Yemen (Republic of Yemen)

https://www.humantruth.info/yemen.html

By Vexen Crabtree 2025

Yemen Republic of Yemen
Status	Independent State
Social and Moral Index	191st best
Capital	Sanaa
Land Area	527 970km²₁
Location	Asia, The Middle East
Population	28.5m₂
Life Expectancy	63.75yrs (2017)₃
GNI	$1 314 (2017)₄
ISO3166-1 Codes	YE, YEM, 887₅
Internet Domain	.ye₆
Currency	Rial (YER)₇
Telephone	+967₈

1. Overview

“North Yemen became independent of the Ottoman Empire in 1918. The British, who had set up a protectorate area around the southern port of Aden in the 19th century, withdrew in 1967 from what became South Yemen. Three years later, the southern government adopted a Marxist orientation. The massive exodus of hundreds of thousands of Yemenis from the south to the north contributed to two decades of hostility between the states. The two countries were formally unified as the Republic of Yemen in 1990. A southern secessionist movement and brief civil war in 1994 was quickly subdued. In 2000, Saudi Arabia and Yemen agreed to a delimitation of their border. Fighting in the northwest between the government and Huthi rebels, a group seeking a return to traditional Zaydi Islam, began in 2004 and has since resulted in six rounds of fighting - the last ended in early 2010 with a cease-fire that continues to hold. The southern secessionist movement was revitalized in 2008 when a popular socioeconomic protest movement initiated the prior year took on political goals including secession. Public rallies in Sana'a against then President SALIH - inspired by similar demonstrations in Tunisia and Egypt - slowly built momentum starting in late January 2011 fueled by complaints over high unemployment, poor economic conditions, and corruption. By the following month, some protests had resulted in violence, and the demonstrations had spread to other major cities. By March the opposition had hardened its demands and was unifying behind calls for SALIH's immediate ouster. The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in late April 2011, in an attempt to mediate the crisis in Yemen, proposed an agreement in which the president would step down in exchange for immunity from prosecution. SALIH's refusal to sign an agreement led to heavy street fighting and his injury in an explosion in June 2011. The UN Security Council passed Resolution 2014 in October 2011 calling on both sides to end the violence and complete a power transfer deal. In late November 2011, SALIH signed the GCC-brokered agreement to step down and to transfer some of his powers to Vice President Abd Rabuh Mansur HADI. Following elections in February 2012, won by HADI, SALIH formally transferred his powers. In accordance with the GCC initiative, Yemen launched a National Dialogue to discuss key constitutional, political, and social issues in mid-March 2013.”
CIA's The World Factbook (2013)₉

“Short of the glitz of many of the Gulf states, Yemen compensates with the depth of its history and attachment to traditions and rich culture. Yemen may be the Arabian Peninsula´s poor cousin, but therein lies its charm. With none of the oil wealth of its neighbours, the country is like a time capsule preserving the traditions and texture of old Arabia.
Yemen´s history reads like the retelling of a legend. To the Romans, Yemen was Arabia Felix (Happy Arabia), Gilgamesh came here seeking eternal life, Noah launched his ark from here, the Queen of Sheba once ruled the land, and there was once dazzling wealth from the frankincense trade.
This journey into the past has diverse focal points, from the Arabian Nights-aura of capital city Sana`a in the west to mud skyscrapers in the east, from stunning mountain scenery in the north to the weird and wonderful landscapes of Suqutra off the south coast.
In recent years Yemen has remained nigh-on forgotten as travel here is unfeasible - the security situation makes venturing across Yemen extremely inadvisable. Best sit tight and hope that things improve so this distinctive realm may become accessible.”
"The World" by Lonely Planet (2014)₁₀

2. Yemen National and Social Development

#economics #human_development #wealth

UN HDI (2021)₁₁
Pos.		Higher is better Value₁₁
1	Switzerland	0.962
2	Norway	0.961
3	Iceland	0.959
	...
180	Afghanistan	0.478
181	Sierra Leone	0.477
182	Guinea	0.465
183	Yemen	0.455
184	Burkina Faso	0.449
185	Mozambique	0.446
186	Mali	0.428
187	Burundi	0.426
	Asia Avg	0.75
	World Avg	0.72
q=191.

Gross National Income Per-Capita (2021)₁₁
Pos.		Higher is better PPP $₁₁
1	Liechtenstein	$146 830
2	Singapore	$90 919
3	Qatar	$87 134
	...
182	Madagascar	$1 484
183	Malawi	$1 466
184	Chad	$1 364
185	Yemen	$1 314
186	Liberia	$1 289
187	Niger	$1 240
188	Mozambique	$1 198
189	Congo, DR	$1 076
	Asia Avg	$22 215
	World Avg	$20 136
q=193.

Social & Moral Development Index₁₂
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₁₂
1	Denmark	28.1
2	Norway	29.9
3	Sweden	31.0
	...
188	Liberia	127.4
189	Central African Rep.	128.3
190	Chad	130.6
191	Yemen	130.8
192	Congo, DR	131.9
193	Sudan	134.5
194	Equatorial Guinea	136.0
195	Angola	141.1
	Asia Avg	92.4
	World Avg	89.4
q=200.

