Information on Yemen

The people of Yemen can be divided into six distinct people groups. These groups are the Northern Yemenis, the Southern Yemenis, the Tihamis, the Hadramis, the Mahris, and the Soqotris. These people form the Republic of Yemen. The population of Yemen is about 20 million. Several ethnic groups form the Yemen population. Arabs make up the largest percentage of the people. However, other groups include Afro-Arabs, South Asians, and Europeans. Most Yemeni people are Muslims, but small numbers of Jews, Christians, and Hindus can be found within the country.

Until 1990, Yemen was two countries: the Yemen Arab Repulic (North Yemen) and the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen (South Yemen). When the two Yemens merged, a republic government was formed. The president is the chief of state. He appoints a vice president and prime minister to work alongside him. Before 1999, the president was elected by the legislature to a five-year term. Since then the president has been elected by popular vote. The flag of Yemen is made of three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black.

Most Yemenis work in agriculture and herding or as expatriates. Other industries in Yemen include oil production, petroleum refining, and small-scale production of textiles, leather goods, and handicrafts. Even with its oil production, Yemen is one of the poorest countries in the Arab world. In the mid-1990s, Yemen did report strong growth as oil production began. This growth was harmed by low oil prices in 1998.