GeoRealityMatch
Majestic Dar al-Hajar rock palace in Yemen under a clear blue sky, showcasing unique architecture.Aerial view showcasing the traditional architecture of a historic town in Yemen with iconic towers and desert landscape.

Yemen

Asia · Western Asia

Low development

The UK Foreign Office advises against all travel to the whole country. It is among the least peaceful countries.

Source: FCDO travel advice, read 29 October 2026.

Safety

154th most peaceful of 161

Global Peace Index
3.081lower is more peacefulVery low safety
#154 of 161
IEP GPI · 2026
Safety index
38.3Numbeo's safety index, higher is saferLowNumbeo · 2026
Money
Rent index
5.9New York = 100Very affordableNumbeo · 2026

Income and inflation over time

Income per person fell 22% in current dollars from 2006 to 2018, and fell 52% after inflation.

GDP per person, current US$At purchasing power parityInflation

$0$2.0K$4.0K$3,164 PPP$634Inflation, % a year20%020062010201520182006, $810 a person, $3,205 at PPP, inflation 10.8%2007, $890 a person, $3,294 at PPP, inflation 7.9%2008, $1,072 a person, $3,370 at PPP, inflation 19%2009, $969 a person, $3,411 at PPP, inflation 5.4%2010, $1,155 a person, $3,603 at PPP, inflation 11.2%2011, $1,186 a person, $3,113 at PPP, inflation 19.5%2012, $1,245 a person, $3,005 at PPP, inflation 9.9%2013, $1,379 a person, $3,164 at PPP, inflation 11%2014, $1,430 a person, inflation 8.1%2015, $1,362 a person2016, $975 a person2017, $811 a person2018, $634 a person$0$2.0K$4.0KInflation, % a year20%020062010201520182006, $810 a person, $3,205 at PPP, inflation 10.8%2007, $890 a person, $3,294 at PPP, inflation 7.9%2008, $1,072 a person, $3,370 at PPP, inflation 19%2009, $969 a person, $3,411 at PPP, inflation 5.4%2010, $1,155 a person, $3,603 at PPP, inflation 11.2%2011, $1,186 a person, $3,113 at PPP, inflation 19.5%2012, $1,245 a person, $3,005 at PPP, inflation 9.9%2013, $1,379 a person, $3,164 at PPP, inflation 11%2014, $1,430 a person, inflation 8.1%2015, $1,362 a person2016, $975 a person2017, $811 a person2018, $634 a person

World Bank: GDP per person in current US dollars and at PPP, real GDP per person, consumer price inflation. Observed years only.

Health

Below-average life expectancy

Life expectancy
69.4years, at birthLow
#136 of 195
World Bank · 2024
Health coverage
43WHO universal health coverage index, 0 to 100Very lowWHO · 2023
Air pollution
34.0PM2.5, micrograms per cubic metre, national averageVery highWHO · 2023
Work and internet

Slow home internet

Unemployment rate
17.3%share of the labour force without a jobWorld Bank · 2025
Home internet
16 Mbpsmedian download speedSlowOokla Speedtest · 2025
English proficiency
402EF English Proficiency Index scoreVery lowEF EPI · 2025

Internet speeds

Home internet16 MbpsSlow

Ookla Speedtest Global Index, median download speed, ranked among the countries Ookla lists.

Aerial view showcasing the traditional architecture of a historic town in Yemen with iconic towers and desert landscape.
How it changed

Yemen's Human Development Index

0.470Low human development

184th of 193 in UNDP's 2023 ranking, 43rd of 43 in Asia.

UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita. UNDP Human Development Report 2025.

Nearest countries by HDI

  1. #182Mozambique0.493
  2. #183Madagascar0.487
  3. #184Yemen0.470
  4. #185Sierra Leone0.467
  5. #186Burkina Faso0.459
Full HDI ranking, all 193 countries

HDI since 1990

Year by year

Human development rose from 0.359 in 1990 to 0.470 in 2023.

0.300.430.550.47019902000201020231990: 0.3591991: 0.3641992: 0.3701993: 0.3771994: 0.3821995: 0.3931996: 0.4051997: 0.4131998: 0.4231999: 0.4292000: 0.4392001: 0.4492002: 0.4582003: 0.4672004: 0.4752005: 0.4812006: 0.4862007: 0.4892008: 0.4922009: 0.4972010: 0.5022011: 0.5012012: 0.5032013: 0.5072014: 0.5022015: 0.4752016: 0.4672017: 0.4592018: 0.4542019: 0.4582020: 0.4592021: 0.4582022: 0.4662023: 0.4700.300.430.5519902000201020231990: 0.3591991: 0.3641992: 0.3701993: 0.3771994: 0.3821995: 0.3931996: 0.4051997: 0.4131998: 0.4231999: 0.4292000: 0.4392001: 0.4492002: 0.4582003: 0.4672004: 0.4752005: 0.4812006: 0.4862007: 0.4892008: 0.4922009: 0.4972010: 0.5022011: 0.5012012: 0.5032013: 0.5072014: 0.5022015: 0.4752016: 0.4672017: 0.4592018: 0.4542019: 0.4582020: 0.4592021: 0.4582022: 0.4662023: 0.470

UNDP Human Development Report, 2025 edition. 34 annual values, none interpolated.

Twenty years here

Year by yearThe world report
Life expectancy at birth
69.4 years2024at birthUp 4.1 years from 65.4 years in 2005
Urban population
37%2025of people in towns and citiesUp 8 points from 29% in 2006
Births per woman
4.502024births per womanDown 1.06 from 5.56 in 2005
Renewable share of energy
4%2021of energy usedUp 3 points from 1% in 2004
Access to electricity
86%2024of people with electricityUp 32 points from 55% in 2005
Infant mortality
342024deaths before age one, per 1,000 birthsDown 25 from 59 in 2005
CO2 emissions per person
0.3 t2024of CO2 per person a yearDown 0.7 t from 1 t in 2005
Forest area
1%2023of land under forestLevel with 2004

World Bank, from the first to the last observed year of each indicator; each has its own window.

Our take

Severe humanitarian crisis and ongoing conflict; not recommended for travel. The case against is the UK's advice against travel, a low peace ranking and patchy access to essential health services.

About Yemen

Yemen is one of the oldest civilisations in the Arab world, with the ancient walled city of Sana'a, the extraordinary mud skyscrapers of Shibam, the spice markets of the interior, and the island of Socotra with its uniquely strange Dragon Blood trees. The culture is Arab and tribal, with a tradition of poetry, architecture, and coffee culture that predates almost everything familiar in the region. The country is currently inaccessible for most travellers, but its heritage is extraordinary and worth knowing.

Practical facts

  • CapitalSana'a
  • LanguagesArabic
  • CurrencyYemeni rial (YER)
  • Area527,970 km²
  • Plug typeType C/D/G
  • Drives on theright
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Quick answers

What is Yemen's Human Development Index?

Yemen's Human Development Index is 0.470 for 2023 (UNDP Human Development Report 2025), ranked #184 of 193 by UNDP.

Is Yemen safe?

Yemen scores 3.08 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #154 of 161 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.

How expensive is Yemen?

Numbeo's cost-of-living index puts Yemen at 53.1 (New York = 100); that is #108 cheapest of 143 countries with data.

What is life expectancy in Yemen?

Life expectancy at birth in Yemen is 69.4 yrs (World Bank), ranked #136 of 195 countries.