The United Nations produces an annual Human Development Report which includes the Human Development Index. The factors taken into account include life expectancy, education and schooling and Gross National Income (GNI) amongst many others..

The Social and Moral Development Index concentrates on moral issues and human rights, violence, public health, equality, tolerance, freedom and effectiveness in climate change mitigation and environmentalism, and on some technological issues. A country scores higher for achieving well in those areas, and for sustaining that achievement in the long term. Those countries towards the top of this index can truly said to be setting good examples and leading humankind onwards into a bright, humane, and free future. See: Which are the Best Countries in the World? The Social and Moral Development Index.

3. Yemen's Demographics and Migration

#birth_control #demographics #fertility #health #immigration #life_expectancy #longevity #migration #overpopulation #population #yemen

Population Datasets:

Yemen's population is predicted to rise to 41.34 million by 2030. These millions of extra people will all need space to live, food to eat, energy to consume, and will increase the burden on the planet's resources. This country has a fertility rate of 3.72. The fertility rate is, in simple terms, the average amount of children that each woman has. The higher the figure, the quicker the population will grow, although, to calculate the rate you also need to take into account morbidity - the rate at which people die. If people live healthy and long lives and morbidity is low, then, 2.0 approximates to the replacement rate (two new children for each set of parents who die), which would keep the population stable. If all countries had such a fertility rate, population growth would end. The actual replacement rate in most developed countries is around 2.1, once you take mortality into account₁₃. The highest fertility rate ever detected in a single year was in Yemen in 1985, at 8.86.₁₄

Population₂
Pos.		2018 Population₂
1	China	1.4b
2	India	1.4b
3	USA	327.1m
	...
46	Ghana	29.8m
47	Mozambique	29.5m
48	Venezuela	28.9m
49	Yemen	28.5m
50	Nepal	28.1m
51	Madagascar	26.3m
52	N. Korea	25.5m
53	Cameroon	25.2m
	World Avg	39.0m
q=195.

Life Expectancy Higher is better₁₁
Pos.		2021 Years₁₁
1	Monaco	85.9
2	Hong Kong	85.5
3	Japan	84.8
	...
153	Madagascar	64.5
154	Mauritania	64.4
155	Ghana	63.8
156	Yemen	63.8
157	Bolivia	63.6
158	Nauru	63.6
159	Congo, (Brazzaville)	63.5
160	Comoros	63.4
	World Avg	71.28
q=195. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Fertility Rate 2.0 is best₁₅
Pos.		2022₁₅
1	US Virgin Islands	2.00
2	Ecuador	2.00
3	Nepal	2.01
	...
166	Nauru	3.46
167	Ghana	3.51
168	Vanuatu	3.70
169	Yemen	3.72
170	Rwanda	3.75
171	Sao Tome & Principe	3.75
172	Eritrea	3.79
173	Madagascar	3.79
	World Avg	2.47
q=208. Also scored for 1960s-2010s.

Old-Age Dependency Ratio Lower is better₁₆
Pos.		2016 Per 100₁₆
1	Uganda	04.3
2	Mali	04.5
3=	Chad	04.7
	...
16=	Ivory Coast	05.6
16=	Malawi	05.6
16=	Senegal	05.6
19	Yemen	05.7
20=	Cameroon	05.8
20=	Niger	05.8
20=	Congo, DR	05.8
20=	Benin	05.8
	World Avg	18.3
q=185.

Migration Datasets:

Immigrants₁₇
Pos.		2017 %₁₇
1	UAE	88.4%
2	Kuwait	75.5%
3	Qatar	65.2%
	...
141	Fiji	1.5%
142	Ghana	1.4%
143	Niger	1.4%
144	Yemen	1.4%
145	Bolivia	1.3%
146	Tuvalu	1.3%
147	Malawi	1.3%
148	Sierra Leone	1.3%
	World Avg	9.4%
q=195.

Emigrants₁₈
Pos.		2010 %₁₈
1	Dominica	104.8%
2	Palestine	68.4%
3	Samoa	67.3%
	...
112	Senegal	5.0%
113	Iraq	4.9%
114	Denmark	4.7%
115	Yemen	4.7%
116	Hungary	4.6%
117	Colombia	4.6%
118	Sierra Leone	4.6%
119	Philippines	4.6%
	World Avg	11.5%
q=192.

4. Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance

#equality #freedom #gender_equality #human_rights #morals #politics #prejudice #saudi_arabia #tolerance #UK #USA #women #yemen #yemen_women

Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2025)₁₉
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₁₉
1	Sweden	7.8
2	Netherlands	8.7
3	Denmark	8.8
	...
178	Libya	135.9
179	Ethiopia	136.3
180	Qatar	136.5
181	Yemen	136.9
182	Iraq	138.4
183	Cameroon	139.3
	Asia Avg	109.13
	World Avg	89.80
q=199.

