, camels), poultry
• fish

Population Below Poverty Line

45.2%

Child Labor - # of children ages 5-14

1,334,288

Child Labor - % of children ages 5-14

23%

1 facts — expand for details.

Labor Force by Occupation - note

most people are employed in agriculture and herding

services, construction, industry, and commerce account for less than one-fourth of the labor force

Labor Force by Occupation - note

most people are employed in agriculture and herding

services, construction, industry, and commerce account for less than one-fourth of the labor force

4 facts — expand for details.

Annual Budget

$7,581,000,000 (USD)

Public Debt (% of GDP)

35.9%

Budget Surplus or Deficit - percent of GDP

-10.3%

Taxes and other revenues - percent of GDP

17.7%

8 facts — expand for details.

Full Country Name

Republic of Yemen

Country Name

Yemen

Local - Long

Al Jumhuriyah al Yamaniyah

Local - Short

Al Yaman

Former Name

Yemen Arab Republic [Yemen (Sanaa) or North Yemen] and People's Democratic Republic of Yemen [Yemen (Aden) or South Yemen]

Etymology- history of name

name derivation remains unclear but may come from the Arab term "yumn" (happiness) and be related to the region's classical name "Arabia Felix" (Fertile or Happy Arabia); the Romans referred to the rest of the peninsula as "Arabia Deserta" (Deserted Arabia)

Independence

• 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])
• notable earlier dates: North Yemen became independent on 1 November 1918 (from the Ottoman Empire) and became a republic with the overthrow of the theocratic Imamate on 27 September 1962
• South Yemen became independent on 30 November 1967 (from the UK)

National Holiday

Unification Day, 22 May (1990)

10 facts — expand for details.

Government Type

in transition

Constitution

• history: adopted by referendum 16 May 1991 (following unification); note - after the National Dialogue ended in January 2015, a Constitutional Drafting Committee appointed by the president worked to prepare a new draft constitution that was expected to be put to a national referendum before being adopted; however, the start of the current conflict in early 2015 interrupted the process
• amendments: amended several times, last in 2009

Legal System:

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

Executive Branch:

• chief of state: Presidential Leadership Council Chairperson Dr. Rashad Muhammad al-ALIMI (since 19 April 2022)
• head of government: Prime Minister Salim Salih BIN BURAYK (since 9 May 2025)
• cabinet: 24 members from northern and southern Yemen, with representatives from Yemen's major political parties election/appointment
• process: formerly, the president was directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 7-year term (eligible for a second term); vice president appointed by the president; prime minister appointed by the president most recent election
• date: 21 February 2012
• election results: 2012: Abd Rabuh Mansur HADI (GPC) elected consensus president
• note: on 7 April 2022, President Abd Rabuh Mansur HADI announced his abdication, the dismissal of Vice President ALI MUHSIN al-Ahmar and the formation of a Presidential Leadership Council, an eight-member body chaired by former minister Rashad AL-ALIMI; on 19 April 2022, the Council was sworn in before Parliament and began assuming the responsibilities of the president and vice president and carrying out the political, security, and military duties of the government; in May 2025, Chairperson al-ALIMI made changes to his cabinet

Legislative Branch:

• Description: bicameral Parliament or Majlis consists of: Shura Council or Majlis Alshoora (111 seats; members appointed by the president; member tenure NA) House of Representatives or Majlis al Nuwaab (301 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 6-year terms)
• Elections: Shura Council - last appointments NA (next appointments NA) House of Representatives - last held in April 2019 (next to be held in NA)
• Election Results: percent of vote by party - GPC 58%, Islah 22.6%, YSP 3.8%, Unionist Party 1.9%, other 13.7%; seats by party - GPC 238, Islah 46, YSP 8, Nasserist Unionist Party 3, National Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party 2, independent 4;
• Composition: men 245, women 0, percent of women 0%

Judicial Branch:

• office: judges appointed by the Supreme Judicial Council, which is chaired by the president of the republic and includes 10 high-ranking judicial officers; judges serve for life with mandatory retirement at age 65
• subordinate courts: appeal courts; district or first instance courts; commercial courts

Regions or States:

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

Political Parties and Leaders:

• General People’s Congress or GPC (3 factions: pro-Hadi [Abdrabbi Mansur HADI], pro-Houthi [Sadeq Ameen Abu RAS], pro-Salih [Ahmed SALIH]
• Nasserist Unionist People's Organization [Abdulmalik al-MEKHLAFI]
• National Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party [Qassem Salam SAID]
• Southern Transitional Council or STC [Aydarus Qasim al-ZUBAYDI]
• Yemeni Reform Grouping or Islah [Muhammed Abdallah al-YADUMI]
• Yemeni Socialist Party or YSP [Dr. Abd al-Rahman Umar al-SAQQAF]

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Citizenship Criteria:

• birth: no citizenship by descent
• only: the father must be a citizen of Yemen; if the father is unknown, the mother must be a citizen dual citizenship
• recognized: no residency requirement for
• naturalization: 10 years

Capital Name

Sanaa

Capital - geographic coordinate

15 21 N, 44 12 E

Capital Time Difference

UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

4 facts — expand for details.

