Population and Demographics

Unlike most other people of the Arabian Peninsula who have historically been nomads or semi-nomads, Yemenis are almost entirely sedentary and live in small villages and towns scattered throughout the highlands and coastal regions.

Yemenis are divided into two principal Islamic religious groups: 52% Sunni and 48% Shi'a. Sunnis are primarily Shafi'i while Shi'is are divided into Zaidis primarily, then Ja'faris and Western Isma'ilis. The Sunnis are predominantly in the south and southeast. The Zaidis are predominantly in the north and northwest whilst the Jafaris are in the main centres of the North such as Sana'a and Ma'rib. There are mixed communities in the larger cities.

The Yemenite Jews once formed a sizeable Jewish minority in Yemen with a distinct culture. However, most have now immigrated to Israel, and the group now make up much less than 1% of the population.

Yemenis are mainly of Arab origin. 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 languages are spoken. When the former states of north and south Yemen were established, most resident minority groups departed.

The country has one of the world's highest birth rates; the average Yemeni woman bears six to seven 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.

Facts and Figures

• Population: 21,456,188
• Age Structure:
  • 0-14 years: 46.4% (male 5,067,762/female 4,881,333)
  • 15-64 years: 51% (male 5,568,078/female 5,375,263)
  • 65 years and over: 2.6% (male 275,878/female 287,874)
• Median Age:
  • Total: 16.6 years
  • Male: 16.6 years
  • Female: 16.6 years
• Population Growth Rate: 3.46%
• Birth Rate: 42.89 births/1,000 population
• Death Rate: 8.3 deaths/1,000 population
• Net Migration Rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population
• Sex Ratio:
  • At birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  • Under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
  • 15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
  • 65 years and over: 0.96 male(s)/female
  • Total population: 1.04 male(s)/female
• Infant Mortality Rate:
  • Total: 59.88 deaths/1,000 live births
  • Male: 64.55 deaths/1,000 live births
  • Female: 54.98 deaths/1,000 live births
• Life Expectancy at Birth:
  • Total population: 62.12 years
  • Male: 60.23 years
  • Female: 64.11 years
• Total Fertility Rate: 6.58 children born/woman
• HIV/AIDS:
  • Adult prevalence rate: 0.1%
  • People living with HIV/AIDS: 12,000
• Ethnic Groups:
  • Arab
  • Afro-Arab
  • South Asian
  • European
• Religions:
  • Muslim, including Shaf'i (Sunni) and Zaydi (Shi'a)
  • Jewish
  • Christian
  • Hindu
  • Languages:
  • Arabic
• Literacy:
  • Total population: 50.2%
  • Male: 70.5%
  • Female: 30%