Yemen is amongst the worst places in the world at ensuring human rights and freedom, and it has severe cultural issues when it comes to tolerance and equality. Yemen does better than average when it comes to its nominal commitment to Human Rights₂₀. But unfortunately Yemen gets most other things wrong. It does worse than average when it comes to combatting modern slavery₂₁, commentary in Human Rights Watch reports₂₂, supporting press freedom₂₃, its average Freedom in the World rating and in LGBT equality in the 2020s₂₄. It falls into the worst-performing 20 for the rate of gender bias (from 7 indicators)₂₅ and in freethought₂₆. It is second-from-the-bottom in supporting personal, civil & economic freedoms₂₇. And finally, it is the worst in its success in fighting anti-semitic prejudice₂₈ and in opposing gender inequality₂₉. The current armed conflict "has taken a terrible toll on the civilian population"₃₀, with all sides comitting abuses. The coalition, led by Saudi Arabia, "has conducted scores of indiscriminate and disproportionate airstrikes hitting civilian objects that have killed thousands of civilians in violation of the laws of war, with munitions that the US, United Kingdom, and others still supply". Opposition Houthi-Saleh forces "have fired artillery indiscriminately into cities such as Taizz and Aden, killing civilians, and launched rockets into southern Saudi Arabia"₃₀.

For tables, charts and commentary, see:

Human Rights and Freedom in Yemen

5. Yemen's Health

#health

Compared to Asia (2025)₃₁
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₃₁
1	Japan	40.8
2	Singapore	43.3
3	S. Korea	53.7
	...
42	India	111.6
43	Nepal	115.8
44	Syria	120.7
45	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	122.1
46	Pakistan	129.7
47	Iraq	130.4
48	Laos	133.1
49	Yemen	138.8
50	Afghanistan	149.5
	Asia Avg	90.68
q=50.

Health (2025)₃₁
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₃₁
1	Monaco	10.3
2	Liechtenstein	30.1
3	Japan	40.8
	...
186	Kiribati	136.8
187	Cameroon	137.0
188	Burkina Faso	138.2
189	Yemen	138.8
190	Congo, DR	139.9
191	Madagascar	140.1
192	Sierra Leone	141.1
193	Marshall Islands	141.2
	World Avg	97.39
q=207.

The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Liechtenstein and Japan₃₂. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are Angola, Somalia and S. Sudan₃₂.

42 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on its average life expectancy, its alcohol consumption rate, its fertility rate, its smoking rate, its suicide rate, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance, the prevalence of overweight adults, obesity rate, its adolescent birth rate, delivery rate of infant DTP immunizations, delivery rate of 7x Infant Immunizations 2011-2015 and childhood mortality. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Europe and The Mediterranean₃₂, whereas the worst are Micronesia, Africa and Melanesia₃₂.

For more, see:

"Countries With the Healthiest Cultures and Health Policies" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

5.1. Health Datasets

#2010s #alcohol #birth_control #demographics #health #life_expectancy #longevity #marshall_islands #mental_health #obesity #overpopulation #rwanda #smoking #suicide #yemen

Yemen is a pretty unhealthy country. Yemen comes in the best 20 when it comes to its alcohol consumption rate₃₃ (one of the lowest in Asia). It does better than average in its suicide rate₃₄ and in the prevalence of overweight adults₃₅. But that's it. Yemen has problems. It does worse than average for its smoking rate₃₆, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance₃₇, its adolescent birth rate₃₈, childhood mortality in the 2020s₃₉, its average life expectancy₁₁ (amongst the lowest in Asia) and in its fertility rate₁₅ (one of the highest in Asia). And finally, it falls into the worst 20 for delivery rate of 7x Infant Immunizations 2011-2015₄₀ (amongst the worst in Asia) and in delivery rate of infant DTP immunizations in the 2020s₄₁. The number of overweight adults has increased by 14% over the last 40 years. Yemen had the 3rd-highest average fertility rate in the world in the 1960s (after the Marshall Islands and Rwanda) and the highest average throughout the 1970s and 1980s. Yemen holds the dubious record of having the highest fertility rate ever detected in a single year, at 8.86 in 1985. This reflected very poor national health and education in that period. But things got better for a while; life expectancy improved by +6.4yrs in the 30 years from 1990, although less than the global average of +7.9yrs. In the 2010s, it was then one of only 12 countries that saw life expectancies fall.

Life Expectancy Higher is better₁₁
Pos.		2021 Years₁₁
1	Monaco	85.9
2	Hong Kong	85.5
3	Japan	84.8
	...
153	Madagascar	64.5
154	Mauritania	64.4
155	Ghana	63.8
156	Yemen	63.8
157	Bolivia	63.6
158	Nauru	63.6
159	Congo, (Brazzaville)	63.5
160	Comoros	63.4
	Asia Avg	73.48
	World Avg	71.28
q=195. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Alcohol Consumption Lower is better₃₃
Pos.		2016 Per Capita₃₃
1	Bangladesh	0.0
2	Kuwait	0.0
3	Libya	0.0
4	Mauritania	0.0
5	Somalia	0.0
6	Yemen	0.1
7=	Afghanistan	0.2
7=	Saudi Arabia	0.2
9=	Syria	0.3
9=	Pakistan	0.3
11=	Kiribati	0.4
11=	Iraq	0.4
	Asia Avg	3.9
	World Avg	6.2
q=189.

