Yemen ranked 130/197 by economy size with a GDP of $21.6B and 192/197 by GDP per capita at $634. Yemen has $18.8B in government debt, with a debt-to-GDP ratio of 70.9%.
In 2018, Yemen made up 0.02% of the world's economy, compared to 0.05% in 1990.
Yemen GDP & GDP growth by year
| Year | GDP | GDP growth |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | $21,606,160,663 | 0.75% |
| 2017 | $26,842,229,045 | -5.07% |
| 2016 | $31,317,825,274 | -9.38% |
| 2015 | $42,444,490,074 | -28% |
| 2014 | $43,228,585,321 | -0.19% |
| 2013 | $40,415,233,436 | 4.82% |
| 2012 | $35,401,331,610 | 2.39% |
| 2011 | $32,726,417,878 | -12.7% |
| 2010 | $30,906,749,533 | 7.7% |
| 2009 | $25,130,278,213 | 3.87% |
| 2008 | $26,910,855,807 | 3.65% |
| 2007 | $21,650,528,674 | 3.34% |
| 2006 | $19,063,143,370 | 3.17% |
| 2005 | $16,731,566,717 | 5.59% |
| 2004 | $13,867,634,371 | 3.97% |
| 2003 | $11,777,532,662 | 3.75% |
| 2002 | $10,693,430,511 | 3.94% |
| 2001 | $9,852,990,693 | 3.8% |
| 2000 | $9,679,316,770 | 6.18% |
| 1999 | $7,639,325,296 | 3.78% |
| 1998 | $6,322,175,566 | 6.01% |
| 1997 | $6,838,298,531 | 5.23% |
| 1996 | $6,496,163,616 | 4.63% |
| 1995 | $12,796,345,679 | 5.67% |
| 1994 | $28,019,483,764 | 6.72% |
| 1993 | $21,736,802,664 | 4% |
| 1992 | $17,959,367,194 | 8.21% |
| 1991 | $14,665,445,462 | 6.29% |
| 1990 | $12,643,821,569 | - |
Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1990–2018, retrieved 2026-07-08).
GeoRank.org/economy/yemen | CC BY 
Yemen GDP per capita by year
| Year | Current $ | |
|---|---|---|
| GDP per capita | GDP per capita, PPP | |
| 2018 | $634 | - |
| 2017 | $811 | - |
| 2016 | $975 | - |
| 2015 | $1,362 | - |
| 2014 | $1,430 | - |
| 2013 | $1,379 | $3,164 |
| 2012 | $1,245 | $3,005 |
| 2011 | $1,186 | $3,113 |
| 2010 | $1,155 | $3,603 |
| 2009 | $969 | $3,411 |
| 2008 | $1,072 | $3,370 |
| 2007 | $890 | $3,294 |
| 2006 | $810 | $3,205 |
| 2005 | $734 | $3,113 |
| 2004 | $628 | $2,949 |
| 2003 | $549 | $2,844 |
| 2002 | $513 | $2,768 |
| 2001 | $487 | $2,702 |
| 2000 | $493 | $2,624 |
| 1999 | $401 | $2,492 |
| 1998 | $343 | $2,442 |
| 1997 | $383 | $2,351 |
| 1996 | $375 | $2,268 |
| 1995 | $764 | $2,201 |
| 1994 | $1,735 | $2,115 |
| 1993 | $1,397 | $2,013 |
| 1992 | $1,198 | $1,963 |
| 1991 | $1,016 | $1,843 |
| 1990 | $910 | $1,742 |
Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1990–2018, retrieved 2026-07-08).
GeoRank.org/economy/yemen | CC BY
Yemen has a GDP per capita of $634, ranking 192/197, a GDP per capita based on purchasing power parity (PPP) of $3,164, ranking 178/197, and a median annual after tax income of $1,319, ranking 188/197.
