Republic of Yemen Al-Jumhriyyah al-Yamaniyyah Flag Emblem Motto:    (Arabic) "Allah al-Watan ath-Thawrah al-Wahdah"  (transliteration) "God Country Revolution Unity" Anthem: United Republic Capital (and largest city) Sanaa 1521N 4412E / 15.35N 44.2E / 15.35; 44.2 Official language(s) Arabic Demonym Yemeni Yemenite Government Presidential System  -  Acting President Abd al-Rab Mansur al-Hadi  -  President Ali Abdullah Saleh  -  Prime Minister Ali Muhammad Mujawar Legislature Assembly of Representatives Establishment  -  North Yemen independence from the Ottoman Empire November 1 1918   -  South Yemen independence from the United Kingdom November 30 1967   -  Unification May 22 1990  Area  -  Total 555000 km2 (49th) 203849 sq mi   -  Water (%) negligible Population  -  2009 estimate 235800001 (51st)  -  July 2007 census 22230531   -  Density 44.7/km2 (160th) 115.7/sq mi GDP (PPP) 2009 estimate  -  Total $58.218 billion2   -  Per capita $24572  GDP (nominal) 2009 estimate  -  Total $25.131 billion2   -  Per capita $10612  HDI (2007) 0.4393 (low) (133rd) Currency Yemeni rial (YER) Time zone (UTC+3) Drives on the right4 ISO 3166 code YE Internet TLD .ye Calling code 967

The Republic of Yemen (Arabic: Al Jumhriyyah al Yamaniyyah) commonly known as Yemen (i /jmn/ Arabic: Al Yaman) is a country located in the Middle East occupying the southwestern and southern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the north the Red Sea to the west and Oman to the east.

Yemen has a land area of 555000 square kilometers and a population of approximately 24 million (2010). Its capital and largest city is Sana'a. Yemen's territory includes over 200 islands the largest of which is Socotra about 415 km to the south of mainland Yemen off the coast of Somalia. It is the only state in the Arabian Peninsula to have a purely republican form of government (though not in practice).

In February and March 2011 the 2011 Yemeni uprising against the government began and clashes with police and pro-government supporters have steadily intensified. Many protestors demand the immediate resignation of the current leadership and in particular that of President Ali Abdullah Saleh. Contents 1 Etymology 2 History 3 Geography 4 Economy 5 Government 5.1 Administrative divisions 6 Foreign relations 7 Demographics 7.1 Religion 7.2 Health 7.2.1 Health care 8 Human rights 9 Languages 10 Culture 10.1 Qat 10.2 Cinema 10.3 Education 11 Sport 12 World Heritage sites 13 See also 14 Notes 15 External links Etymology

Yemen or Al Yaman means "The South". One etymology derives Yemen from yamin the "right side" as the south is on the right when facing the sunrise; yet this etymology is considered suspect. Another derives Yemen from yumn meaning "felicity" as the region is fertile; indeed the Romans called it "Arabia Felix". History Main article: History of Yemen

Yemen has long existed at the crossroads of cultures; it linked some of the oldest centers of civilization in the Near East by virtue of its location in South Arabia. Between the 12th century BC and the 6th century it was part of the Minaean Sabaean Hadhramaut Qataban Ausan and Himyarite kingdoms which controlled the lucrative spice trade and later came under Ethiopian and Persian rule.5 In the 6th century the Himyarite king Abu-Karib Assad converted to Judaism. In the 7th century Islamic caliphs began to exert control over the area. After this caliphate broke up South Arabia came under the control of many dynasties who ruled part or often all of South Arabia. Imams of Persian origin ruled Yemen intermittently for 160 years establishing a theocratic political structure that survived until modern times.

Egyptian Shia caliphs occupied much of Yemen throughout the 11th century. By the 16th century and again in the 19th century Yemen was part of the Ottoman Empire and in some periods Imams exerted control over all Yemen.5

The modern history of South Arabia and Yemen began in 1918 when Yemen gained independence from the Ottoman Empire. Between 1918 and 1962 Yemen was a monarchy ruled by the Hamidaddin family. In 1962 North Yemen then became a republic but Britain still had a protective area around the South Arabia port of Aden which it had created in the 19th century. Britain withdrew in 1967 and the area became South Yemen. In 1970 the southern government adopted a Communist governmental system. The two countries were formally united as the Republic of Yemen on May 22 1990.