International Organization Participation:

• 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
• UNMHA
• UNMIL
• UNMIS
• UNOCI
• UNVIM
• UNWTO
• UPU
• WCO
• WFTU (NGOs)
• WHO
• WIPO
• WMO
• WTO

International Law Organization Participation:

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

Diplomatic Representation from US:

• Chief of Mission: Ambassador Steven H. FAGIN (since 1 June 2022); note - the embassy closed in March 2015; Yemen Affairs Unit currently operates out of US Embassy Riyadh
• Embassy: previously - Sa'awan Street, Sanaa
• Mailing Address: 6330 Sanaa Place, Washington DC 20521-6330
• Telephone: US Embassy Riyadh [966] 11-488-3800 previously - [967] 1 755-2000
• FAX: US Embassy Riyadh [966] 11-488-7360
• Email: YemenEmergencyUSC@state.gov
• Website: https://ye.usembassy.gov/

Diplomatic Representation in the US:

• Chief of Mission: Ambassador Mohammed Abdullah Mohammed AL-HADHRAMI (since 7 June 2022)
• Chancery: 2319 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
• Telephone: [1] (202) 965-4760
• FAX: [1] (202) 337-2017
• Email: Information@yemenembassy.org
• Website: https://www.yemenembassy.org/

7 facts — expand for details.

Geographic Location

Middle East

Geographic Coordinates

15 00 N, 48 00 E

Total Area

203,848 Square Miles 527,968 Square Kilometers

Land Area

203,848 Square Miles 527,968 Square Kilometers

Land Boundaries

1,085 Miles 1,746 Kilometers

Border Countries

Oman 288 km, Saudi Arabia 1,458 km

Coastline

1,184 Miles 1,906 Kilometers

6 facts — expand for details.

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

Highest Point

3,760 Meters

Highest Point Location

Jabal an Nabi Shu'ayb 3,760 m

Lowest Point Location

Arabian Sea 0 m

Natural Resources

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

Irrigated Land

2,626 Square Miles 6,801 Square Kilometers

Time Zone

UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

5 facts — expand for details.

Climate

The interior highlands have two rainy seasons a year: the first in March and April, and a second with heavier rainfall in July and August.

For the rest of the year, sunny, clear weather is the rule, with occasional dust storms.

In winter, night temperatures in Sanaa can drop to 30°F, with sunshine and daytime highs of 70°F.

Summer temperatures are moderate, with highs of 85°F, dropping to the low 60s at night.

To the west in the Tihama (lowlands adjoining the Red Sea) where there is a mixture of African and Arab cultures, the weather is hot and humid for much of the year.

Even in winter, daytime highs can be in the 90s.

During the summer, torrential monsoons occur.

Aden and the southern coast are similarly hot and humid, with summer temperatures frequently in the 100s.

However, winter temperatures are far milder and more pleasant.

The Hadhramaut and the interior desert regions extending east from Aden to the Omani border are hot and dry.

To the east of the highland interior, the terrain slopes down to the sandy wastes of the deserts of inner Arabia, the famous "Empty Quarter."

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

Location

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

Total Area

203,848 Square Miles 527,968 Square Kilometers

Border Countries

Oman 288 km, Saudi Arabia 1,458 km

Environment - Current Issues

• very limited natural fresh water resources
• inadequate supplies of potable water
• overgrazing
• soil erosion
• desertification

Environment - International Agreements

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements.

4 facts — expand for details.

Exports

$7,462,000,000 (USD)

Imports

$8,350,000,000 (USD)

Major Exports

crude oil, coffee, dried and salted fish

Major Imports

food and live animals, machinery and equipment, chemicals

Top Export Partners

Thailand 19%, India 16.7%, China 15.3%, South Korea 12.4%, Malaysia 6.1%, US 5.4%

Top Import Partners

UAE 16%, Saudi Arabia 12.7%, China 6.2%, Kuwait 5.5%, US 4.7%

Export Partners

Thailand 19%, India 16.7%, China 15.3%, South Korea 12.4%, Malaysia 6.1%, US 5.4%

Import Partners

UAE 16%, Saudi Arabia 12.7%, China 6.2%, Kuwait 5.5%, US 4.7%

2 facts — expand for details.

