al-Jumhuriyah al-Yamaniyah

Political Status: Independent Islamic Arab republic established by merger of former Yemen Arab Republic and People's Democratic Republic of Yemen on May 22, 1990.

Area: 205,355 sq. mi. (531,869 sq. km.), encompassing 75,290 sq. mi. (130,065 sq. km.) of the former Yemen Arab Republic and 195,000 sq. mi. (336,869 sq. km.) of the former People's Democratic Republic of Yemen.

Population: 19,685,161 (2004C); 23,826,000 (2007E).

Major Urban Center (including suburbs, 2005E): SANA (1,625,000).

Official Language: Arabic.

Monetary Unit: YAR Rial (market rate November 1, 2008: 200.01 rials = $1US).

President: Fld. Mar. Ali Abdallah SALIH (General People's Congress); former president of the Yemen Arab Republic; assumed office upon merger of North and South Yemen on May 22, 1990; elected for an anticipated five-year term by the Presidential Council on ...