The 2011 Yemeni uprising followed the initial stages of the Tunisian Revolution and occurred simultaneously with the Egyptian Revolution and other mass protests in the Arab world in early 2011. The uprising was initially against unemployment economic conditions and corruption as well as against the government's proposals to modify the constitution of Yemen. The protestors' demands then escalated to calls for President Ali Abdullah Saleh to resign. Geography Main article: Geography of Yemen Ancient Yemen 100 AD Map of Yemen

Yemen is in the Arab World in the southern half of the Arabian Peninsula bordering the Arabian Sea Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea. It lies south of Saudi Arabia and west of Oman between latitudes 12 and 19 N and longitudes 42 and 55 E. A number of Red Sea islands including the Hanish Islands Kamaran and Perim as well as Socotra in the Arabian Sea belong to Yemen. Many of the islands are volcanic; for example Jabal al-Tair had a volcanic eruption in 2007 and before that in 1883. At 527970 km2 (203850 sq mi) Yemen is the world's 49th-largest country. It is comparable in size to Thailand and larger than the U.S. state of California. Yemen is situated at 15N 48E / 15N 48E / 15; 48. Tihama on the Red Sea near Khaukha Until the signing of the Yemen-Saudi Arabia peace treaty in July 2000 6 Yemen's northern border was undefined; the Arabian Desert prevented any human habitation there. The country can be divided geographically into four main regions: the coastal plains in the west the western highlands the eastern highlands and the Rub al Khali in the east. The Tihamah ("hot lands" or "hot earth") form a very arid and flat coastal plain along Yemen's entire Red Sea coastline. Despite the aridity the presence of many lagoons makes this region very marshy and a suitable breeding ground for malaria mosquitoes. There are extensive crescent-shaped sand dunes. The evaporation in the Tihamah is so great that streams from the highlands never reach the sea but they do contribute to extensive groundwater reserves. Today these are heavily exploited for agricultural use. Near the village of Madar about 48 km (30 mi) north of Sana'a dinosaur footprints were found indicating that the area was once a muddy flat. The Tihamah ends abruptly at the escarpment of the western highlands. This area now heavily terraced to meet the demand for food receives the highest rainfall in Arabia rapidly increasing from 100 mm (3.9 in) per year to about 760 mm (29.9 in) in Ta'izz and over 1000 mm (39.4 in) in Ibb. The town of Hajarin Agriculture here is very diverse with such crops as sorghum dominating. Cotton and many fruit trees are also grown with mangoes being the most valuable. Temperatures are hot in the day but fall dramatically at night. There are perennial streams in the highlands but these never reach the sea because of high evaporation in the Tihamah. The central highlands are an extensive high plateau over 2000 metres (6562 ft) in elevation. This area is drier than the western highlands because of rain-shadow influences but still receives sufficient rain in wet years for extensive cropping. Diurnal temperature ranges are among the highest in the world: ranges from 30 C (86 F) in the day to 0 C (32 F) at night are normal.citation needed Water storage allows for irrigation and the growing of wheat and barley. Sana'a is located in this region. The highest point in Yemen is Jabal an Nabi Shu'ayb at 3666 metres (12028 ft). Yemen's portion of the Rub al Khali desert in the east is much lower generally below 1000 metres (3281 ft) and receives almost no rain. It is populated only by Bedouin herders of camels. The growing scarcity of water is a source of increasing international concern. See Water supply and sanitation in Yemen. Economy Main article: Economy of Yemen Further information: Telecommunications in Yemen Transportation in Yemen and Internet usage in Yemen Yemen is one of the poorest and least developed countries in the Arab World with a formal 65% employment rate dwindling natural resources a young population and increasing population growth. Yemen's economy is weak compared to most countries in the Middle-East mainly because Yemen has very small oil reserves. Yemen's economy depends heavily on the oil it produces7 and its government receives the vast majority of its revenue from oil taxes. But Yemen's oil reserves are expected to be depleted by 2017 possibly bringing on economic collapse.8 Yemen does have large proven reserves of natural gas.9 Yemen's first liquified natural gas (LNG) plant began production in October 2009. Rampant corruption is a prime obstacle to development in the country limiting local reinvestments and driving away regional and international capital. Foreign investments remain largely concentrated around the nation's hydrocarbon industry. Beginning in the mid-1950s the Soviet Union and China provided large-scale assistance. For example China is involved with the expansion of the Sana'a International Airport. In the south pre-independence economic activity was overwhelmingly concentrated in the port city of Aden. The seaborne transit trade which the port relied upon collapsed with the closure of the Suez Canal and Britain's withdrawal from Aden in 1967. Since unification in 199010 the government has worked to integrate two relatively disparate economic systems. However severe shocks including the return in 1990 of approximately 850000 Yemenis from the Persian Gulf states a subsequent major reduction of aid flows and internal political disputes culminating in the 1994 civil war hampered economic growth. In the late 20th century Sana'as population grew rapidly from roughly 55000 in 1978 to more than 1 million in the early 21st century.11 Sana'a may be the first capital city in the world to run out of water.12 Since the conclusion of the war the government made an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to implement a structural adjustment program. Phase one of the program included major financial and monetary reforms including floating the currency reducing the budget deficit and cutting subsidies. Phase two will address structural issues such as civil service reform. In early 1995 the government of Yemen launched an economic financial and administrative reform program (EFARP) with the support of the World Bank and the IMF as well as international donors. The First Five-Year Plan (FFYP) for the years 1996 to 2000 was introduced in 1996. The World Bank has focused on public sector management including civil service reform budget reform and privatization. Additional priorities for the programs have become attracting diversified private investment water management and poverty-oriented social sector improvements. These programs had a positive impact on Yemens economy and led to the reduction of the budget deficit to less than 3% of gross domestic product (GDP) during the period 1995-1999 and the correction of macro-financial imbalances.13 In 1997 IMF and the Yemeni government began medium-term economic reform programs under