Yemen GDP rankings by year
| Year | Rank | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| GDP | GDP per capita | GDP per capita, PPP | |
| 2018 | 113 | 185 | - |
| 2017 | 105 | 177 | - |
| 2016 | 98 | 169 | - |
| 2015 | 89 | 157 | - |
| 2014 | 92 | 158 | - |
| 2013 | 91 | 158 | 154 |
| 2012 | 92 | 159 | 154 |
| 2011 | 92 | 163 | 151 |
| 2010 | 90 | 158 | 143 |
| 2009 | 96 | 162 | 144 |
| 2008 | 95 | 159 | 143 |
| 2007 | 96 | 159 | 143 |
| 2006 | 90 | 158 | 143 |
| 2005 | 89 | 156 | 140 |
| 2004 | 89 | 154 | 140 |
| 2003 | 90 | 157 | 137 |
| 2002 | 90 | 155 | 140 |
| 2001 | 90 | 156 | 138 |
| 2000 | 90 | 154 | 136 |
| 1999 | 99 | 160 | 136 |
| 1998 | 105 | 171 | 133 |
| 1997 | 101 | 162 | 133 |
| 1996 | 102 | 161 | 129 |
| 1995 | 78 | 132 | 127 |
| 1994 | 58 | 90 | 127 |
| 1993 | 60 | 92 | 126 |
| 1992 | 61 | 99 | 128 |
| 1991 | 63 | 110 | 132 |
| 1990 | 71 | 116 | 130 |
Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1990–2018, retrieved 2026-07-08).
GeoRank.org/economy/yemen | CC BY
Compared with 2000, in 2018 Yemen is ranked 113th out of 194 by GDP (down from 90th), 185th by GDP per capita (down from 154th), and 154th by GDP per capita PPP (down from 136th).
Economic indicators
Yemen
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Gross domestic product |
$21.6B
2018 |
130/197 |
| GDP growth |
0.75%
2017-2018 |
167/194 |
| GDP per capita |
$634
2018 |
192/197 |
| GDP per capita, PPP |
$3,164
2013 |
178/197 |
| Government debt |
$18.8B
2018 |
104/185 |
| Debt-to-GDP ratio |
70.9%
2024 |
55/185 |
| Government debt per person |
$551
2018 |
164/185 |
| Average annual personal income after taxes |
$1,319
2026 |
188/197 |
| Income share by richest 10% |
29.4%
2014 |
69/169 |
| Income share by poorest 10% |
3%
2014 |
65/169 |
| Government expenditure, % of GDP |
18.2%
2025 |
171/195 |
| Consumer prices inflation |
8.1%
2013-2014 |
32/195 |
| Unemployment rate |
13.5%
2014 |
21/196 |
| Population |
43598646
|
37/197 |
Government spending, deficit, and debt by year
| Year | % of GDP | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Government spending | Government debt | Government deficit/surplus | |
| 2025 | 18.2% | - | -3.48% |
| 2024 | 20.3% | 70.9% | 0.1% |
| 2023 | 24.7% | 77.9% | -9.73% |
| 2022 | 26.5% | 65.3% | -4.09% |
| 2021 | 15.6% | 75.9% | -1.72% |
| 2020 | 20% | 87% | -8.38% |
| 2019 | 25.1% | 91.5% | -9.07% |
| 2018 | 26.6% | 86.9% | -13.6% |
| 2017 | 8.39% | 83.8% | -4.9% |
| 2016 | 16.1% | 76.5% | -8.51% |
| 2015 | 19.4% | 57.7% | -8.75% |
| 2014 | 27.8% | 48.9% | -4.14% |
| 2013 | 30.8% | 48.4% | -6.9% |
| 2012 | 36.2% | 47.6% | -6.32% |
| 2011 | 29.8% | 45.7% | -4.51% |
| 2010 | 30.2% | 42.4% | -4.06% |
| 2009 | 35.2% | 49.8% | -10.2% |
| 2008 | 41.2% | 36.4% | -4.53% |
| 2007 | 40.3% | 40.4% | -7.18% |
| 2006 | 37.4% | 40.8% | 1.19% |
| 2005 | 36.8% | 43.8% | -1.82% |
| 2004 | 34.2% | 52.1% | -2.15% |
| 2003 | 35.3% | 56.8% | -4.2% |
| 2002 | 30.8% | 57.8% | -0.56% |
| 2001 | 30.5% | 60.6% | 2.79% |
| 2000 | 31.7% | 60.8% | 6.09% |
| 1999 | 28.2% | 96.1% | 0.06% |
| 1998 | 34.3% | 110.6% | -7.77% |
| 1997 | 34.2% | 74.2% | -1.5% |
| 1996 | 30.7% | 114.9% | -0.92% |
| 1995 | 24.1% | 84.1% | -5.74% |
| 1994 | 25.2% | 73.3% | -14% |
| 1993 | 25.8% | 76.7% | -12.8% |
| 1992 | 24.6% | 78% | -10.9% |
| 1991 | 24.7% | 82.7% | -5.76% |
| 1990 | 26.6% | 91.6% | -10.3% |
Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-07-08); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2018–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).
