Yemen

Yemen Economic Data & Projections

Yemen's Macroeconomic Analysis:

Nominal GDP of USD 23.5 billion in 2022.

Nominal GDP of USD 23.5 billion in 2022.

GDP per capita of USD 706 compared to the global average of USD 10,589.

GDP per capita of USD 707 compared to the global average of USD 10,589.

Average real GDP growth of 6% over the last decade.

Average real GDP growth of 6% over the last decade.

Share of the region's population
Share of the region's GDP

Sector Analysis

In 2020, services accounted for 48% of overall GDP, manufacturing 9%, other industrial activity 38%, and agriculture 5%. Looking at GDP by expenditure, private consumption accounted for % of GDP in 2020, government consumption 17%, fixed investment 2%, and net exports 81%.

GDP by economic sector
GDP by type of expenditure

International trade

In 2019, manufactured products made up 1% of total merchandise exports, mineral fuels 0%, food 99%, ores and metals 0% and agricultural raw materials 0%, with other categories accounting for 0% of the total. In the same period, manufactured products made up 31% of total merchandise imports, mineral fuels 28%, food 39%, ores and metals 0% and agricultural raw materials 1%, with other goods accounting for 1% of the total. Total exports were worth USD 1 billion in 2021, while total imports were USD 5 billion.

Key exports
Key imports
Key export partners
Key import partners

Main Economic Indicators

Economic growth

The economy recorded an average annual decrease of 6.0% in the decade to 2022. To read more about GDP growth in Yemen, go to our dedicated page.

Fiscal policy

Yemen's fiscal deficit averaged 5.6% of GDP in the decade to 2022. Find out more on our dedicated page.

Unemployment

The unemployment rate averaged 13.4% in the decade to 2022. For more information on Yemen's unemployment click here.

Inflation

Inflation averaged 20.6% in the decade to 2022. Go to our Yemen inflation page for extra insight.

Monetary Policy

Yemen's monetary policy rate ended 2022 at 27.00%, up from 18.00% a decade earlier. See our Yemen monetary policy page for additional details.

Exchange Rate

From end-2012 to end-2022 the rial weakened by 14.2% vs the U.S. dollar. For more info on the rial, click here.

Economic situation in Yemen

Economic conditions will have remained in a grim state—and likely took a turn for the worse—at the beginning of the fourth quarter. The civil war continues, and civilian and economic infrastructure was recently bombed and damaged by Western forces in retaliation for Houthi attacks. In further negative developments, in early November, the Yemeni rial used in the south slumped to a fresh all-time low of over 2,000 per USD; underfunding of aid and the Houthis’ prevention of oil exports have led to a depletion of foreign reserves. This could boost inflation and reduce economic activity in the period. In Oman, the UN recently held talks with the Houthis to alleviate the domestic crisis stemming particularly from the financial and economic division of the country.

Yemen Economic Forecasts

Projections out to 2033.

8 indicators covered including both annual and quarterly frequencies.

Consensus Forecasts based on a panel of 5 expert analysts.

Want to get insight on the economic outlook for Yemen in the coming years? FocusEconomics collects projections out to 2033 on 8 economic indicators for Yemen from a panel of 5 analysts at the leading national, regional and global forecast institutions. These projections are then validated by our in-house team of economists and data analysts, and averaged to provide one Consensus Forecast you can rely on for each indicator. This means you avoid the risk of relying on out of date, biased or outlier forecasts. Our Consensus Forecasts can be visualized in whichever way best suits your needs, including via interactive online dashboards , direct data delivery and executive-style reports which combine analysts' projections with timely written analysis from our in-house team of economists on the latest developments in the Yemen economy. To download a sample report on the Yemen's economy, click here. To get in touch with our team for more information, fill in the form at the bottom of this page.

Yemen Economic Indicators

2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
Population (million) 31.2 31.9 32.6 33.3 34.1
GDP (USD bn) 21.9 20.2 19.4 23.5 -
GDP per capita (USD) 702 633 594 706 -
GDP (YER bn) 5,464 5,036 4,828 5,889 -
Economic Growth (Nominal GDP, ann. var. %) 1.2 -7.8 -4.1 22.0 -
Economic Growth (GDP, ann. var. %) 1.4 1.2 -1.0 1.5 -
Fiscal Balance (% of GDP) -5.9 -4.5 -0.9 -2.7 -6.1
Public Debt (% of GDP) 91.5 87.0 75.9 65.8 81.2
Inflation (CPI, ann. var. %, aop) 15.4 19.6 26.0 29.1 -
Exchange Rate (YER per USD, eop) 249 249 250 250 250
Exchange Rate (YER per USD, aop) 250 249 249 250 250
Current Account Balance (USD bn) -0.9 -3.2 -2.8 -4.2 -3.8
Current Account Balance (% of GDP) -4.2 -15.6 -14.2 -17.7 -
Merchandise Trade Balance (USD bn) -4.1 -4.3 -4.4 -4.6 -4.8
Merchandise Exports (USD bn) 0.7 0.4 0.7 0.7 0.2
Merchandise Imports (USD bn) 4.7 4.7 5.1 5.3 5.0
Merchandise Exports (ann. var. %) 14.4 -38.0 63.9 4.2 -67.2
Merchandise Imports (ann. var. %) 42.5 -1.0 8.1 4.6 -4.9
Foreign Direct Investment (USD bn) -0.4 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
External Debt (USD bn) 7.1 7.1 7.6 7.4 -
External Debt (% of GDP) 32.2 35.2 39.2 31.2 -
Free Sample Report

Interested in Yemen economic reports, analysis and data? FocusEconomics provides data, forecasts and analysis for hundreds of countries and commodities. Request your free sample report now.

Close Left Media Arrows Left Media Circles Right Media Arrows Right Media Circles Arrow Quote Wave Address Email Telephone Man in front of screen with line chart Document with bar chart and magnifying glass Application window with bar chart Target with arrow Line Chart Stopwatch Globe with arrows Document with bar chart in front of screen Bar chart with magnifying glass and dollar sign Lightbulb Document with bookmark Laptop with download icon Calendar Icon Nav Menu Arrow Arrow Right Long Icon Arrow Right Icon Chevron Right Icon Chevron Left Icon Briefcase Icon Linkedin In Icon Full Linkedin Icon Filter Facebook Linkedin Twitter Pinterest X Download Fullscreen