the Enhanced Structural Adjustment Facility (ESAF) and Extended Fund Facility (EFF). This program aimed to reduce dependence on the oil sector and to establish a market environment for real non-oil GDP growth and investment in the non-oil sector. Increasing the growth rate in the non-oil sector was one of the government's most important objectives. Programs also focused on reducing unemployment strengthening the social safety net and increasing financial stability. To achieve these reforms the government and IMF implemented containment of government wages improvements in revenue collection with the introduction of reforms in tax administration and a sharp reduction in subsidies bills through increased prices on subsidized goods. As a result the fiscal cash deficit was reduced from 16% of GDP in 1994 to 0.9% in 1997. This was supported by aid from oil-exporting countries despite the wide-ranging fluctuations in world oil prices. The real growth rate in the non-oil sector rose by 5.6% from 1995 to 1997.14 Government Main article: Politics of Yemen Yemen is a presidential republic with a bicameral legislature. Under the constitution an elected President an elected 301-seat Assembly of Representatives and an appointed 111-member Shura Council share power. The President is the head of state and the Prime Minister is the head of government. The constitution provides that the president be elected by popular vote from at least two candidates endorsed by at least fifteen members of the Parliament. The prime minister in turn is appointed by the president and must be approved by two thirds of the Parliament. The presidential term of office is seven years and the parliamentary term of elected office is six years. Suffrage is universal for people age 18 and older but only Muslims may hold elected office.15 President Ali Abdullah Saleh became the first elected President in reunified Yemen in 1999 (though he had been President of unified Yemen since 1990 and President of North Yemen since 1978). He was re-elected to office in September 2006. Saleh's victory was marked by an election that international observers judged to be "partly free" though the election was accompanied by violence violations of press freedoms and allegations of fraud.16 Parliamentary elections were held in April 2003 and the General People's Congress (GPC) maintained an absolute majority. The constitution calls for an independent judiciary. The former northern and southern legal codes have been unified. The legal system includes separate commercial courts and a Supreme Court based in Sana'a. Sharia is the main source of laws with many court cases being debated according to the religious basis of law and many judges being religious scholars as well as legal authorities. Beginning in February and March 2011 an uprising against the government occurred and clashes with police and pro-government supporters have steadily intensified. Many protestors demand the immediate resignation of the current leadership and in particular that of President Saleh. Administrative divisions Main article: Administrative divisions of Yemen As of February 2004 Yemen is divided into twenty governorates (muhafazat) and one municipality called "Amanat Al-Asemah" (the latter containing the capital Sana'a)17 Governorates of Yemen Division Capital City Population 2004 Census 18 Population 2006 est.19 Key 'Aden Aden 589419 634710 1 'Amran 'Amran 877786 909992 2 Abyan Zinjibar 433819 454535 3 Ad-Dali' Ad Dali' 470564 504533 4 Al-Bayda' Al-Bayda 577369 605303 5 Al Hudaydah Al-Hudaydah 2157552 2300179 6 Al Jawf Al-Jawf 443797 465737 7 Al-Mahrah Al-Ghaydah 88594 96768 8 Al-Mahwit Al-Mahweet 494557 523236 9 Amanat Al-Asemah Sana'a 1747834 1947139 10 Dhamar Dhamar 1330108 1412142 11 Hadhramaut Al-Mukalla 1028556 1092967 12 Hajjah Hajjah 1479568 1570872 13 Ibb Ibb 2131861 2238537 14 Lahij Lahij 722694 761160 15 Ma'rib Ma'rib 238522 251668 16 Raymah Kosmah 394448 418659 17 Sa'dah Sadah 695033 746957 18 Sana'a Sana'a 919215 957798 19 Shabwah Ataq 470440 494638 20 Taiz Taiz 1121000 2513003 21 The governors are subdivided into 333 districts (muderiah) which are subdivided into 2210 sub-districts and then into 38284 villages (as of 2001). Foreign relations Main article: Foreign relations of Yemen A village on Hajjaz Mountains in Yemen Before British rule Aden was occupied by the Portuguese between 15131538 and 15471548. It was ruled by the Ottoman Empire between 15381547 and 15481645. After Ottoman rule it was ruled by the Sultanate of Lahej under suzerainty of the Zaidi Imams of Yemen. In 1838 Sultan Muhsin bin Fadl of the nearby state of Lahej ceded 194 km2 (75 sq mi) including Aden to the British. On 19 January 1839 the British East India Company landed Royal Marines at Aden to occupy the territory and stop attacks by pirates against British shipping to India. The geography and ruling Imams of North Yemen kept the country isolated from foreign influence before 1962. The country's relations with Saudi Arabia were defined by the Taif Agreement of 1934 which delineated the northernmost part of the border between the two kingdoms and set the framework for commercial and other intercourse. The Taif Agreement has been renewed periodically in 20-year increments and its validity was reaffirmed in 1995. Relations with the British colonial authorities in Aden and the south were usually tense. The Soviet and Chinese Aid Missions established in 1958 and 1959 were the first important non-Muslim presence in North Yemen. Following the September 1962 revolution the Yemen Arab Republic became closely allied with and heavily dependent upon Egypt. Saudi Arabia aided the royalists in their attempt to defeat the Republicans and did not recognize the Yemen Arab Republic until 1970. At the same time Saudi Arabia maintained direct contact with Yemeni tribes which sometimes strained its official relations with the Yemeni Government. Hundreds of thousands of Yemenis found employment in Saudi Arabia during the late 1970s and 1980s. The old town of Aden Yemen situated in the crater of an extinct volcano. In February 1989 North Yemen joined Iraq Jordan and Egypt in forming the Arab Cooperation Council (ACC) an organization created partly in response to the founding of the Gulf Cooperation Council and intended to foster closer economic cooperation and integration among its members. After unification the Republic of Yemen was accepted as a member of the ACC in place of its YAR predecessor. In the wake of the Persian Gulf crisis the ACC has remained inactive. Yemen is not a member of the Gulf Cooperation Council. British authorities left southern Yemen in November 1967 in the wake of an intense rebellion. The People's Democratic Republic of Yemen the successor to British rule had diplomatic relations with many states but its major links were with the Soviet Union and other communist countries. Relations between it and the conservative Arab states of the Arabian Peninsula were strained. There were military clashes with Saudi Arabia in 1969 and 1973 and the PDRY provided active