# Demographics of Yemen

Demographic features of the population of Yemen (Arabic: سكان اليمن) include population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population.

## Population

The population of Yemen was about 33 million according to 2021 estimates, with 46% of the population being under 15 years old and 2.7% above 65 years. In 1950, it was 4.3 million. By 2050, the population is estimated to increase to about 60 million.
Yemenis are mainly of Arab ethnicity. When the former states of North and South Yemen were established, most resident minority groups departed. Yemen is still a largely tribal society. In the northern, mountainous parts of the country, there are some 400 Zaidi tribes. There are also hereditary caste groups in urban areas such as Al-Akhdam.
According to the USCRI, Yemen hosted a population of refugees and asylum seekers numbering approximately 69 in 2017. Refugees and asylum seekers living in Yemen were predominantly from Iraq, Somalia, Ethiopia, and Syria.

### Age structure

Population Estimates by Sex and Age Group (01.VII.2013) (Data refer to national projections.):
| Age Group | Male | Female | Total | % |
| Total | 12 844 169 | 12 390 910 | 25 235 079 | 100 |
| 0–4 | 2 069 855 | 1 981 763 | 4 051 618 | 16.06 |
| 5–9 | 1 723 755 | 1 653 391 | 3 377 146 | 13.38 |
| 10–14 | 1 539 447 | 1 467 798 | 3 007 245 | 11.92 |
| 15–19 | 1 530 854 | 1 423 803 | 2 954 657 | 11.71 |
| 20–24 | 1 426 490 | 1 312 083 | 2 738 574 | 10.85 |
| 25–29 | 1 146 775 | 1 080 140 | 2 226 915 | 8.82 |
| 30–34 | 851 154 | 837 094 | 1 688 248 | 6.69 |
| 35–39 | 635 492 | 641 256 | 1 276 748 | 5.06 |
| 40–44 | 448 186 | 468 200 | 916 385 | 3.63 |
| 45–49 | 366 733 | 392 010 | 758 743 | 3.01 |
| 50–54 | 310 025 | 334 665 | 644 689 | 2.55 |
| 55–59 | 238 877 | 249 982 | 488 859 | 1.94 |
| 60–64 | 178 041 | 174 631 | 352 671 | 1.40 |
| 65-69 | 135 090 | 131 812 | 266 902 | 1.06 |
| 70-74 | 98 257 | 97 029 | 195 287 | 0.77 |
| 75-79 | 66 656 | 66 691 | 133 347 | 0.53 |
| 80+ | 78 482 | 78 565 | 157 047 | 0.62 |
| Age group | Male | Female | Total | Percent |
| 0–14 | 5 333 057 | 5 102 952 | 10 436 009 | 41.36 |
| 15–64 | 7 132 627 | 6 913 861 | 14 046 488 | 55.66 |
| 65+ | 378 485 | 374 097 | 752 582 | 2.98 |
Population Estimates by Sex and Age Group (01.VII.2017) (Data refer to national projections.):
| Age Group | Male | Female | Total | % |
| Total | 14 334 126 | 13 836 282 | 28 170 408 | 100 |
| 0–4 | 2 213 674 | 2 118 177 | 4 331 851 | 15.38 |
| 5–9 | 1 992 122 | 1 901 034 | 3 893 155 | 13.82 |
| 10–14 | 1 639 285 | 1 573 936 | 3 213 221 | 11.41 |
| 15–19 | 1 529 732 | 1 451 328 | 2 981 060 | 10.58 |
| 20–24 | 1 509 363 | 1 398 464 | 2 907 826 | 10.32 |
| 25–29 | 1 367 680 | 1 260 306 | 2 627 986 | 9.33 |
| 30–34 | 1 063 494 | 1 010 846 | 2 074 340 | 7.36 |
| 35–39 | 799 595 | 789 413 | 1 589 008 | 5.64 |
| 40–44 | 577 738 | 587 770 | 1 165 508 | 4.14 |
| 45–49 | 415 599 | 438 461 | 854 059 | 3.03 |
| 50–54 | 343 155 | 371 721 | 714 875 | 2.54 |
| 55–59 | 279 808 | 307 024 | 586 832 | 2.08 |
| 60–64 | 206 651 | 218 537 | 425 188 | 1.51 |
| 65-69 | 148 672 | 150 710 | 299 382 | 1.06 |
| 70-74 | 105 257 | 108 159 | 213 416 | 0.76 |
| 75-79 | 69 010 | 72 586 | 141 596 | 0.50 |
| 80+ | 73 292 | 77 812 | 151 104 | 0.54 |
| Age group | Male | Female | Total | Percent |
| 0–14 | 5 845 081 | 5 593 147 | 11 438 228 | 40.60 |
| 15–64 | 8 092 814 | 7 833 868 | 15 926 682 | 56.54 |
| 65+ | 396 231 | 409 267 | 805 498 | 2.86 |