Country Description

The Republic of Yemen was established in 1990 following unification of the former Yemen Arab Republic (North) and the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen (South).

Islamic and traditional ideals, beliefs, and practices provide the foundation of the country's customs and laws.

Yemen is a developing country and modern tourist facilities are available only in major cities.

Safety & Security

The Department of State urges U.S. citizens not to travel to Yemen.

U.S. citizens currently in Yemen should depart.

The security threat level in Yemen is extremely high due to terrorist activities and civil unrest.

While political violence in Sana’ahas calmed in recent months, political protests can escalate quickly without notice.

Terrorist organizations continue to plan attacks against private U.S. citizens and U.S. government interests throughout Yemen.

The U.S. government considers the potential threat to U.S. government personnel in Yemen to be serious enough to require them to live and work under strict security guidelines.

All U.S. government employees under the authority of the U.S.

Chief of Mission must follow strict safety and security procedures when traveling outside the Embassy.

The U.S.

Embassy in Sana’a remains a restricted staffing post.

As staff levels at the Embassy are restricted, our ability to offer routine consular services and to assist U.S. citizens in an emergency remains limited.

Terrorist organizations, including Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), continue to be active throughout Yemen.

The U.S. government remains highlyconcerned about possible attacks against U.S. citizens, facilities, businesses, and perceived U.S. and Western interests.

Terrorists often do not distinguish between U.S. government personnel and private U.S. citizens.

Terrorists may target areas frequented by Westerners, such as tourist sites, hotels, restaurants, grocery stores, and other frequently visited areas.

U.S. citizens are urged to maintain a high level of vigilance and be aware of their surroundings.

AQAP remains an active threat and continues to plan attacks against U.S. personnel and interests in Yemen.

AQAP publicly claimed responsibility for the attempted attack aboard Northwest Airlines flight 253 on December 25, 2009.

In the same statement, the group also made threats against Westerners working in embassies and elsewhere.

A U.S. citizen was attacked and killed in Taiz on March 18, 2012, and AQAP later claimed responsibility.

On May 8, 2012, international media reported an AQAP plot to blow up a U.S.-bound airliner using a refined improvised explosive device.

AQAP also claimed responsibility for a May 21, 2012 suicide bombing in Sana’a which killed over 90 Yemeni soldiers.

A Yemeni employee of the U.S.

Embassy in Sana’a was assassinated by AQAP gunmen on October 11, 2012.

There have been numerous other terrorist incidents in Sana’a.

On July 11, 2012, at least nine people were killed when a suicide bomber targeted cadets at the Sana’a Police Academy as they were leaving class.

On November 28, a Saudi diplomat and his bodyguard were shot and killed in an ambush in the Hadda district of Sana’a, which is home to many Westerners.

U.S. citizens remain vulnerable to kidnappings and terrorist attacks, especially when in transit to and from residences or workplaces.

All U.S. citizens are reminded to vary their routes and times, remain vigilant, report suspicious incidents to the Embassy, lock car windows and doors, and carry a cell phone.

Throughout the country, U.S. citizens are urged to exercise particular caution at locations where large groups of expatriates have gathered.

On December 21, 2012, AQAP militants kidnapped three Westerners in the governmental and commercial center of Sana’a.

As of April 2013, their whereabouts remain unknown.

A Norwegian national working for the United Nations was abducted on January 15, 2012 in the Hadda neighborhood of Sana'a.

Tribesmen also released six U.N. aid workers in Yemen in early February 2012, two days after they were kidnapped, to secure the release of a prisoner.

U.S. citizens in Yemen should exercise caution and take prudent security measures in all areas, especially those areas frequented by Westerners, including maintaining a high level of vigilance, avoiding crowds and demonstrations, keeping a low profile, varying times and routes for all travel, and making contingenc

2 facts — expand for details.

Crime

Yemen is considered a medium to high threat environment for crime.

Common petty or street crime exists in cities, particularly when valuables and cash are left in plain view.

Burglaries and home invasions are not common, but violence against expatriates has risen in recent years in large part due to increased AQAP activity, civil unrest,and current economic conditions.