support for the Dhofar rebellion against the Sultanate of Oman. The PDRY was the only Arab state to vote against admitting new Arab states from the Persian Gulf area to the United Nations and the Arab League. The PDRY provided sanctuary and material support to various insurgent groups around the Middle East.citation needed Yemen is a member of the United Nations the Arab League and the Organization of the Islamic Conference and also participates in the nonaligned movement. The Republic of Yemen accepted responsibility for all treaties and debts of its predecessors the YAR and the PDRY. Yemen has acceded to the nuclear nonproliferation treaty. The Persian Gulf crisis dramatically affected Yemen's foreign relations. A long-time ally of Saddam Hussein Yemen's President Ali Abdullah Saleh was quick to back Saddam Hussein's invasion of Kuwait in 1990.20 As a member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for 1990 and 1991 Yemen continued to abstain on a number of UNSC resolutions concerning Iraq and Kuwait10 and voted against the "use of force resolution." Western and Gulf Arab states reacted by curtailing or canceling aid programs and diplomatic contacts. At least 850000 Yemenis were expelled from Saudi Arabia and the other Gulf Arab states. Saudi Arabia has begun construction of a separation barrier between its territory and Yemen to prevent the unauthorized movement of people and goods into and out of the kingdom. Subsequent to the liberation of Kuwait Yemen continued to maintain high-level contacts with Iraq. This hampered its efforts to rejoin the Arab mainstream and to mend fences with its immediate neighbors. In 1993 Yemen launched an unsuccessful diplomatic offensive to restore relations with its Gulf Arab neighbors. Some of its aggrieved neighbors actively aided the south during the 1994 civil war. Since the end of that conflict tangible progress has been made on the diplomatic front in restoring normal relations with Yemen's neighbors. The Omani-Yemeni border has been officially demarcated. In the summer of 2000 Yemen and Saudi Arabia signed an International Border Treaty settling a 50 year old dispute over the location of the border between the two countries. Yemen settled its dispute with Eritrea over the Hanish Islands in 1998. After the departure from the Gulf Arab states as many as 15000 Yemenis migrated to the U.S. Many Yemenis can be found in the south of Dearborn Michigan. In the early 1990s Yemenis went in search of manufacturing jobs. They continue to work in the U.S. and routinely send money back to their families. Kidnapping of foreign tourists by tribes has been an ongoing problem throughout the modern period.21 In many instances the kidnappers attempted to use hostage taking to gain leverage in negotiations with the government. One victim of kidnapping was former German Secretary of State Jrgen Chrobog a man who himself had conducted negotiations with kidnappers while in office.22 In June 2009 a group of nine foreign tourists were kidnapped near the city of Saada. Seven were killed and two children survived.21 Yemen has historically enjoyed good relations with Somalia its neighbour to the south and fellow Arab League member. Ethnic Somalis for the most part blend in well with Yemeni society as they share centuries of close religious commercial and social ties. Following the outbreak of the civil war in Somalia Yemen unconditionally opened its borders to Somali asylum seekers. The World Refugee Survey 2008 published by the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants estimates that 110600 Somali refugees lived in Yemen in 200723 which is a fraction of the estimated 700000-strong Somali nationals already living and working in Yemen.24 There are also many Somalis who have received Yemeni citizenship due to marriage with Yemenis as well as through service to the nation over the years. In addition Yemen and Somalia have a long history of trade and inter-action with many of Somalia's Sultans such as Yusuf Ali Kenadid and Gerad Ali Dable often being exiled to and recruiting troops from Yemen's Hadhramaut region. Somalia has also over the centuries seen successive waves of immigration from Yemen with Hadhrami settlers being instrumental in helping to consolidate the Muslim community in the coastal Benadir region in particular.25 During the colonial period disgruntled Yemenis from the Hadhrami wars additionally sought and received asylum in various Somali towns.26 Yemen also maintains good relations with Djibouti its other predominantly Somali neighbor to the west across the Red Sea. With a rapidly expanding economy a stable government huge investments from fellow Persian Gulf Arab states and a strategic maritime location in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden Djibouti stands as an important ally. While Djibouti is largely inhabited by Somalis it is separate from the Somali Republic and holds its own seats in the United Nations and the League of Arab States. On February 22 2008 the BBC reported that a company owned by Tarek bin Laden was planning to build a bridge across the Bab el Mandeb linking Yemen with Djibouti.2728 Since 2004 a civil war is being fought in Northern Yemen between Yemeni forces and Shiite Houthi rebels. In 2009 it spilled over into the neighboring border region of Saudi Arabia. This conflict is increasingly becoming a danger to regional stability according to news reports by CNN29 and the BBC30 as various countries are said to be involved e.g. Iran Saudi Arabia Egypt and Jordan.31 The United Nations32 and UNDP Yemen report a growing problem of civilians fleeing from the region. Yemen is said to have more than 60 million guns.33 The 2009 South Yemen insurgency has further destabilized the country. Some news reports have suggested that on orders from President Barack Obama US warplanes fired cruise missiles at what officials in Washington claimed were Al Qaeda training camps in the provinces of Sanaa and Abyan on December 17 2009.34 Other reports suggest that the airstrikes were carried out by Yemeni Mig-29 aircraft probably helped by US intelligence35 or that cruise missiles were launched from warships offshore.36 Officials in Yemen said that the attacks claimed the lives of more than 60 civilians 28 of them children. Another airstrike was carried out on December 24.37 Embassy of Yemen in Washington D.C. On January 3 2010 the U.S. and British embassies in Yemen closed for security reasons after the failed plot to bomb a plane in Detroit and after reports of eight individuals planning an attack on the embassy itself. One was arrested with a suicide vest while three others were killed. Four remained at large as of January 4 2010.38 Despite these tensions between the US and Yemen as well as increasing worries about terrorism in Yemen President Obama has stated that he has no plans to introduce US military forces into the country a sentiment that was echoed by US General David Petraeus. However the terrorism worries seemed justified as a foiled terrorist plot was apparently conceived in Yemen. Instead