### Urbanization

    Urban population: 31% of total population (2008)
    Rate of urbanization: 4.9% annual rate of change (2005–2010 est.)

## Vital statistics

In 2007 the birthrate and death rate were estimated to be 42.7 per 1,000 and 8.1 per 1,000, respectively (CIA est.). The infant mortality rate was almost 58 deaths per 1,000 live births. The rate was estimated to be higher for males than for females—more than 62 male deaths per 1,000 live births, as compared with about 53 female deaths per 1,000 live births. Despite an increase of 14 years in the last decade, life expectancy at birth in Yemen has remained low compared with other developing countries—60.6 years for males and 64.5 years for females, or 62.5 years overall. The country's fertility rate was almost 6.5 children per woman in 2007 free.

### Demographic and Health Surveys

Total Fertility Rate (TFR) (Wanted Fertility Rate) and Crude Birth Rate (CBR):
| Year | Total | Total | Urban | Urban | Rural | Rural |
| Year | CBR | TFR | CBR | TFR | CBR | TFR |
| 1997 | 39.2 | 6.48 | 35.2 | 5.01 | 40.6 | 7.03 |
| 2013 | 33.4 | 4.4 (3,1) | 27.4 | 3.2 (2,4) | 36.2 | 5.1 (3,5) |

### UN estimates

| Year | Population | Live births per year | Deaths per year | Natural change per year | CBR$^1$ | CDR$^1$ | NC$^1$ | TFR$^1$ | IMR$^1$ | Life expectancy (years) |
| 1950 | 4 713 000 | 248 000 | 166 000 | 82 000 | 52.6 | 35.1 | 17.4 | 7.92 | 318.3 | 31.66 |
| 1951 | 4 783 000 | 252 000 | 166 000 | 86 000 | 52.7 | 34.7 | 17.9 | 7.90 | 317.6 | 31.68 |
| 1952 | 4 856 000 | 257 000 | 168 000 | 89 000 | 52.8 | 34.5 | 18.3 | 7.88 | 316.2 | 31.80 |
| 1953 | 4 932 000 | 262 000 | 170 000 | 92 000 | 53.1 | 34.3 | 18.7 | 7.90 | 314.8 | 31.93 |
| 1954 | 5 011 000 | 267 000 | 172 000 | 95 000 | 53.2 | 34.3 | 18.9 | 7.90 | 313.4 | 32.04 |
| 1955 | 5 092 000 | 272 000 | 175 000 | 98 000 | 53.4 | 34.2 | 19.2 | 7.89 | 312.0 | 32.17 |
| 1956 | 5 175 000 | 278 000 | 177 000 | 101 000 | 53.6 | 34.2 | 19.4 | 7.90 | 310.6 | 32.27 |
| 1957 | 5 261 000 | 283 000 | 180 000 | 103 000 | 53.7 | 34.2 | 19.5 | 7.89 | 309.2 | 32.36 |
| 1958 | 5 350 000 | 289 000 | 181 000 | 108 000 | 53.9 | 33.8 | 20.1 | 7.90 | 303.4 | 32.79 |
| 1959 | 5 444 000 | 295 000 | 182 000 | 113 000 | 54.1 | 33.4 | 20.7 | 7.92 | 298.1 | 33.19 |
| 1960 | 5 542 000 | 302 000 | 183 000 | 119 000 | 54.4 | 33.0 | 21.4 | 7.94 | 293.0 | 33.68 |
| 1961 | 5 647 000 | 309 000 | 185 000 | 124 000 | 54.7 | 32.7 | 22.0 | 7.96 | 287.8 | 34.10 |
| 1962 | 5 753 000 | 316 000 | 191 000 | 124 000 | 54.8 | 33.2 | 21.6 | 7.96 | 283.8 | 33.62 |
| 1963 | 5 860 000 | 323 000 | 197 000 | 125 000 | 54.9 | 33.6 | 21.4 | 7.98 | 280.0 | 33.25 |
| 1964 | 5 974 000 | 331 000 | 192 000 | 139 000 | 55.3 | 32.1 | 23.2 | 8.04 | 272.0 | 34.74 |