There has also been an increase in reports of carjackings and assassinations, including within the expatriate community.

The Yemeni justice system is slow and inefficient.

Government ineffectiveness also led to a rise in crimes such as forgeries of land deeds and vehicle documents and corrupt business transactions.

Local police forces are largely unaccountable, and frequently make arrests (including of U.S. citizens) on the request of influential families and tribes.

Yemeni authorities rarely inform the U.S.

Embassy when a U.S. citizen is arrested.

The ongoing political transition is expected to result in improvements tothe functioning of Yemen’s judicial system and other government agencies; however, the process will be slow, and travelers should not rely on significant assistance from the Yemeni government in the near term.

Americans are advised not to buy counterfeit and pirated goods, even if they are widely available.

The bootlegs are illegal in the United States.

Criminal Penalties

While traveling in Yemenor another country, all travelers are subject to its laws even if they are U.S. citizens.

Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different than our own.

In Yemen, foreign travelers may be taken in for questioning if they don’t have their passport with them.

It is also illegal to take pictures of military installations or troops.

Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs can land the driver immediately in jail.

The criminal penalties in Yemen may be very different from what U.S. citizens are accustomed to in the United States.

There are also some things that might be legal in a foreign country, but still illegal in the United States, and travelers can still be prosecuted under U.S. law.

Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime prosecutable in the United States.

If a U.S. citizen breaks local laws in Yemen, his/her U.S. passport won’t prevent arrest or prosecution.

When traveling, it’s very important to know what’s legal and what’s not in the foreign country.

Persons violating Yemeni laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned.

Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Yemen are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines.

The use of the mild stimulant "qat” or “khat" is legal and common in Yemen, but it is considered an illegal substance in many other countries, including the United States.

Do not attempt to bring qat back to the United States; the penalties for trafficking qat include heavy fines and possible imprisonment.

While some countries will automatically notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate if a U.S. citizen is detained or arrested in a foreign country, the U.S.

2 facts — expand for details.

Medical Facilities

Outside Sana’a and Aden, modern medical facilities are not readily available and emergency ambulance services are limited and often have attendants with little to no medical training.

Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health services.

It is important to bring an adequate supply of prescription medications for the duration of the traveler’s time outside the United States.While many prescription drugs are available in Yemen, quality control is uneven, and the particular drug a traveler needs may not be available.

Travelers can find detailed information on vaccinations and other health precautions on the CDC website.

For information about outbreaks of infectious diseases abroad, consult the World Health Organization (WHO) website.

The WHO website also contains additional health information for travelers, including detailed country-specific health information.

Tuberculosis is a serious health concern in Yemen.

Traffic Safety

• section below. Piracy in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, and Indian Ocean is also a security threat to maritime activities in the region. Boats and ships traveling through the Red Sea or the Gulf of Aden, including near the island of Socotra, are at risk of pirate attacks. In the last several years, there were hundreds of documented pirate attacks in Yemeni territorial waters in the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea. Many of these crew members are currently being held for ransom. The threat of piracy extends into the Indian Ocean off the Horn of Africa as well. For further information, see the Department of State’s International Maritime Piracy Fact Sheet and the United States Maritime Administration (MARAD) advisory on vessels transiting high risk waters. MARAD has also advised that elevated regional tensions have increased the risk of maritime attacks being conducted by extremists to vessels operating in the Gulf of Oman, North Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden, and the Bab el Mandeb regions. MARAD recommends vessels at anchor, operating in restricted maneuvering environments, or at slow speeds should be especially vigilant, and report suspicious activity. U.S. flag vessels that observe suspicious activity in the area are advised to report such suspicious activity or any hostile or potentially hostile action to COMUSNAVCENT battlewatch captain at phone number 011-973-1785-3879. All suspicious activities and events are also to be reported to the U.S. Coast Guard National Response Center at the following toll free
• Telephone: 1-800-424-8802, direct telephone 202-267-2675, or TDD 202-267-4477. The advisories are available on the MARAD website. Other potential hazards to travelers include land mines and unexploded ordnance from the 1994 civil war and other conflicts. This is of particular concern in the six southern provinces and in the northern highlands. Most minefields have been identified and cordoned off, but there are still undetected and unidentified minefields in Yemen. Traffic Safety and Road Conditions The security situation throughout Yemen remains dangerous, and travel to urban and rural areas is restricted for U.S. government personnel. All U.S. government employees are required to travel in armored vehicles when traveling outside secure facilities. Yemeni security officials advise against travel to rural areas, and the Government of Yemen sometimes places restrictions on U.S. citizens travelling outside Sana’a. Please check with local security officials for the latest restrictions. Road conditions in Yemen differ significantly from those in the United States.Travel by road in Yemen should be considered risky. Within cities, although minivans and small buses maintain somewhat regular routes, they pick up and drop off passengers with little notice or regard for other vehicles. Taxis and public transportation are widely available,but the vehicles may lack safety standards and equipment.Western women have reported incidents of sexual harassment by taxi drivers, especially at night. Despite the presence of traffic lights and traffic policemen, drivers are urged to exercise extreme caution, especially at intersections. While traffic laws exist, they are rarely enforced and not adhered to by motorists. Drivers sometimes drive on the left side of the road, although right-hand driving is specified by Yemeni law. No laws mandate the use of seat belts or car seats for children. The maximum speed for private cars is 100 kilometers per hour (62.5 miles per hour), but speed limits are rarely enforced. A large number of underage and unlicensed drivers are on the roads. Many vehicles are in poor repair and lack basic parts such as headlights, taillights, functional turn signals, or doors. Pedestrians, especially children, on the roads constitute a hazard in both rural and urban areas. Pedestrians frequently cross the street without regard for oncoming traffic. Animals may cross the road without warning in both cities and rural areas. Beyond the main