of military intervention the US government intends to increase military aid to $140 million in 2010.39 Geopolitical significance of Yemen (primarily its straits and oil fields) keeps this country in the sphere of U.S. strategic interests. Control over the Aden port - the "gate to Asia" - brings huge benefits to the USA and opens infinite possibilities for maneuvering in front of them. However America is not the only nation to be interested in Yemen. China is struggling to improve its influence in Sri Lanka and Burma to form new transport paths in the Persian Gulf Africa and Middle East area as naval paths of the Indian Ocean are believed to be the aortas of the Chinese economic organism.citation needed Demographics Main article: Demographics of Yemen High-rise architecture at Shibam Wadi Hadramawt The population of Yemen was about 24 million according to June 2011 estimates with 46% of the population being under 15 years old and 2.7% above 65 years. In 1950 it was 4.3 million.4041 By 2050 the population is estimated to increase to about 60 million.42 Yemen has one of the world's highest birth rates; the average Yemeni woman bears five children. Although this is similar to the rate in Somalia to the south it is roughly twice as high as that of Saudi Arabia and nearly three times as high as those in the more modernized Persian Gulf states. Yemen's population is increasing by 700000 every year. Yemenis are mainly of Arab origin.43 Arabic is the official language although English is increasingly understood by citizens in major cities. In the Mahra area (the extreme east) and the island Soqotra several ancient south-Arabic Semitic languages are spoken.4445 When the former states of north and south Yemen were established most resident minority groups departed.46 Yemen is still a largely tribal society.47 In the mountains of northern Yemen live some 400 Zaydi tribes.48 The African-descended group known as Al-Akhdam form a kind of hereditary caste in Yemen.49 Yemen officially abolished slavery in 1962.50 Yemenite Jews once formed a sizable Jewish minority in Yemen with a distinct culture.51 They also occupied key industries including silversmiths and their influence on Yemeni culture is still discussed within the souks. However most of them emigrated to Israel in the mid 20th century following the Jewish exodus from Arab lands and Operation Magic Carpet.52 In the early 20th century they had numbered about 50000; they currently number only a few hundred individuals and reside largely in Sana'a. The original Jewish village popularly called Bait-baws has since been left abandoned. Arab traders have long operated in Southeast Asia trading in spices timber and textiles. Most of the prominent Indonesians Malaysians and Singaporeans of Arab descent are Hadhrami people with origins in southern Yemen in the Hadramawt coastal region.53 As many as 4 million Indonesians are of Hadrami descent.citation needed and today there are almost 10000 Hadramis in Singapore.54 The Hadramis emigrated not only to Southeast Asia but also to East Africa and the Indian subcontinent.55 Maqil were a collection of Arab Bedouin tribes of Yemeni origin who migrated westwards via Egypt. Several groups of Yemeni Arabs turned south to Mauritania and by the end of the 17th century century they dominated the entire country. They can also be found throughout Morocco and in Algeria as well as in other North African Countries.56 According to the US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants Yemen hosted a population of refugees and asylum seekers numbering approximately 124600 in 2007. Refugees and asylum seekers living in Yemen were predominantly from Somalia (110600) Iraq (11000) and Ethiopia (2000).23 There are also about 70000 Iraqis presently living in Yemen.57 United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimates that in 2008 more than 50000 Somalis reached Yemen.58 Yemen's civil war has forced at least 175000 Yemenis to flee their homes.59 The Yemeni diaspora is largely concentrated in the United Kingdom where between 70000 and 80000 Yemenis reside; just over 15000 to 20000 Yemenis reside in the United States and 2000 live in France.60 Saudi Arabia expelled 800000 Yemenis in 1990 and 1991 to punish Yemen for its opposition to the Gulf War against Iraq.61 Religion Main article: Religion in Yemen Religion in Yemen consists primarily of two principal Islamic religious groups; 52% of the Muslim population is Sunni62 and 46% is Shi'a.6263 Sunnis are primarily Shafi'i but also include significant groups of Malikis and Hanbalis. Shi'is are primarily Zaidis and also have significant minorities of Twelver Shias64 and Musta'ali Western Isma'ili Shias (see Shia Population of the Middle East). The Sunnis are predominantly in the south and southeast. The Zaidis are predominantly in the north and northwest whilst the Jafaris and Ismailis are in the main centers such as Sana'a and Ma'rib. There are mixed communities in the larger cities. Less than 1% of Yemenis are non-Muslim adhering to Hinduism Christianity Judaism and atheism.65 Health According to 2009 estimates life expectancy in Yemen is 63.27 years.43 Health care Despite the significant progress Yemen has made to expand and improve its health care system over the past decade the system remains severely underdeveloped. Total expenditures on health care in 2004 constituted 5% of gross domestic product. In that same year the per capita expenditure for health care was very low compared with other Middle Eastern countriesUS$34 per capita according to the World Health Organization. According to the World Bank the number of doctors in Yemen rose by an average of more than 7% between 1995 and 2000 but as of 2004 there were still only three doctors per 10000 persons. In 2005 Yemen had only 6.1 hospital beds available per 10000 persons. Health care services are particularly scarce in rural areas; only 25% of rural areas are covered by health services compared with 80% of urban areas. Most childhood deaths are caused by illnesses for which vaccines exist or that are otherwise preventable.66 According to 2009 estimates life expectancy in Yemen is 63.27 years.43 Human rights The neutrality of this section is disputed. Please see the discussion on the talk page. Please do not remove this message until the dispute is resolved. (April 2009) Main article: Human rights in Yemen Yemen's human rights record is seriously marred by substantial inconsistencies between its obligations under International Human Rights instruments (ratified by Yemen) and legal practice under the Shari'a and tribal law/habits. Yemen's national human rights record was presented for the first time in the Human Rights Council in Geneva under the so-called Universal Periodic Review (UPR) between May and September 2009. Yemen accepted over one hundred recommendations by Council Members. While it promised to achieve progress on the establishment of a national Human Rights Commission and on legislation setting a minimum age for marriages (still highly controversial within the Yemeni tribal