Terrain
Narrow coastal plain backed by flat-topped hills and rugged mountains; dissected upland desert plains in center slope into the desert interior of the Arabian Peninsula.
STRATEGIC LOCATION ( :42)
Climate
Mostly desert; hot and humid along west coast; temperate in western mountains affected by seasonal monsoon; extraordinarily hot, dry, harsh desert in east.
People
Nationality: Yemeni. Population: 25,408,288 (July 2013 est.). Language: Arabic.
SOUTHERN SEPARATISTS ( :22)
Religions
Muslim (Islam—official) including Shaf'i (Sunni) and Zaydi (Shia), small numbers of Jewish, Christian, and Hindu.
Economy
Yemen has tried to counter the effects of its declining oil resources by diversifying its economy through an economic reform program initiated in 2006 that is designed to bolster non-oil sectors of the economy and foreign investment. Availability of basic services, including electricity, water, and fuel, has improved since the transition, but progress toward achieving more sustainable economic stability has been slow and uneven.
OIL, REMITTANCES & AID ( :46)
Living Conditions
Yemen has been trying to improve living conditions for its people. In rural areas, where 75% of the population lives, running water has been made available in most villages. Sewer systems have yet to be installed. The water is often polluted. Diseases such as dysentery are common. Medical care is limited, if it is available at all. The government has begun to establish some rural medical clinics. Few children are vaccinated, so diseases such as measles and tuberculosis spread quickly.
Government
Republic
US Military Presence/Support
We support the Yemeni government and people with a comprehensive strategy to promote the political, economic, and security sector reforms underpinning the country’s Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)-brokered political transition initiative. Our aid is also focused on partnering with the Yemeni government to meet the critical needs of its citizens. The United States provides humanitarian assistance, delivers economic assistance, and supports good governance.