Fertility Rate 2.0 is best₁₅
Pos.		2022₁₅
1	US Virgin Islands	2.00
2	Ecuador	2.00
3	Nepal	2.01
	...
166	Nauru	3.46
167	Ghana	3.51
168	Vanuatu	3.70
169	Yemen	3.72
170	Rwanda	3.75
171	Sao Tome & Principe	3.75
172	Eritrea	3.79
173	Madagascar	3.79
	Asia Avg	2.17
	World Avg	2.47
q=208. Also scored for 1960s-2010s.

Smoking in the 2020s Lower is better₃₆
Pos.		Smoking in the 2020s %₃₆
1	Nigeria	3.3%
2	Ghana	3.4%
3	Panama	5.2%
	...
94	Algeria	21.2%
95=	Netherlands	21.3%
95=	Germany	21.3%
97	Yemen	21.4%
98	Malaysia	22.0%
99	Albania	22.0%
100	Kazakhstan	22.2%
101	Finland	22.3%
	Asia Avg	22.8%
	World Avg	20.0%
q=165. Also scored for 2000s-2020s.

Suicide Rate in the 2010s Lower is better₃₄
Pos.		Suicide Rate in the 2010s Per 100k₃₄
1=	Jordan	1.00
1=	Sao Tome & Principe	1.00
1=	Antigua & Barbuda	1.00
	...
47	Georgia	4.69
48	Laos	4.74
49	Greece	4.76
50	Yemen	4.79
51	Gambia	4.85
52	Tonga	4.86
53	Uganda	4.90
54	Guinea	5.06
	Asia Avg	7.22
	World Avg	9.24
q=185. Also scored for 2000s-2010s.

Food Aid, Health Contributions & WHO Compliance Lower is better₃₇
Pos.		2017 Rank₃₇
1	Sweden	1
2	Ireland	2
3	Denmark	3
	...
116	Malawi	116
117	Swaziland	117
118	Iran	118
119	Yemen	119
120	Seychelles	120
121	Guinea-Bissau	121
122	Argentina	122
123	Laos	123
	Asia Avg	64.4
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Overweight Adults Lower is better₃₅
Pos.		1976 %₃₅
1	Bangladesh	4.7
2	Vietnam	5.1
3	Nepal	5.4
	...
67	Mauritius	17.0
68	Seychelles	17.4
69=	Haiti	20.2
69=	Yemen	20.2
71	Djibouti	20.5
72	Trinidad & Tobago	20.6
73	Singapore	22.8
74	St Lucia	24.0
	Asia Avg	23.1
	World Avg	27.1
q=191.

Adult Obesity Lower is better₄₂
Pos.		2022 %₄₂
1	Vietnam	2.1%
2	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	2.2%
3	Ethiopia	2.4%
	...
44	Kenya	11.0%
45	Tanzania	11.4%
46	Indonesia	11.5%
47	Yemen	11.6%
48	Bhutan	12.0%
49	Ghana	12.1%
50	Zimbabwe	12.4%
51	Somalia	12.7%
	Asia Avg	21.1%
	World Avg	24.7%
q=199. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

5.2. Children's Health Datasets

#children's_health #health #parenting #population #vaccines

Adolescent Birth Rate Lower is better₃₈
Pos.		2022 Per 1000₃₈
1	Hong Kong	1.6
2	Denmark	1.8
3	S. Korea	2.1
	...
122	Cuba	48.9
123	Haiti	51.8
124	Seychelles	52.1
125	Yemen	52.5
126	Burundi	52.6
127	Mexico	53.7
128	Cape Verde	54.0
129	Papua New Guinea	54.3
	Asia Avg	25.9
	World Avg	43.8
q=195. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Infant DTP Immunizations (2020s) Higher is better₄₁
Pos.		Infant DTP Immunizations (2020s) Avg %₄₁
1=	Luxembourg	99.0
1=	Oman	99.0
1=	Niue	99.0
	...
204	Angola	64.2
205	Afghanistan	62.7
206	Venezuela	60.3
207	Azerbaijan	58.0
208	Yemen	57.0
209	Central African Rep.	42.6
210	Papua New Guinea	41.8
211	Sint Eustatius	38.1
	Asia Avg	90.6
	World Avg	88.5
q=211. Also scored for 1980s-2020s.

7x Infant Immunizations (2011-2015) Higher is better₄₀
Pos.		2015 Avg %₄₀
1=	Hungary	99.0
1=	China	99.0
3	Uzbekistan	98.9
	...
179	Afghanistan	70.6
180	Niger	69.7
181	Samoa	68.1
182	Yemen	67.4
183	Papua New Guinea	66.3
184	Haiti	65.7
185	Vanuatu	65.5
186	Guinea	63.3
	Asia Avg	90.5
	World Avg	88.3
q=194.

Infant Mortality (2020s) Lower is better₃₉
Pos.		Infant Mortality (2020s) Per 1000₃₉
1	San Marino	2.11
2	Finland	2.59
3	Luxembourg	2.60
	...
143	India	45.47
144	Eritrea	47.24
145	Kenya	48.20
146	Yemen	49.34
147	Comoros	49.44
148	Mauritania	49.55
149	Rwanda	50.42
150	Botswana	50.43
	Asia Avg	23.58
	World Avg	32.19
q=195. Also scored for 1960s-2020s.

