Yemen
Yemen is a nation on the Arabian Peninsula which borders the countries of Saudi Arabia and Oman, and has shores on the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea.
Fast Facts
- Capital: San'a'
- Government: Republic
- Population: 22,230,531 July 2007 estimate
- Currency: Yemeni Rial
- Exchange Rate
- Official Language: Arabic
Brief History
Prior to 1990, Yemen was split into two nations: North Yemen and South Yemen. North Yemen achieved its independence with the break-up of the Ottoman Empire following World War I, but South Yemen, centered around the port city of Aden, remained under British control until 1967.
Culture and Climate
Yemen is a predominantly Muslim nation with 55% aligned with Sunni Islam and 42% aligned with Shia Islam. Most Yemenis are Arab, and Arabic is the most widely spoken language. By international standards, Yemen is a very poor country, ranking 175th in per capital income. Yemen's climate is largely arid, although parts of the country receive the most rainfall of any location in the Middle East.
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