Country Profile: The Republic of Yemen

Official Name: The Republic of Yemen

Local Name: al-Jumhuriya al-Yamaniyah

Capital: Sanaa

Population: 17,479,206 (July 2000 est.)

Religious Breakdown: Primarily Sunni and Shia Muslim, small numbers of Jewish, Christian, and Hindu

Language: Arabic

Size of Country: 527,970 Sq. Km.

Population Growth Rate: 3.36% (2000 est.)

Birth Rate: 43.44 births/1000 (2000 est.)

Death Rate: 9.86 deaths/1000 (2000 est.)

Fertility Rate: 7.05 children/woman (2000 est.)

Life Expectancy: Male- 58, Female- 62 (2000 est.)

Literacy: 38% (1990 est.)

Unemployment: 30% (1995 est.)

Defense Spending: 7.6 % of Gross Domestic Product (1999 est.)
                                $414 Million (1999 est.)

Independence: North Yemen- November 1918 from Ottoman Empire
                         South Yemen- 30 November 1967 from United Kingdom
                         Two countries united to form Republic of Yemen- 22 May 1990

Style of Government: Republic

Legislature: Unicameral, House of Representatives: 301 seats, elected by popular vote for four year terms.

Executive: Chief of State President, elected by popular vote to five year term.
                  Current: Lt. Gen. Ali Abdullah Salih (since 22 May 1990, elected by Legislature, future Presidents to stand for popular vote.)
                  Chief of Government Prime Minister; appointed by President.
                  Current: Abd al-Qadir Ba Jamal
                  Cabinet Council of Ministers appointed by President with advice from Prime Minister.

Constitution: Ratified 16 May 1991, amended 29 September 1994

Military: Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary (includes police)

                                  Total Male Population available for service: 3,935,924(2000 est.)
                                  Total Female Population available for service: 0 (2000 est.)

Information provided with assistance from the CIA World Factbook 2000