From the 1960s to the 1980s, Yemen made substantial (even epic) improvements to its health infrastructure, radically improving its infant mortality rate₃₉.

Yemen was amongst 49 countries in the 1990s who had an adolescent birth rate of over 100 (per 1000 girls aged 15-19) but made great improvements over following decades.

6. Yemen's Responsibility Towards The Environment

#biodiversity #climate_change #deforestation #environmentalism #food #internationalism #iran #libya #meat #over-exploitation #the_environment #veganism #vegetarianism #yemen

Compared to Asia (2025)₄₃
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₄₃
1	Sri Lanka	34.9
2	Nepal	47.9
3	India	49.5
	...
11	Cyprus	64.8
12	Bangladesh	69.7
13	Maldives	70.5
14	Yemen	71.9
15	Pakistan	72.0
16	Turkey	75.0
17	China	75.2
18	Afghanistan	75.7
19	Syria	77.4
	Asia Avg	88.09
q=51.

Responsibility Towards The Environment (2025)₄₃
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₄₃
1	Sri Lanka	34.9
2	Uruguay	43.2
3	Switzerland	45.0
	...
61	Luxembourg	71.4
62	Sweden	71.8
63	Finland	71.9
64	Yemen	71.9
65	Pakistan	72.0
66	France	72.8
67	Congo, DR	73.0
68	Romania	73.8
	World Avg	84.93
q=199.

We have known for a long term that we must protect the environment from habitation destruction, over-exploitation, pollution, and the emissions that cause climate change. In 1998, Greenpeace wrote that "Environment can no longer be meaningfully separated from health, quality of life, democracy, education, economy or trade"₄₄. What countries have been doing the right thing, via legislation and national culture? All countries' current and historical approach towards the environment is gauged via 21 datasets, including multiple decades of data on its forested percent change 2000-2020, its environmental performance, energy to GDP efficiency, its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment, the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population, reducing annual meat consumption per person and its score on the Green Future Index.

The countries that do the best (Sri Lanka, Uruguay and Switzerland) tend to have avoided the excesses of early industrial countries, and have not yet repeated the same mistakes of environmental destruction - at least, not on the same scale. The regions with the best average results per country are Central America, South America and Scandinavia. The worst are Eritrea, The Vatican City and Timor-Leste (E. Timor), and the worst regions Micronesia, Australasia and Melanesia.

For more, see:

"Countries With the Best Environmental Records" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

Yemen is 64th in the world in terms of its responsibility towards the environment. This rank is calculated from 21 data sets. Yemen does better than average in energy to GDP efficiency₄₅, reducing annual meat consumption per person₄₆, the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population₄₇ and in its forested percent change 2000-2020₄₈. But, things could still be better. Yemen does worse than average for its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment.

Forest Area Change 2000-2020 Higher is better₄₈
Pos.		Total₄₈
1	Guernsey	82.6%
2	Bahrain	75.2%
3	Iceland	64.7%
	...
89=	Qatar	0.0%
89=	Marshall Islands	0.0%
89=	Norfolk Island	0.0%
89=	Yemen	0.0%
89=	Tonga	0.0%
89=	Barbados	0.0%
89=	Turkmenistan	0.0%
89=	Bahamas	0.0%
	Asia Avg	3.2%
	World Avg	-0.1%
q=234.

Energy to GDP Efficiency Lower is better₄₅
Pos.		2022 Avg₄₅
1	Rwanda	0.25
2	Chad	0.26
3	Tanzania	0.31
	...
24	Cameroon	0.57
25	Ivory Coast	0.57
26	Kenya	0.58
27	Yemen	0.59
28	Congo, (Brazzaville)	0.60
29	Bangladesh	0.61
30	Ireland	0.62
31	Dominican Rep.	0.63
	Asia Avg	1.50
	World Avg	1.23
q=165. Also scored for 1960s-2010s.

International Accords on the Environment Higher is better
Pos.		International Accords on the Environment Avg Rate
1	Sweden	83%
2	Canada	82%
3	Norway	81%
	...
153	Kuwait	49%
154	Lebanon	49%
155	Oman	48%
156	Yemen	48%
157	Comoros	48%
158	USA	47%
159	Albania	47%
160	Turkey	47%
	Asia Avg	55.4%
	World Avg	57.5%
q=197. Also scored for 1970s-2020s.

Yemen, Iran and Libya are the only three countries not to have enacted the 2016 Paris Agreement on curbing climate change.

Rational Beliefs on the Environment Higher is better₄₇
Pos.		2011 %₄₇
1	Argentina	78.3%
2	Greece	77.6%
3	Brazil	77.1%
	...
53	Tanzania	44.2%
54	Bosnia & Herzegovina	44.0%
55	Congo, (Brazzaville)	44.0%
56	Yemen	43.2%
57	Sri Lanka	43.1%
58	Djibouti	42.8%
59	Burundi	42.0%
60	Zambia	41.9%
	Asia Avg	37.9%
	World Avg	39.9%
q=145.

