Yemen
Location:
Coordinates: 14°16'54.96"N 48°15'12.12"E
Description
Yemen is a country located at the southwestern corner of the Arabian Peninsula with a rich history dating back thousands of years. Once a crossroads of ancient trade routes, Yemen is now one of the poorest countries in the Middle East, with its economy severely weakened by years of civil war that began in 2014. The country was historically divided between Ottoman-controlled north and British-controlled south until unification in 1990, though this merger brought together two struggling and underdeveloped economic systems.
Yemen has a population of approximately 33.7 million people, with a relatively balanced gender distribution, though precise current figures are difficult to ascertain due to the ongoing conflict and displacement. Islam is the predominant religion in Yemen, with the majority of the population being Muslim. The country has historically been divided along sectarian lines, with Sunni Muslims comprising the majority in many regions, particularly in the south, while Zaidi Shia Muslims have traditionally been concentrated in the northern highlands, including areas where the Houthi movement originated. This religious landscape has influenced political dynamics and contributed to tensions within the country, especially as the Houthi movement, with its Zaidi Shia background, gained control over significant territories in the northwest, including the capital Sana'a.
Economy
Yemen's economy is weak and underdeveloped, with a GDP of approximately $21.89 billion serving its population of about 33.7 million people. Before the civil war, Yemen relied heavily on declining oil and gas reserves, which accounted for over 80% of exports and a significant portion of government revenue. Currently, around 80% of Yemen's population depends on humanitarian aid as the conflict has devastated infrastructure, trade networks, and economic institutions, leading to widespread poverty, food insecurity, high unemployment, and severe inflation. The World Bank has focused its engagement strategy on preserving basic services and the institutions that deliver them while supporting people's livelihoods and potential for economic recovery.
Military
Yemen's military has been fractured by the ongoing civil war, with different factions controlling different parts of the armed forces that were officially merged in May 1990 after unification. The Houthi rebels, who control much of the northwest including the capital Sana'a, have transformed from a localized armed group into what UN reports describe as "a powerful military organization" receiving "unprecedented" military support from outside sources, particularly Iran and Hezbollah. The country's complex alliances include the internationally recognized government receiving support from Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states, while the Houthis maintain ties with Iran, creating a proxy battlefield for regional powers in what has become one of the world's most severe humanitarian crises.
Why Yemen is Important
Strategic Location
Yemen occupies a critical geopolitical position at the southern end of the Arabian Peninsula. Its strategic importance stems primarily from:
Control of Key Maritime Routes: Yemen overlooks the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. This narrow waterway is one of the world's most important shipping lanes.
Global Trade Significance: Approximately 12% of global trade passes through the Red Sea routes that Yemen borders. For oil shipments specifically, about 30% of the world's oil passes through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
European Trade Dependencies: While only about 3% of US trade runs through these waters, approximately 40% of European trade depends on these routes.
Regional Security
Yemen's importance extends beyond shipping lanes:
Borders with Key US Allies: Yemen shares borders with Saudi Arabia and Oman, making its stability crucial for regional security.
US Strategic Partnership: Yemen is described as a key element in the US strategic partnership with Saudi Arabia, highlighting its importance in regional stability.
Humanitarian Concerns: The ongoing conflict has created one of the world's worst humanitarian crises, with approximately 20 million people depending on aid to survive and nearly 5 million displaced.
Title: Yemen primary economic market symbol “Ni” & “No”
Yemen's Trade Profile
Yemen's trade relationships have been significantly affected by its ongoing conflict, but historically:
Historical Trade Importance: For many centuries, trade was a major source of wealth for states in this region. Yemen was once an important node between major commercial centers.
Current Major Exports: According to the information provided, Yemen's export opportunities appear limited, with potential in areas like fish fillets, raw cotton, dried legumes, and cassava.
Trade Partners: The document doesn't provide comprehensive information on Yemen's current trade partners, though it mentions that Asian countries were historically the most important destination for Yemen's merchandise exports (over 85%), while GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries and Asia were the main sources of imports.
Economic Challenges: The ongoing conflict has severely disrupted Yemen's economy and trade capabilities. Before the current conflict, Yemen was already the poorest country in the Middle East, with limited economic diversification.
Untapped Resources: Yemen reportedly has significant untapped offshore oil and gas deposits, as well as reserves of other valuable resources including cobalt, copper, gold, iron ore, nickel, and zinc. However, the political instability has limited the country's ability to develop these resources effectively.
The current conflict and instability have severely impacted Yemen's trade capabilities and relationships, with much of the country's infrastructure in ruins, making it difficult to maintain normal trade relations with other nations.
Title: Yemen village architecture within a caldera structure
Sites
15° 7'32.00"N 44°14'41.00"E: High interest
15°19'25.52"N 44° 3'20.74"E: High interest