Yemen sits at the south-western tip of the Arabian Peninsula, bordering Saudi Arabia and Oman, with a heritage including the legendary Queen of Sheba's kingdom and the high-rise mud-brick towers of Shibam.
Geography & landscape
Yemen sits in Western Asia, in the northern hemisphere of Asia. With an area of approximately 527,968 km², it is a mid-sized country, set in the northern hemisphere and exposed to the tropical climate band typical of its latitude. Its capital, Sanaa, lies near coordinates 15.55°, 48.52°.
The country shares the cultural and geographic context of Asia, with neighbouring states and trade routes shaped by its position in the wider Western Asia region. Topography, watersheds and coastline (where present) define the practical realities of agriculture, settlement and transport across Yemen.
People & society
The population of Yemen is around 34M. Communities, dialects and customs vary by region, and the country’s sense of identity is shaped by its history, its borders and the everyday rhythms of its towns and cities.
The official language is Arabic, used in government, education and most public life. Regional dialects, minority languages and immigrant communities add further linguistic texture.
Government & politics
Yemen is structured as a in transition / civil war. Political authority is exercised through institutions based primarily in Sanaa, with the head of state and head of government performing constitutional roles defined by the country’s legal framework. Domestic policy, foreign relations and the administration of public services all flow from this constitutional core.
Economy & currency
The official currency of Yemen is the Yemeni Rial (YER). Monetary policy, banking, taxation and trade are managed nationally, often in coordination with regional and international institutions. Major economic activity tends to cluster around Sanaa and other principal urban centres, with secondary economies built on the country’s natural resources, manufacturing capacity and service industries.
Culture & everyday life
The cultural footprint of Yemen shows up in cuisine, music, sport, religious life, festivals and design. National holidays mark the country’s historical pivots; family meals, café culture and street life follow patterns rooted in geography and tradition. International audiences usually meet Yemen through its sport, its music, its food, or the global diaspora that carries those things abroad.
Travel essentials
The capital, Sanaa, is the natural starting point for first-time visitors. International dialling uses the country code +967, and clocks are set to the AST (UTC+3) time zone. ISO standards identify Yemen as YE (alpha-2) and YEM (alpha-3) — useful when booking flights, decoding number plates, or matching customs paperwork. The flag, 🇾🇪, appears at every border post and on every passport.
By the numbers
Sort or filter the table below to compare key metrics at a glance.
| Metric | Value | Unit / Note |
|---|---|---|
| Capital city | Sanaa | — |
| Continent | Asia | — |
| Sub-region | Western Asia | — |
| Population | 34M | people |
| Area | 527,968 | km² |
| Currency | Yemeni Rial (YER) | — |
| Calling code | +967 | international dialling |
| Time zone | AST (UTC+3) | standard time |
| Government type | In transition / civil war | — |
| ISO 3166 alpha-2 | YE | 2-letter code |
| ISO 3166 alpha-3 | YEM | 3-letter code |
| Latitude | 15.55 | degrees |
| Longitude | 48.52 | degrees |
Did you know?
Shibam in Yemen, often called the 'Manhattan of the Desert', has 16th-century mud-brick tower-houses up to 11 storeys tall.