Meat Consumption Lower is better₄₆
Pos.		2021 kg₄₆
1	Congo, DR	03.0
2	Burundi	03.5
3	Bangladesh	04.3
	...
30	Nepal	17.3
31	Solomon Islands	17.4
32	Syria	17.8
33	Yemen	17.8
34	Algeria	17.9
35	Iraq	18.3
36	Zambia	18.3
37	Indonesia	18.6
	Asia Avg	46.7
	World Avg	52.5
q=185. Also scored for 2010s.

7. Yemen's Modernity and Learning

#education #modernity #technology #the_internet

Compared to Asia (2025)₄₉
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₄₉
1	S. Korea	23.5
2	Taiwan	25.4
3	Japan	27.4
	...
43	Nepal	124.7
44	Bangladesh	127.5
45	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	139.8
46	Bhutan	142.5
47	Cambodia	144.2
48	Laos	146.1
49	Yemen	158.0
50	Afghanistan	162.4
51	Myanmar	164.3
	Asia Avg	86.04
q=51.

Modernity & Learning (2025)₄₉
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₄₉
1	Finland	6.1
2	Iceland	8.1
3	Denmark	8.8
	...
187	Burundi	152.1
188	Chad	157.5
189	Papua New Guinea	157.6
190	Yemen	158.0
191	Sierra Leone	159.4
192	Afghanistan	162.4
193	Myanmar	164.3
194	Liberia	165.1
	World Avg	84.96
q=197.

The most modern countries, with the best results from education, the highest levels of research, and with the easiest access to information on the Internet, are Finland, Iceland and Denmark₅₀. The worst countries are S. Sudan, Eritrea and Somalia₅₀. Despite improves in global education, access to tertiary (adult) education is becoming increasingly unequal between the rich haves and the poor have-nots₅₁.

“Education, at all levels and ages, is the single most vital support for equality as well as being a country's most vital economic and social resource. [...] Every successful aspirant to modernisation and economic development, from Japan to South Korea, China to Chile, has got there with a big emphasis on education.”
Bill Emmott (2017)₅₂

27 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on Research and Development, Intellectual Endeavours, metric system adoption rate, Religiosity, IQ, Secondary Education, Length of Schooling, Maths, Science & Reading, the percent of citizens with access to the internet, Freedom On The Internet, IT Security, IPv6 Uptake and digital quality of life. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Baltic States and Europe₅₀, whereas the worst are Melanesia, Africa and Micronesia₅₀.

For more, see:

" Which Countries are Most Modern, With the Best Education and Internet Access?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

7.1. Modernity Datasets

#intelligence #metric

Intellectual Endeavours Lower is better₃₇
Pos.		2017 Rank₃₇
1	Ukraine	1
2	Czechia	2
3	Hungary	3
	...
105	Albania	105
106	Madagascar	106
107	Thailand	107
108	Yemen	108
109	Brazil	109
110	Nicaragua	110
111	Togo	111
112	Belize	112
	Asia Avg	97.1
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Metric System Adoption Rate Higher is better₅₃
Pos.		2025 %₅₃
1=	Slovakia	100
1=	Poland	100
1=	Portugal	100
	...
177=	Somalia	85
177=	Bahamas	85
177=	Afghanistan	85
177=	Yemen	85
177=	Laos	85
182	S. Sudan	80
183=	Myanmar	50
183=	Myanmar	50
	Asia Avg	90
	World Avg	92
q=187. Also scored for 1960s-2020s.

Adopted metric in 1995. Progression:

1960 (40%): Traditional units dominant; metric in administration limited.
1970 (55%): Standardization grows; dual use common.
1980 (70%): Metric in official sectors; everyday legacy persists.
2000 (80%): Metric dominant in formal domains.
2025 (85%): High metric usage; informal legacy remains.

IQ Higher is better₅₄
Pos.		2006₅₄
1=	Hong Kong	108
1=	Singapore	108
3	S. Korea	106
	...
69=	Uzbekistan	87
70=	Kuwait	86
70=	Philippines	86
72=	Yemen	85
72=	Trinidad & Tobago	85
72=	Peru	85
72=	Cuba	85
76=	Venezuela	84
	Asia Avg	90.4
	World Avg	85.6
q=138.

7.2. Education Datasets

#education

Secondary Education Higher is better₅₅
Pos.		2018₅₅
1=	Luxembourg	100.0%
1=	Estonia	100.0%
1=	Austria	100.0%
	...
143	Lesotho	30.0%
144	Cape Verde	29.9%
145	Liberia	29.0%
146	Yemen	28.0%
147	Benin	26.5%
148	Sierra Leone	26.3%
149	Ivory Coast	26.1%
150	Afghanistan	26.1%
	Asia Avg	66.0%
	World Avg	63.0%
q=169.

Length of Schooling Higher is better₅₆
Pos.		2021 Years₅₆
1	Australia	21.1
2	New Zealand	20.3
3	Greece	20.0
	...
180	Tanzania	9.2
181	Syria	9.2
182	Burkina Faso	9.1
183	Yemen	9.1
184	Senegal	9.0
185	Pakistan	8.7
186	Eritrea	8.1
187	Central African Rep.	8.0
	Asia Avg	13.5
	World Avg	13.5
q=193. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

7.3. Technology and Information Datasets

#modernity #technology #the_internet #yemen

Internet Users (2020s) Higher is better
Pos.		Internet Users (2020s)
1=	Iceland	99%
1=	Kuwait	99%
1=	UAE	99%
	...
180	Malawi	17%
181	Ethiopia	16%
182	Madagascar	16%
183	Yemen	14%
184	Burkina Faso	14%
185	Chad	12%
186	Burundi	11%
187	Uganda	11%
	Asia Avg	74.9%
	World Avg	67.8%
q=188. Also scored for 1990s-2020s.