| 1965 | 6 097 000 | 339 000 | 193 000 | 146 000 | 55.4 | 31.5 | 23.9 | 8.07 | 265.0 | 35.37 |
| 1966 | 6 228 000 | 347 000 | 192 000 | 155 000 | 55.6 | 30.8 | 24.8 | 8.13 | 257.1 | 36.10 |
| 1967 | 6 368 000 | 355 000 | 192 000 | 164 000 | 55.7 | 30.1 | 25.6 | 8.17 | 248.9 | 36.87 |
| 1968 | 6 516 000 | 362 000 | 190 000 | 172 000 | 55.5 | 29.2 | 26.4 | 8.20 | 240.3 | 37.80 |
| 1969 | 6 674 000 | 369 000 | 184 000 | 185 000 | 55.2 | 27.5 | 27.6 | 8.22 | 230.3 | 39.47 |
| 1970 | 6 844 000 | 378 000 | 182 000 | 196 000 | 55.1 | 26.5 | 28.6 | 8.24 | 221.3 | 40.50 |
| 1971 | 7 024 000 | 387 000 | 180 000 | 207 000 | 55.1 | 25.6 | 29.5 | 8.26 | 212.9 | 41.54 |
| 1972 | 7 216 000 | 398 000 | 179 000 | 219 000 | 55.0 | 24.7 | 30.3 | 8.30 | 204.8 | 42.46 |
| 1973 | 7 418 000 | 406 000 | 177 000 | 229 000 | 54.7 | 23.9 | 30.8 | 8.30 | 197.1 | 43.35 |
| 1974 | 7 630 000 | 416 000 | 175 000 | 241 000 | 54.5 | 23.0 | 31.5 | 8.34 | 189.5 | 44.33 |
| 1975 | 7 856 000 | 430 000 | 174 000 | 256 000 | 54.6 | 22.1 | 32.5 | 8.40 | 181.5 | 45.25 |
| 1976 | 8 095 000 | 442 000 | 172 000 | 270 000 | 54.5 | 21.2 | 33.3 | 8.44 | 173.2 | 46.24 |
| 1977 | 8 348 000 | 456 000 | 170 000 | 286 000 | 54.5 | 20.3 | 34.2 | 8.50 | 164.8 | 47.29 |
| 1978 | 8 615 000 | 468 000 | 167 000 | 300 000 | 54.2 | 19.4 | 34.8 | 8.52 | 156.4 | 48.39 |
| 1979 | 8 900 000 | 488 000 | 166 000 | 322 000 | 54.7 | 18.6 | 36.2 | 8.67 | 147.9 | 49.39 |
| 1980 | 9 205 000 | 504 000 | 162 000 | 341 000 | 54.6 | 17.6 | 37.0 | 8.71 | 139.8 | 50.65 |
| 1981 | 9 529 000 | 519 000 | 160 000 | 359 000 | 54.4 | 16.7 | 37.6 | 8.75 | 132.0 | 51.71 |
| 1982 | 9 872 000 | 536 000 | 159 000 | 377 000 | 54.2 | 16.1 | 38.1 | 8.79 | 125.5 | 52.41 |
| 1983 | 10 237 000 | 554 000 | 154 000 | 400 000 | 54.0 | 15.0 | 39.0 | 8.83 | 118.1 | 53.92 |
| 1984 | 10 626 000 | 570 000 | 151 000 | 418 000 | 53.5 | 14.2 | 39.3 | 8.85 | 112.0 | 54.93 |
| 1985 | 11 037 000 | 588 000 | 150 000 | 438 000 | 53.2 | 13.6 | 39.7 | 8.86 | 106.5 | 55.69 |
| 1986 | 11 465 000 | 606 000 | 161 000 | 445 000 | 52.8 | 14.1 | 38.8 | 8.86 | 102.0 | 53.82 |
| 1987 | 11 916 000 | 625 000 | 149 000 | 476 000 | 52.4 | 12.5 | 39.9 | 8.83 | 97.9 | 57.10 |
| 1988 | 12 387 000 | 643 000 | 149 000 | 495 000 | 51.9 | 12.0 | 39.9 | 8.79 | 94.3 | 57.76 |
| 1989 | 12 872 000 | 660 000 | 149 000 | 510 000 | 51.2 | 11.6 | 39.6 | 8.71 | 91.4 | 58.22 |
| 1990 | 13 375 000 | 678 000 | 150 000 | 528 000 | 50.6 | 11.2 | 39.4 | 8.61 | 88.8 | 58.70 |
| 1991 | 13 896 000 | 696 000 | 151 000 | 544 000 | 50.0 | 10.9 | 39.1 | 8.46 | 86.4 | 59.05 |
| 1992 | 14 434 000 | 713 000 | 153 000 | 561 000 | 49.4 | 10.6 | 38.8 | 8.27 | 84.3 | 59.43 |
| 1993 | 14 988 000 | 730 000 | 154 000 | 576 000 | 48.7 | 10.2 | 38.4 | 8.05 | 82.5 | 59.86 |
| 1994 | 15 553 000 | 738 000 | 157 000 | 581 000 | 47.5 | 10.1 | 37.3 | 7.80 | 80.9 | 59.71 |