society) it squarely rejected the abolition of the death penalty. The government and its security forces often considered to suffer from rampant corruption have been responsible for torture inhumane treatment and extrajudicial executions. There are arbitrary arrests of citizens especially in the south as well as arbitrary searches of homes. Prolonged pretrial detention is a serious problem and judicial corruption inefficiency and executive interference undermine due process. Freedom of speech the press and religion are all restricted.67 Human Rights Watch reported on discrimination and violence against women as well as on the abolition of the minimum marriage age of fifteen for women. The onset of puberty (interpreted by some to be as low as the age of nine) was set as a requirement for marriage instead.68 Publicity about the case of ten-year old Yemeni divorcee Nujood Ali brought the child marriage issue to the fore not only in Yemen but worldwide.697071 Forms of hostile prejudice directed towards disabled people and religious minorities have also been reported. Censorship is actively practiced and in 2005 legislation was passed requiring journalists to reveal their sources under certain circumstances. The government has raised the start-up costs for newspapers and websites significantly. In violation of the Yemeni constitution the security forces often monitor telephone postal and Internet communications. Journalists who tend to be critical of the government are often harassed and threatened by the police.10 Since the start of the Sa'dah insurgency many people accused of supporting Al-Houthi have been arrested and held without charge or trial. According to the U.S. State Department International Religious Freedom Report 2007 "Some Zaydis reported harassment and discrimination by the Government because they were suspected of sympathizing with the al-Houthis. However it appears the Government's actions against the group were probably politically not religiously motivated".72 The U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants reported several violations of refugee and asylum seekers' rights in the organization's 2008 World Refugee Survey. Yemeni authorities reportedly deported numerous foreigners without giving them access to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees despite the UNs repeated requests. Refugees further reported violence directed against them by Yemeni authorities while living in refugee camps. Yemeni officials reportedly raped and beat camp-based refugees with impunity in 2007.23 Languages This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (April 2011) The national language is Arabic. Yemeni Arabic is spoken in several regional dialects. Yemen is one of the main homelands of the South Semitic family of languages which includes the non-Arabic language of the ancient Hemiari. Its modern Yemeni descendants are closely related to the modern Semitic languages of Eritrea and Ethiopia. However only a small remnant of those languages exists in modern Yemen notably on the island of Socotra and in the back hills of the Hadhramaut coastal region. Modern South Arabian languages spoken in Yemen include Mehri with 70643 speakers Soqotri with an estimated 43000 speakers in the Socotra archipelago (2004 census) and 67000 worldwide Bathari (with an estimated total of only 200 speakers) and Hobyt language. Foreign language in public schools is taught from grade seven onwards though the quality of public school instruction is low. Private schools using a British or American system teach English and produce proficient speakers but Arabic is the dominant language of communication. The number of English speakers in Yemen is small compared to other Arab countries such as Egypt Lebanon the UAE and Saudi Arabia. There is a significant number of Russian speakers originating from Yemeni-Russian cross-marriages occurring mainly in the 1970s and 1980s. A small Vietnamese-speaking community is found in the capital city of Sana'a originating from Yemeni immigrants expatriated from Vietnam after the Vietnam War in the 1970s. A small yet rising number of ethnic Chinese in Sana'a brought the Chinese language to the country a byproduct of historic Chinese immigration. Also there are South Asian Languages spoken by the small but present South Asian community most notably Hindi Urdu and Marathi languages. Culture Main article: Culture of Yemen The National Museum in Sana'a Yemen is a culturally rich country with influence from many civilizations such as the early civilization of Sheba. Qat Main article: Khat Qat also known as Khat (Catha edulis) is a small slow-growing evergreen shrub reaching a height of between 1 and 6 metres though in equatorial regions it may reach a height of 10 metres.73 This plant is widely cultivated in Yemen and is generally used for chewing. When Khat juice is swallowed it has an amphetamine-like effect. Yemenis wear traditional costumes and chew the khat-plant in the afternoons. Chewing qat is also part of the Yemeni business culture to promote decision-making but foreigners are not expected to participate. Cinema Main article: Cinema of Yemen The Yemeni film industry is in its early stages; only two Yemeni films have been released as of 2008. In 2005 A New Day in Old Sana'a deals with a young man struggling between whether to go ahead with a traditional marriage or go with the woman he loves. Dance in Sa'dah northwestern Yemen. In August 2008 Yemens Interior Minister Mutahar al-Masri supported the launch of a new feature film to educate the public about the consequences of Islamist extremism. The Losing Bet was produced by Fadl al-Olfi. The plot follows two Yemeni jihadis who return from years living abroad. Education Main article: Education in Yemen In the strategic vision for the next 25 years since 2000 the government has committed to bring significant changes in the education system thereby reducing illiteracy to less than 10% by 2025.74 Although Yemens government provides for universal compulsory free education for children ages six through 15 the U.S. Department of State reports that compulsory attendance is not enforced. The government developed the National Basic Education Development Strategy in 2003 that aimed at providing education to 95% of Yemeni children between the ages of six and 14 years and also at decreasing the gap between males and females in urban and rural areas.75 A seven year project to improve gender equity and the quality and efficiency of secondary education focusing on girls in rural areas was approved by the World Bank in March 2008. Following this Yemen has increased its education spending from 4.5 % of GDP in 1995 to 9.6 % in 2005.10 Sport Logo for the Yemen national football team Yemen's mountains provide many opportunities for outdoor sports such as biking rock climbing hill climbing skiing hiking mountain jumping and more challenging mountain climbing. Mountain climbing and hiking tours to the Sarawat Mountains and the Jabal an Nabi Shu'ayb including the 5000 m peaks in the region are seasonally organized by local and international alpine agencies. Football is a popular sport. The Yemen national football team competes in the FIFA and AFC leagues. It also hosts many football clubs. The coast of Yemen and Socotra island also provide many opportunities for water sports such as surfing bodyboarding sailing swimming and beach soccer. Socotra island is home to some of the best surfing destinations in the world from north to south of the island located 200 to 300 km off the coast of Somalia. Surfing tours in Socotra are seasonally organized by local and international water sporting agencies. Camel Jumping is popular among the Zaraniq tribe on the west coast of Yemen on the desert plain by the Red Sea. Camels are rounded up and placed side to side. Athletes jump from a running start to achieve height and length in the air. The jumpers train year round for competitions. Tribesmen tuck their robes around their waists to reduce impediment while running and leaping. 