IPv6 Uptake Higher is better₅₇
Pos.		2017 Ratio₅₇
1	Belgium	55.4
2	Germany	41.8
3	Switzerland	35.1
	...
101=	Uzbekistan	0.0
101=	Colombia	0.0
101=	Ghana	0.0
101=	Yemen	0.0
101=	Laos	0.0
101=	Malta	0.0
101=	Turkmenistan	0.0
101=	Bangladesh	0.0
	Asia Avg	2.11
	World Avg	3.82
q=176.

Digital Quality of Life Higher is better₅₈
Pos.		2024₅₈
1	Germany	77.9%
2	Finland	76.9%
3	France	73.9%
	...
114	Tajikistan	25.9%
115	Zimbabwe	24.9%
116	Mali	24.9%
117	Ethiopia	23.7%
118	Cameroon	23.4%
119	Mozambique	21.4%
120	Congo, DR	18.5%
121	Yemen	14.9%
	Asia Avg	46.4%
	World Avg	48.4%
q=121.

Yemen has, in particular, notorious problems with mobile internet access speeds, measuring the worst of 121 countries₅₉.

8. Yemen's Culture, Peace and Inequality

#charitability #culture #equality #human_development #inequality #peace

Compared to Asia (2025)₆₀
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₆₀
1	Singapore	18.1
2	Hong Kong	36.9
3	Japan	38.5
	...
43	Turkmenistan	111.5
44	Pakistan	111.8
45	Iraq	115.2
46	Cambodia	119.5
47	Myanmar	119.8
48	Syria	120.9
49	Yemen	132.0
50	Afghanistan	149.0
51	N. Korea	159.5
	Asia Avg	84.83
q=51.

Culture, Peace & Inequality (2025)₆₀
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₆₀
1	Denmark	11.6
2	Finland	13.4
3	Netherlands	13.6
	...
175	Equatorial Guinea	131.4
176	Haiti	131.5
177	Burundi	131.5
178	Yemen	132.0
179	Comoros	133.0
180	Chad	135.4
181	Central African Rep.	138.4
182	Congo, DR	140.3
	World Avg	81.27
q=187.

This is the final pillar of the Social and Moral Development Index; it has 32 datasets, including multiple decades of data on World Giving Index, resisting corruption, overall happiness, Creativity and Culture, passport utility (so far), Open Trading, Aid and Development, its Global Peace Index rating, Peacekeeping and Security, Refugees and UN Treaties, the impact of terrorism, poverty (so far), life expectancy inequality, Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient) and Multidimensional Poverty.

For more, see:

"Which are the Countries for International Contributions, Creativity, Peace and Inequality?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

8.1. National Culture Datasets

#corruption #happiness #internationalism #politics

Corruption Higher is better₆₁
Pos.		2022 Points₆₁
1	Denmark	90.0
2=	Finland	87.0
2=	New Zealand	87.0
	...
173=	Libya	17.0
173=	Haiti	17.0
173=	Burundi	17.0
176	Yemen	16.0
177	Venezuela	14.0
178=	S. Sudan	13.0
178=	Syria	13.0
180	Somalia	12.0
	Asia Avg	39.98
	World Avg	42.98
q=180. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Yemen has a consistently poor record on corruption. On average through the 2010s, it scored the 8th-worst on the Corruption Perception Index.

Happiness Higher is better₆₂
Pos.		2024 Score₆₂
1	Finland	7.7
2	Denmark	7.5
3	Iceland	7.5
	...
137	Swaziland	3.8
138	Lesotho	3.8
139	Comoros	3.8
140	Yemen	3.6
141	Congo, DR	3.5
142	Botswana	3.4
143	Zimbabwe	3.4
144	Malawi	3.3
	Asia Avg	5.41
	World Avg	5.58
q=147. Also scored for 2010s.

Creativity & Culture Lower is better₃₇
Pos.		2017 Rank₃₇
1	Belgium	1
2	Netherlands	2
3	Estonia	3
	...
152	Syria	152
153	Liberia	153
154	Venezuela	154
155	Yemen	155
156	Iraq	156
157	Iran	157
158	Gabon	158
159	Central African Rep.	159
	Asia Avg	99.0
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Passport Reach (2020s) Higher is better₆₃
Pos.		Passport Reach (2020s) Q₆₃
1	Singapore	192.2
2	Japan	192.0
3	S. Korea	190.7
	...
188	Palestine	38.3
189	Nepal	38.0
190	Somalia	34.2
191	Yemen	33.3
192	Pakistan	32.0
193	Iraq	29.0
194	Syria	28.8
195	Afghanistan	26.3
	Asia Avg	85.1
	World Avg	108.8
q=195. Also scored for 2000s-2020s.

