Yemen
Overview
The Republic of Yemen is a country located in the southwestern part of the Arabian Peninsula, bordering Saudi Arabia to the north, Oman to the east, the Red Sea to the west, and the Gulf of Aden to the south. Its capital is Sanaa, and its population is approximately 34 million (2024 estimate). Since Houthi rebels seized Sanaa in 2014, a civil war has continued between the internationally recognized government and Houthi forces, and the United Nations has described the Yemen situation as one of the world's worst humanitarian crises.
Main Content
Geography and Natural Environment
Yemen's area is about 528,000 km², more than twice the size of the Korean Peninsula. The country is largely divided into the Tihama plain along the Red Sea coast, the western highlands at elevations of over 2,000 m, and the eastern desert and Hadramaut Valley. The highest peak is Jabal An-Nabi Shu'ayb (approximately 3,666 m), the highest mountain on the Arabian Peninsula. In the interior, part of the Empty Quarter (Rub' al Khali) desert extends. The Socotra Archipelago in the Indian Ocean was inscribed as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site in 2008 and is famous for its unique isolated ecosystem. The climate is generally arid desert climate, but the highlands are relatively mild and receive more precipitation.
History
The Yemen region was the birthplace of ancient civilizations that flourished through the spice trade, including the Kingdom of Sheba (Saba), Ma'in, Qataban, and Hadramaut. Islam spread in the 7th century, and afterwards the rule of the Zaidi Imams continued for a long time. In 1517 the Ottoman Empire advanced into the region, and in 1839 Britain occupied Aden and began colonial rule. In 1962 a republican revolution occurred in North Yemen, and after South Yemen gained independence in 1967, the socialist-oriented People's Democratic Republic of Yemen was established in 1970, solidifying the North-South division. In 1990, under President Ali Abdullah Saleh, North and South were unified, but they went through a civil war in 1994. In 2011, protests during the "Arab Spring" brought down the Saleh regime, and the government of Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi was established.
Politics and Conflict
In 2014, the northern Zaidi-affiliated Houthi (Ansar Allah) rebels captured Sanaa, and the civil war began in earnest; in 2015, an Arab coalition led by Saudi Arabia intervened in support of the Hadi government. Afterwards, in the south, the Southern Transitional Council (STC) showed separatist moves, and extremist forces such as al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) and the Islamic State (IS) were also active. In 2022, President Hadi transferred his powers to the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC), reorganizing the internationally recognized government. In April of the same year, a ceasefire was established through UN mediation, but it did not lead to a complete peace agreement.
Economy
Yemen is one of the poorest countries in the Arab world, with a high dependence on oil exports, but production and exports were greatly reduced by the conflict. The value of the rial plummeted, and inflation and unemployment are severe. Coffee (mocha coffee, whose name derives from the port of Mocha) and qat cultivation are major agricultural activities, and the ports of Aden and Hodeidah are key logistics hubs. The UN reports that a significant portion of the population suffers from food insecurity.
Society and Culture
Most residents are Arabs, with a small number of Somali and Afro-Arab populations. Islam is overwhelmingly the religion; Sunnis form the majority, and Zaidi (a Shia branch) are concentrated in the northern highlands. The official language is Arabic. The Old City of Sanaa, the earthen-brick skyscrapers of Shibam, and the historic district of Zabid are inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage sites, but are at risk of damage due to the conflict.
Recent Developments
Since 2024, the Yemen situation has combined with the Red Sea crisis to increase international repercussions. Under the pretext of solidarity with the Israel-Hamas war, the Houthis launched attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, and in response, a U.S.-British coalition bombed Houthi positions. As a result, international maritime logistics using the Suez Canal were disrupted, raising global supply chain costs. In 2025, the United States continued military operations against the Houthis, and the Houthis stated they would continue attacks on Israeli and Western vessels. Meanwhile, in terms of peace mediation, along with the replacement of the UN special envoy, discussions on a roadmap between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis continued, but no clear breakthrough was achieved. The economic situation worsened further, with the currency value recording an all-time low, and the humanitarian crisis is deepening, including cholera outbreaks and spreading famine. The international community presents restoring the ceasefire and guaranteeing humanitarian access as top priorities.
Related Topics
- [[Houthi rebels]]
- [[Red Sea crisis]]
- [[Saudi Arabia]]
- [[Middle East conflict]]
- [[Arabian Peninsula]]
- [[United Nations]]