76 Yemen's biggest sports event was hosting the 2010 Gulf Cup of Nations in Aden and Abyan in the south of the country on November 22 2010. Yemen was thought to be the strongest competitor but was defeated in the first three matches of the tournament.77 The Yemeni national team has never won a championship though it includes many renowned Arab players. World Heritage sites A footbridge in Shaharah District Yemen. Among Yemens natural and cultural attractions are four World Heritage sites. The Old Walled City of Shibam in Wadi Hadhramaut inscribed by UNESCO in 1982 two years after Yemen joined the World Heritage Committee is nicknamed "Manhattan of the Desert" because of its "skyscrapers." Surrounded by a fortified wall made of mud and straw the 16th-century city is one of the oldest examples of urban planning based on the principle of vertical construction. The ancient Old City of Sanaa at an altitude of more than 7000 feet has been inhabited for over two and a half millennia and was inscribed in 1986. Sanaa became a major Islamic centre in the 7th century and the 103 mosques 14 hammams (traditional bath houses) and more than 6000 houses that survive all date from before the 11th century. Close to the Red Sea Coast the Historic Town of Zabid inscribed in 1993 was Yemens capital from the 13th to the 15th century and is an archaeological and historical site. It played an important role for many centuries because of its university which was a center of learning for the whole Arab and Islamic world. Algebra is said to have been invented there in the early 9th century by the little-known scholar Al-Jaladi. The latest addition to Yemens list of World Heritage Sites is the Socotra Archipelago. Mentioned by Marco Polo in the 13th century this remote and isolated archipelago consists of four islands and two rocky islets near the Gulf of Aden. The site has a rich biodiversity. Nowhere else in the world do 37% of Socotras 825 plants 90% of its reptiles and 95% of its snails occur. It is home to 192 bird species 253 species of coral 730 species of coastal fish and 300 species of crab and lobster as well as a range of Aloes and the Dragons Blood Tree (Dracaena cinnabari). The cultural heritage of Socotra includes the unique Soqotri language. See also Main article: Outline of Yemen Arab diaspora Arab Singaporean Jambiya the Yemeni dagger List of newspapers in Yemen List of Yemen-related topics Lists of Yemenis Military of Yemen Wars involving Yemen Water crisis Yemen Observer Yemen Times Notes Department of Economic and Social Affairs Population Division (2009) (PDF). World Population Prospects Table A.1. 2008 revision. United Nations. http://www.un.org/esa/population/publications/wpp2008/wpp2008texttables.pdf. Retrieved 2009-03-12.  a b c d "Yemen". International Monetary Fund. http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2010/01/weodata/weorept.aspxsy2007&ey2010&scsm1&ssd1&sortcountry&ds.&br1&c474&sNGDPD%2CNGDPDPC%2CPPPGDP%2CPPPPC%2CLP&grp0&a&pr.x38&pr.y3. Retrieved 2010-04-21.  "Human Development Report 2009: Yemen". The United Nations. http://hdrstats.undp.org/en/countries/countryfactsheets/ctyfsYEM.html. Retrieved 2009-10-18.  "Yemen". International News Safety Institute. http://www.newssafety.org/index.phpoptioncomcontent&viewsection&layoutblog&id28&Itemid100385. Retrieved 2009-10-14.  a b "Yemen History from the US Department of State". http://workmall.com/wfb2001/yemen/yemenhistory.html. Retrieved 2010-05-16.  "The Yemeni-Saudi Border Treaty " The Estimate June 2000. Retrieved January 28 2000. "Somalis pin peace hopes on Yemen." BBC News. January 17 2007. Richard Fontaine and Andrew Exum (January 5 2010). "Yemen's coming disaster; Its oil is expected to run out in 2017 but Yemen hasn't planned for its young poverty-ridden population's post-oil future". Los Angeles Times. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-fontaineexum5-2010jan0505758223.story.  "Yemen". Encyclopdia Britannica. a b c d "Country Profile: Yemen" (PDF). Library of Congress - Federal Research Division. August 2008. http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/profiles/Yemen.pdf. Retrieved 2010-04-07.  "Sana'a Rising". Saudi Aramco World. "Yemen water crisis builds". Los Angeles Times. October 11 2009. "Republic of Yemen: Interim Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper December 2000" (PDF). http://www.imf.org/external/NP/prsp/2000/yem/01/123100.pdf. Retrieved 2010-03-21.  "IMF". IMF. 1999-03-05. http://www.imf.org/external/np/pfp/1999/yemen/index.htm#I. Retrieved 2010-03-21.  "Yemen". State.gov. 2005-11-08. http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2005/51614.htm. Retrieved 2010-10-17.  "Freedom in the World - Yemen (2007)". Freedomhouse.org. http://www.freedomhouse.org/inc/content/pubs/fiw/inccountrydetail.cfmyear2007&country7304&pf. Retrieved 2010-10-17.  Governorates of Yemen. Central Statistical Organisation of Yemen. General Population Housing and Establishment Census 2004 Final Results 1 Statistic Yearbook 2005 of Yemen 2 "Statistic Yearbook 2006 of Yemen". http://www.cso-yemen.org/publication/StatisticalYearBook2006/Population.xls. Retrieved 2010-10-17.  Sunday Times Analysisdead link a b AGI.itdead link "Die Ehre der Daha" Spiegel 1/2006 p. 90 a b c "World Refugee Survey 2008". U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants. 2008-06-19. http://www.refugees.org/survey.  "Illegal migration from Africa to Yemen on the rise". USA Today. July 3 2008. http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2008-07-03-Africa-migration-YemenN.htm  Cassanelli Lee V. (1973). The Benaadir past: essays in southern Somali history. University of Wisconsin. p. 24  Gavin R. J. (1975). Aden under British rule 18391967. London: Hurst. p. 198. ISBN 0903983141  "Tarek Bin Laden's Red Sea bridge". BBC News (BBC News Online). February 22 2008. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7259427.stm  Sawyer Tom (May 1 2007). "Notice-to-Proceed Launches Ambitious Red Sea Crossing". Engineering News-Record. http://enr.construction.com/news/intl/archives/070501.asp  "U.N.: Yemen's civil war spreads to Saudi Arabia". CNN. November 14 2009. http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/africa/11/14/yemen.fighting/index.html  "Civil war fears as Yemen celebrates unity". BBC News (BBC News Online). May 21 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middleeast/countryprofiles/8062225.stm  Sallam Mohammed Bin (November 23 2009). "Jordanian Commandos support Saudi troops in fight against Houthis". Yemen Times. http://www.yementimes.com/defaultdet.aspxSUBID33116  "As fighting worsens in Yemen UN calls for safe corridors for aid and civilians". UN News Center (United Nations). August 28 2009. http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.aspNewsID31880&Cryemen&Cr1  Brandon James (January 24 2006). "Yemen attempts to rein in outlaw tribes". The Christian Science Monitor (The Christian Science Monitor). http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0124/p06s02-wome.html  "Cruise Missiles Strike Yemen". ABC News (ABC News (Australia)). http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/cruise-missiles-strike-yemen/storyid9375236  "Yemeni air attacks on al-Qaida fighters risk mobilising hostile tribes". The Observer (London: Guardian Unlimited). January 3 2010. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jan/03/yemen-air-attacks-alqaida  "U.S. Cruise Missiles Hit Al Qaeda In Yemen". StrategyPage.com. http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htterr/20091222.aspx  "In wake of airline incident: Drumbeat for US war in Yemen". The Intelligence Daiyly. http://www.inteldaily.com/news/173/ARTICLE/13254/2009-12-30.html  "British embassy in Yemen closed". AOL News. January 3 2010. http://news.aol.co.uk/british-embassy-in-yemen-closed/article/20100102192115179169402 dead link Wheaton Sarah (10 January 2010). "Obama Plays Down Military Role in Yemen". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/11/world/middleeast/11prexy.htmlpartnerrss&emcrss. Retrieved 10 January 2010.  "The General Census of Population 2004.". Yemen News Agency. "The population explosion on Europes doorstep". The Sunday Times. May 18 2008. "Yemen: Government planning to curb population growth". IRIN Middle East. July 14 2008. a b c "CIA World Factbook". CIA. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ym.html. Retrieved 2008-10-26.  Roger D. Woodard The Ancient Languages of Syria-Palestine and Arabia (Cambridge University Press: 2008) p. 228 "Ethnologue entry for South Arabian languages". Ethnologue.com. http://www.ethnologue.com/showfamily.aspsubid2144-16. Retrieved 2010-03-21.  "US Department of State". State.gov. http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/35836.htm. Retrieved 2010-03-21.  "The children of Yemens tribal war". Herald Scotland. December 5 2009. "Zaydi Islam". GlobalSecurity.org. Worth R.F. 2008 'In slums without hope Yemen's untouchables' International Herald Tribune 27 February. Retrieved on 29 April 2008. "Slaves in Saudi". Naeem Mohaiemen. The Daily Star. July 27 2004. "Yemen". Jewish Virtual Library. "The Jews of Yemen". Jewish Virtual Library. "The world's successful diasporas". Managementtoday.co.uk. "Hadramis in Singapore by Ameen Ali Talib". Al-bab.com. http://www.al-bab.com/bys/articles/talib95.htm. Retrieved 2010-03-21.  "African connections in Yemeni music". Musike. International Journal of Ethnomusicological Studies 2006. "Mauritania Arab invasions". Library of Congress Country Studies. "Yemen: Iraqi migrants refugees await brighter future". IRIN Asia. July 1 2007. "Yemen's forgotten refugee crisis". Guardian.co.uk. October 11 2009. "Yemen's fight with rebels a regional concern". Washingtonpost.com. November 14 2009. "Yemenis in the UK". Bbc.co.uk. 2009-09-07. http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/islam/history/uk1.shtml. Retrieved 2010-03-21.  "Yemen's point of no return". Guardian.co.uk. April 1 2009. a b UNHRC Yemen: The conflict in Saada Governorate analysis Merrick Jane; Sengupta Kim (2009-09-20). "Yemen: The land with more guns than people". London: independent.co.uk. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/yemen-the-land-with-more-guns-than-people-1790461.html. Retrieved 2010-03-21.  "Yemen Times". Yemen Times. http://www.yementimes.com/article.shtmli768&pcommunity&a2. Retrieved 2010-03-21.  United Networks. "European Institute for Research on Mediterranean and Euro-Arab Cooperation". Medea.be. http://www.medea.be/index.htmlpage2&langen&doc208. Retrieved 2010-03-21.  Loc.gov This article incorporates text from this source which is in the public domain. "Human Rights in Yemen". Derechos. http://www.derechos.org/human-rights/mena/yemen/. Retrieved 2010-03-21.  Human Rights Watch: World Report 2001 on Yemen. Retrieved 11 August 2006. Daragahi Borzou (June 11 2008). Yemeni bride 10 says I won't. Los Angeles Times. http://articles.latimes.com/2008/jun/11/world/fg-childbride11. Retrieved 16 February 2010  Walt Vivienne (03 February 2009). A 10-Year-Old Divorce Takes Paris. Time/CNN. http://www.time.com/time/world/article/08599187665200.html. Retrieved 16 February 2010  Madabish Arafat (28 March 2009). Sanaa's first woman lawyer. Asharq Alawsat: English edition. http://www.aawsat.com/english/news.aspsection3&id16210. Retrieved 16 February 2010  "State.gov". State.gov. 2007-09-14. http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2007/90224.htm. Retrieved 2010-03-21.  "Qat plant". Plot55.com. http://www.plot55.com/growing/c.edulis.html. Retrieved 2010-03-21.  "Republic of Yemen Ministry of Education Report 2008. The Development of Education in the Republic of Yemen.pp3". 2008. http://www.ibe.unesco.org/NationalReports/ICE2008/yemenNR08.pdf.  "Republic of Yemen Ministry of Education Report 2008. The Development of Education in the Republic of Yemen.pp5". 2008. http://www.ibe.unesco.org/NationalReports/ICE2008/yemenNR08.pdf.  "Over the Hump"3 Brandon Springer Sept. 2010 Smithsonian "Yemenis open up about the Gulf Cup". Yemen Today. http://www.yemen-today.com/go/specialreports/8199.html. Retrieved 2011-02-08.  External links Find more about Yemen on Wikipedia's sister projects: Definitions from Wiktionary Images and media from Commons Learning resources from Wikiversity News stories from Wikinews Quotations from Wikiquote Source texts from Wikisource Textbooks from Wikibooks Yemen Government official portal Yemen entry at The World Factbook Yemen web resources provided by GovPubs at the University of ColoradoBoulder Libraries Yemen at the Open Directory Project Wikimedia Atlas of Yemen Yemen travel guide from Wikitravel Preceded by North Yemen concurrent with South Yemen Government of Yemen 1990 to date Succeeded by current v d e Yemen topics History Timeline  Ancient history  Minaean  Himyar  Kingdom of Aksum  Sassanid   Islamic history  Modern history  Yemeni unification   Civil wars (North Yemen 1994)   2011 uprising Politics and government Constitution  President  Prime Minister  Cabinet  Foreign relations  Elections  Political parties   Assembly of Representatives 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