The history of Yemen can be traced back to the 10th century BC and the Kingdom of Sheba can be found in religious texts.
The country earned the title ‘Happy Yemen’ because of its favourable topography and climate, and rich agriculture. Its expansive coastline touching the Red Sea to the west and the Arabian Sea to the south is also a huge draw.
Since 2014, the country has been engulfed in a gruelling civil war leading to regional interventions and tense relations among regional actors.
The unstable political and security situation in Yemen has naturally disrupted development and aggravated living standards. Meanwhile, its ill-equipped healthcare system struggles to rein in disease outbreaks and epidemics exacerbated by conflict.
According to World Bank estimates, Yemen’s population reached 33mn in 2021. Its population growth rate is close to 2.4% per year.
Meanwhile, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) predicts that Yemen’s economy will shrink 0.5% to reach a GDP of $19.53bn in 2023, while per capita income will not exceed $573. This contradicts Yemeni government estimates of a 2% growth in 2022 and 2023.