| 1995 | 16 103 000 | 743 000 | 156 000 | 588 000 | 46.1 | 9.6 | 36.4 | 7.53 | 79.5 | 60.45 |
| 1996 | 16 614 000 | 720 000 | 156 000 | 565 000 | 43.3 | 9.3 | 33.9 | 7.02 | 78.2 | 60.57 |
| 1997 | 17 109 000 | 729 000 | 153 000 | 576 000 | 42.5 | 8.9 | 33.6 | 6.83 | 76.4 | 61.12 |
| 1998 | 17 608 000 | 732 000 | 153 000 | 579 000 | 41.5 | 8.7 | 32.8 | 6.64 | 74.1 | 61.38 |
| 1999 | 18 115 000 | 746 000 | 151 000 | 596 000 | 41.1 | 8.3 | 32.8 | 6.51 | 71.5 | 61.98 |
| 2000 | 18 629 000 | 751 000 | 148 000 | 603 000 | 40.2 | 7.9 | 32.3 | 6.32 | 68.7 | 62.59 |
| 2001 | 19 143 000 | 753 000 | 145 000 | 608 000 | 39.2 | 7.6 | 31.7 | 6.11 | 65.9 | 63.22 |
| 2002 | 19 661 000 | 762 000 | 142 000 | 620 000 | 38.7 | 7.2 | 31.5 | 5.94 | 62.8 | 63.91 |
| 2003 | 20 189 000 | 780 000 | 140 000 | 641 000 | 38.5 | 6.9 | 31.6 | 5.82 | 59.9 | 64.54 |
| 2004 | 20 733 000 | 794 000 | 139 000 | 656 000 | 38.2 | 6.7 | 31.6 | 5.71 | 57.2 | 65.01 |
| 2005 | 21 321 000 | 810 000 | 137 000 | 673 000 | 37.9 | 6.4 | 31.5 | 5.58 | 54.8 | 65.54 |
| 2006 | 21 966 000 | 831 000 | 136 000 | 694 000 | 37.8 | 6.2 | 31.6 | 5.43 | 52.3 | 65.99 |
| 2007 | 22 642 000 | 842 000 | 135 000 | 707 000 | 37.2 | 6.0 | 31.2 | 5.27 | 50.0 | 66.57 |
| 2008 | 23 329 000 | 857 000 | 135 000 | 723 000 | 36.7 | 5.8 | 31.0 | 5.13 | 47.9 | 66.96 |
| 2009 | 24 030 000 | 871 000 | 136 000 | 735 000 | 36.2 | 5.7 | 30.5 | 4.99 | 46.4 | 67.20 |
| 2010 | 24 744 000 | 886 000 | 139 000 | 748 000 | 35.8 | 5.6 | 30.2 | 4.86 | 45.7 | 67.28 |
| 2011 | 25 476 000 | 905 000 | 142 000 | 763 000 | 35.5 | 5.6 | 29.9 | 4.74 | 45.4 | 67.42 |
| 2012 | 26 223 000 | 922 000 | 146 000 | 775 000 | 35.1 | 5.6 | 29.5 | 4.63 | 45.5 | 67.34 |
| 2013 | 26 984 000 | 939 000 | 149 000 | 791 000 | 34.8 | 5.5 | 29.3 | 4.53 | 45.4 | 67.55 |
| 2014 | 27 753 000 | 956 000 | 155 000 | 802 000 | 34.4 | 5.6 | 28.9 | 4.43 | 45.5 | 67.38 |
| 2015 | 28 517 000 | 968 000 | 175 000 | 793 000 | 33.9 | 6.1 | 27.8 | 4.32 | 46.3 | 65.87 |
| 2016 | 29 274 000 | 977 000 | 177 000 | 800 000 | 33.3 | 6.1 | 27.3 | 4.21 | 46.2 | 66.06 |
| 2017 | 30 034 000 | 983 000 | 183 000 | 800 000 | 32.7 | 6.1 | 26.6 | 4.11 | 46.1 | 65.96 |
| 2018 | 30 791 000 | 995 000 | 204 000 | 791 000 | 32.3 | 6.6 | 25.7 | 4.04 | 46.6 | 64.58 |
| 2019 | 31 547 000 | 1 003 000 | 203 000 | 801 000 | 31.8 | 6.4 | 25.4 | 3.96 | 46.5 | 65.09 |
| 2020 | 32 284 000 | 1 010 000 | 210 000 | 800 000 | 31.3 | 6.5 | 24.7 | 3.89 | 45.9 | 64.65 |
| 2021 | 32 982 000 | 1 009 000 | 226 000 | 783 000 | 30.5 | 6.8 | 23.7 | 3.80 | 46.8 | 63.75 |
| $^1$ CBR = crude birth rate (per 1000); CDR = crude death rate (per 1000); NC = natural change (per 1000); TFR = total fertility rate (number of children per woman); IMR = infant mortality rate per 1000 births |||||||||||

