Yemen

Yemen is a country at the southwestern tip of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the north, Oman to the east, the Red Sea to the west, and the Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea to the south. The capital is Sana'a; however, since 2015 the internationally recognized government has been based in Aden due to the ongoing conflict.

Yemen's terrain is diverse, ranging from high mountain ranges in the west and center to hot coastal plains along the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, and arid deserts in the east. The country includes the Socotra archipelago in the Indian Ocean, noted for distinctive biodiversity. The climate varies from temperate in the highlands to hot and dry in the lowlands.

Historically, Yemen was home to ancient South Arabian civilizations such as the Sabaeans and Himyarites. It later became part of successive Islamic states. In the 19th and early 20th centuries the northern and southern parts were influenced by the Ottoman Empire and the British Empire, respectively. North Yemen united with South Yemen in 1990 to form the Republic of Yemen. Since 2014–2015, the country has faced a civil war and a multi-sided confrontation that has disrupted governance and security.

Demographically, Yemen has about 30 million inhabitants. The official language is Arabic, and Islam is the predominant religion, with both Sunni and Zaidi Shia communities. The economy has long depended on oil and gas exports, agriculture, and remittances; conflict has severely damaged infrastructure and living conditions, and Yemen has faced a major humanitarian crisis with widespread needs.