GeoRank.org/economy/yemen | CC BY
This chart shows Yemen's government spending, budget balance, and debt over time, each expressed as a share of GDP.
Over the past 36 years, Yemen recorded a fiscal deficit in 31 of them, with an average annual deficit equal to 5.23% of GDP. In 2018, government spending reached $5.74B (18.2% of GDP), with a deficit of 3.48%.
The national debt reached $18.8B, ranking 104th out of 185 countries by total size, with a debt-to-GDP ratio of 70.9%, ranking 55th.
Inflation rate by year
| Year | Inflation |
|---|---|
| 2014 | 8.1% |
| 2013 | 11% |
| 2012 | 9.89% |
| 2011 | 19.5% |
| 2010 | 11.2% |
| 2009 | 5.41% |
| 2008 | 19% |
| 2007 | 7.91% |
| 2006 | 10.8% |
| 2005 | 11.8% |
| 2004 | 12.5% |
| 2003 | 10.8% |
| 2002 | 12.2% |
| 2001 | 11.9% |
| 2000 | 4.59% |
| 1999 | 8.66% |
| 1998 | 5.98% |
| 1997 | 2.18% |
| 1996 | 30.7% |
| 1995 | 55.1% |
| 1994 | 49.4% |
| 1993 | 35.8% |
| 1992 | 29.4% |
| 1991 | 36% |
Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1991–2014, retrieved 2026-07-08).
GeoRank.org/economy/yemen | CC BY
Over the past 20 years, Yemen has had an average annual inflation rate of 13.5%. In 2014, inflation was 8.1%. The bar chart above shows consumer price inflation by year.
Balance of trade
|
Yemen
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
|
Current account balance
|
-$2.42B
2016 |
145/190 |
| Current account balance, % of GDP |
-7.72%
2016 |
153/190 |
| Goods imports |
$6.8B
2016 |
125/189 |
| Goods exports |
$473M
2016 |
160/189 |
| Service imports |
$1.46B
2016 |
135/189 |
| Service exports |
$466M
2016 |
151/189 |
| Imports of goods and services, % of GDP |
47.3%
2018 |
83/182 |
| Exports of goods and services, % of GDP |
8.76%
2018 |
186/193 |
Yemen top 10 trading partners
Yemen's biggest trading partner accounting for 17.6% of all exports and imports is Saudi Arabia, with a trade balance between the two of +$51.4M: Yemen exports $347M worth of goods and services to Saudi Arabia and imports $296M.