5 facts — expand for details.

Airports - total

57

Airports with Paved Runways

17

Roadways- total

44,304 Miles 71,300 Kilometers

Roadways- paved

3,853 Miles 6,200 Kilometers

Ports and Terminals

Aden, Al Hudaydah, Al Mukalla, As Salif, Ras Issa, Mocha, Nishtun

3 facts — expand for details.

Pipelines: Gas

398 Miles 641 Kilometers

Pipelines: Liquid Petroleum Gas

14 Miles 22 Kilometers

Pipelines: Oil

851 Miles 1,370 Kilometers

7 facts — expand for details.

Telephones

997,000

Cell Phones

2,978,000

Internet Users

320,000

Internet Country Code

.ye

Internet Hosts

255

Broadcast Media

• 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

Telephone System

• assessment: since unification in 1990, efforts have been made to create a national telecommunications network
• domestic: the national network consists of microwave radio relay, cable, tropospheric scatter, GSM and CDMA mobile-cellular telephone systems; fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity remains low by regional standards
• international: country code - 967; landing point for the international submarine cable Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG); satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (2 Indian Ocean and 1 Atlantic Ocean), 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region), and 2 Arabsat; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia and Djibouti

10 facts — expand for details.

Electricity Consumption- Kilowatt Hours (kWh)

4,133,000,000

Electricity Production- Kilowatt Hours (kWh)

5,020,000,000

Natural Gas Consumption - Kilowatt Hours (kWh)

869,900,000

Natural Gas Exports- Cubic Meters (cu m)

8,750,000,000

Natural Gas Production- Cubic Meters (cu m)

9,620,000,000

Natural Gas Reserves- Cubic Meters (cu m)

478,500,000,000

Oil Consumption- Barrels Per Day (bbl/day)

177,000

Oil Exports- Barrels Per Day (bbl/day)

175,200

Oil Production- Barrels Per Day (bbl/day)

387,500

Oil Reserves- Barrels Per Day (bbl/day)

3,000,000,000

Anthem History

United Republic is the national anthem of Yemen. Written by Abdulla Abdul Wahab Noman and composed by Ayob Tarish, it was formerly the anthem of the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen (South Yemen) and became the anthem of all of Yemen when the two Yemens merged in 1990.

Anthem Lyrics

Raddidi Ayyatuha 'D-dunya Nashidi Raddidihi Wa-a 'idi Wa-a idi Wa 'Dhkuri Fi Farhati Kulla Shahidi Wa'Mnahihi Hullalan Min Daw'i Idi Raddidi Ayyatuha 'D-dunya Nashidi 'Ishtu Imani Wa-hubbi Umamiyya Wa-masiri Fawqa Darbi Arabiyya Wa-sayabqa Nabdu Qalbi Yamaniyya Lan Tara 'D-dunya Ala Ardi Wasiyya.

Anthem Lyrics English

Repeat, O World, my song.

Echo it over and over again.

Remember, through my joy, each martyr.

Clothe him with the shining mantles Of our festival.

Repeat, O World, my song.

In faith and love I am part of mankind.

An Arab I am in all my life.

My heart beats in tune with Yemen.

No foreigner shall dominate over Yemen.