Open Trading, Aid & Development Lower is better₃₇
Pos.		2017 Rank₃₇
1	Ireland	1
2	Denmark	2
3	Sweden	3
	...
134	Egypt	134
135	Uruguay	135
136	Namibia	136
137	Yemen	137
138	Cambodia	138
139	Antigua & Barbuda	139
140	Afghanistan	140
141	Belize	141
	Asia Avg	86.3
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

8.2. Peace Versus Instability Datasets

#extremism #human_development #peace #politics #religious_violence #terrorism

“Yemen's internal conflict has been stuck largely in a stalemate since 2016, with the Saudi-led coalition and the internationally recognised government unable to make any headway against the Houthi rebels that occupy most of the northern provinces, as well as the capital Sana'a.”
Global Peace Index (2021)₆₄

Global Peace Index Lower is better₆₅
Pos.		2023 Score₆₅
1	Iceland	1.12
2	Denmark	1.31
3	Ireland	1.31
	...
156	Somalia	3.04
157	Ukraine	3.04
158	Russia	3.14
159	Congo, DR	3.21
160	S. Sudan	3.22
161	Syria	3.29
162	Yemen	3.35
163	Afghanistan	3.45
	Asia Avg	2.17
	World Avg	2.07
q=163. Also scored for 2010s.

Peacekeeping & Security Lower is better₃₇
Pos.		2017 Rank₃₇
1	Samoa	1
2	S. Africa	2
3	Tunisia	3
	...
154	Liberia	154
155	Mali	155
156	Swaziland	156
157	Yemen	157
158	Iraq	158
159	Bahrain	159
160	Slovenia	160
161	Tonga	161
	Asia Avg	76.0
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Refugees & UN Treaties Lower is better₃₇
Pos.		2017 Rank₃₇
1	Austria	1
2	Germany	2
3	Netherlands	3
	...
125	Swaziland	125
126	Madagascar	126
127	Benin	127
128	Yemen	128
129	Pakistan	129
130	Samoa	130
131	Antigua & Barbuda	131
132	Azerbaijan	132
	Asia Avg	92.2
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Impact of Terrorism Lower is better₆₆
Pos.		2019 Score₆₆
1	Togo	0.00
2	Mongolia	0.00
3	Swaziland	0.00
	...
140	Egypt	6.79
141	Congo, DR	7.04
142	Philippines	7.14
143	Yemen	7.26
144	India	7.52
145	Somalia	7.80
146	Pakistan	7.89
147	Syria	8.01
	Asia Avg	3.60
	World Avg	2.78
q=150.

8.3. Economic Inequality and Poverty Datasets

#capitalism #economics #health #inequality #life_expectancy #poverty #social_development

Inequality in Life Expectancy Lower is better₆₇
Pos.		2019₆₇
1	Iceland	2.40
2=	Singapore	2.50
2=	Hong Kong	2.50
	...
146=	Zimbabwe	24.20
146=	Ghana	24.20
148=	Kiribati	24.70
148=	Yemen	24.70
150	Ethiopia	24.90
151=	Swaziland	25.10
151=	Malawi	25.10
153	Tanzania	25.30
	Asia Avg	11.80
	World Avg	14.59
q=184.

Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient) Lower is better₆₈
Pos.		2023 %₆₈
1	Slovakia	24.1%₆₉
2	Slovenia	24.3%₆₉
3	Belarus	24.4%₇₀
	...
94=	Indonesia	36.1%₇₁
95	Senegal	36.2%₆₉
96=	Lithuania	36.7%₆₉
96=	Yemen	36.7%₇₂
98	Mauritius	36.8%₇₃
99	Dominican Rep.	37.0%₇₄
100	Solomon Islands	37.1%₇₅
101=	Chad	37.4%₇₄
	Asia Avg	33.0%
	World Avg	36.5%
q=167. Also scored for 1980s-2010s.

Income inequality data is rarely available for Yemen - only for 3 years between 1980 and 2019.

Multidimensional Poverty Lower is better₇₆
Pos.		2018 Severity₇₆
1	Armenia	.001
2	Ukraine	.001
3	Serbia	.001
	...
68	Haiti	.200
69	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	.210
70	Ivory Coast	.236
71	Yemen	.241
72	Cameroon	.243
73	Malawi	.243
74	Togo	.249
75	Rwanda	.259
	Asia Avg	.084
	World Avg	.154
q=101.

9. Religion and Beliefs

#buddhism #christianity #hinduism #islam #judaism #religion_in_yemen #yemen

Pew Forum polling over the decades has found the following adherency rates:₇₇:

	2010	2020
Muslim	99.8%	99.9%
Unaffiliated	<0.1%	<0.1%
Christian	0.111%	<0.1%
Other	<0.1%	<0.1%
Hindu	<0.1%	<0.1%
Buddhist	<0.1%	<0.1%
Jewish	<0.1%	<0.1%

The CIA World Factbook has slightly different data, and states: Muslim (Islam - official) including Shaf'i (Sunni) and Zaydi (Shia), small numbers of Jewish, Christian, and Hindu₇₈.

Freedom of Religion and Belief:

Links: