17 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Abyan, 'Adan, Al Bayda', Al Hudaydah, Al Jawf, Al Mahrah, Al Mahwit, 'Ataq, Dhamar, Hadhramawt, Hajjah, Ibb, Lahij, Ma'rib, Sa'dah, San'a', Ta'izz.
note: there may be three more governorates.
Population:
18,078,035 (July 2001 est.)
Currency:
Yemeni rial (YER)
Languages:
Arabic
Elevation:
highest point: Jabal an Nabi Shu'ayb 3,760 m
lowest point: Arabian Sea 0 m
Natural hazards:
sandstorms and dust storms in summer
Climate:
mostly desert; hot and humid along west coast; temperate in western mountains affected by seasonal monsoon; extraordinarily hot, dry, harsh desert in east
Yemen, one of the poorest countries in the Arab world, reported strong growth in the mid-1990s with the onset of oil production, but was harmed by low oil prices in 1998. Yemen has embarked on an IMF-supported structural adjustment program designed to modernize and streamline the economy, which has led to foreign debt relief and restructuring. Aided by higher oil prices in 1999-2000, Yemen worked to maintain tight control over spending and implement additional components of the IMF program. A high population growth rate of nearly 3.4% and internal political dissension complicate the government's task.
Industry:
crude oil production and petroleum refining; small-scale production of cotton textiles and leather goods; food processing; handicrafts; small aluminum products factory; cement
Ethnicgroups:
predominantly Arab; but also Afro-Arab, South Asians, Europeans
Yellow fever:
A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers over 1 year of age coming from infected areas.
Malaria:
Malaria risk—predominantly due to P. falciparum—exists throughout the year, but mainly from September through February, in the whole country below 2000 m. There is no risk in SanaÕa. Resistance to chloroquine reported.
