Yemen

al-Jumhuriyah al-Yamaniyah

Political Status: Independent Islamic Arab republic established by the merger of the former Yemen Arab Republic (North Yemen) and the People’s Democratic Republic of Yemen (South 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); 23,066,000 (2008E).

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

Official Language: Arabic.

Monetary Unit: YAR Rial (market rate December 1, 2009: 206.46 rials = $1US).

President: Fld. Mar. Ali Abdallah SALIH (General People’s Congress); former president of the Yemen Arab Republic; assumed office upon the merger of North and South Yemen on May 22, 1990; elected for an ...