### Life expectancy

| Period | Life expectancy in Years | Period | Life expectancy in Years |
| 1950–1955 | 34.7 | 1985–1990 | 56.8 |
| 1955–1960 | 34.7 | 1990–1995 | 58.5 |
| 1960–1965 | 34.7 | 1995–2000 | 59.8 |
| 1965–1970 | 39.1 | 2000–2005 | 61.0 |
| 1970–1975 | 43.3 | 2005–2010 | 62.8 |
| 1975–1980 | 48.1 | 2010–2015 | 64.2 |
| 1980–1985 | 53.0 | | |
Source: UN World Population Prospects

## Ethnic groups

The ethnic makeup of Yemen consists predominantly of Arabs; but also includes minorities from the Horn of Africa, South Asia, and Europe. Yemen was formerly also home to a Jewish diaspora community.

## Languages

Arabic is the official language; English is also used in official and business circles. In the Mahra area (the extreme east), several others Arabic languages (including Mehri) are spoken. When the former states of North and South Yemen were established, most resident minority groups departed.

## Religion

Religions of Yemen (2010 ) :
| Religions | Religions | percent | percent |
| Islam | Islam | 99.1% | 99.1% |
| Other (includes Jewish, Baháʼí Faith, and Christian) | Other (includes Jewish, Baháʼí Faith, and Christian) | 0.9% | 0.9% |
Religion in Yemen (2022 estimate)
Religion in Yemen consists primarily of two principal Islamic religious groups: by various sources, 53-65% of the Muslim population is Sunni and 30-44.5% is Shia. Sunnis primarily adhere to the Shafi'i school, and there are also significant followers of the Maliki and Hanbali schools. Shias are primarily Zaidi and also have significant minorities of Twelver and Ismaili Shias.
Zaidis are generally found in the north and northwest and Shafi'is in the south and southeast. There is also a small minority of Christians and Jews.

## Migration
### Emigration

The Yemeni diaspora is largely concentrated in the United Kingdom, where between 70,000 and 80,000 Yemenis live. Over 20,000 Yemenis reside in the United States, and an additional 2,812 live in Italy. Other Yemenis also reside in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Bahrain, as well as Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, and the former USSR. A smaller number of modern-day Pakistanis are of Yemeni descent, their original ancestors having left Yemen for the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia over four centuries ago. 350,000 Yemenite Jews live in Israel. In 2015, due to the conflict in Yemen, many have migrated to the northern coasts of Djibouti and Somalia.