Below is the list of the top 10 trade partners of Yemen.
| Rank | Country | Trade value | Share of total trade | Export to | Import from | Top export to | Top import from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Saudi Arabia
|
$643M | 17.6% | $347M | $296M | Precious metals & jewellery | Chemicals & pharma |
| 2 |
UAE
|
$499M | 13.7% | $30.7M | $468M | Raw agricultural goods | Raw materials & minerals |
| 3 |
China
|
$419M | 11.5% | $5.46M | $414M | Raw materials & minerals | Machinery & equipment |
| 4 |
India
|
$332M | 9.11% | $2.72M | $329M | Metals | Raw agricultural goods |
| 5 |
Brazil
|
$200M | 5.49% | $67K | $200M | Animal & marine products | Animal & marine products |
| 6 |
Russia
|
$161M | 4.42% | $0 | $161M | Animal & marine products | Raw agricultural goods |
| 7 |
Japan
|
$140M | 3.84% | $395K | $140M | Machinery & equipment | Machinery & equipment |
| 8 |
Oman
|
$127M | 3.48% | $32.7M | $94.1M | Raw agricultural goods | Processed food, beverages & tobacco |
| 9 |
Turkey
|
$126M | 3.45% | $1.3M | $125M | Animal & marine products | Processed food, beverages & tobacco |
| 10 |
Egypt
|
$89.3M | 2.45% | $22.6M | $66.7M | Animal & marine products | Processed food, beverages & tobacco |
Top 10 exports
|
Yemen
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Animal & marine products | $203M | 92/192 |
| Precious metals & jewellery | $179M | 101/190 |
| Raw agricultural goods | $150M | 113/193 |
| Government & miscellaneous services | $134M | 70/187 |
| Transport & tourism services | $129M | 157/191 |
| IT & IP services | $114M | 108/185 |
| Processed food, beverages & tobacco | $36.9M | 145/192 |
| Machinery & equipment | $14M | 161/193 |
| Chemicals & pharma | $7.02M | 152/193 |
| Raw materials & minerals | $6.69M | 170/193 |
Top 10 imports
|
Yemen
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Transport & tourism services | $750M | 140/191 |
| Raw agricultural goods | $683M | 101/193 |
| Machinery & equipment | $511M | 156/193 |
| Raw materials & minerals | $467M | 149/193 |
| Processed food, beverages & tobacco | $462M | 137/193 |
| Chemicals & pharma | $372M | 143/193 |
| Animal & marine products | $234M | 113/193 |
| IT & IP services | $223M | 97/185 |
| Business & finance services | $201M | 149/189 |
| Textiles & consumer goods | $174M | 155/193 |
Economic freedom indices
|
Yemen
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Economic freedom | 53.7 | 138/197 |
| Property rights | 3.5 | 180/182 |
| Government integrity | 6.2 | 180/182 |
| Judicial effectiveness | 9.9 | 167/182 |
| Tax burden | 93.7 | 19/182 |
| Government spending | 0 | 180/180 |
| Fiscal health | 71.2 | 100/181 |
| Business freedom | 31.3 | 173/182 |
| Labor freedom | 31.2 | 178/182 |
| Monetary freedom | 48.1 | 170/180 |
| Trade freedom | 67.4 | 116/181 |
| Investment freedom | 50 | 127/181 |
| Financial freedom | 30 | 155/181 |
Economic freedom by year
| Year | Index | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economic freedom | Judicial effectiveness | Tax burden | Government spending | Fiscal health | |
| 2026 | - | 9.9 | 93.7 | 0 | 71.2 |
| 2025 | - | 8.3 | - | - | - |
| 2024 | - | 8.3 | - | - | - |
| 2023 | - | 7 | - | - | - |
| 2022 | - | - | - | - | - |
| 2021 | - | 19.7 | - | 95.6 | 48.9 |
| 2020 | - | 20.1 | - | 96.5 | 60.1 |
| 2019 | - | 22.2 | - | 83.7 | 0 |
| 2018 | - | 16.6 | - | 80.9 | 5.4 |
| 2017 | - | 22.6 | - | 77.2 | 10.6 |
| 2016 | - | - | - | - | - |
| 2015 | 53.7 | - | 91.5 | 59.9 | - |
| 2014 | 55.5 | - | 91.7 | 74.9 | - |
| 2013 | 55.9 | - | 91.5 | 72.8 | - |
| 2012 | 55.3 | - | 83.1 | 62.8 | - |
| 2011 | 54.2 | - | 83.2 | 44.5 | - |
| 2010 | 54.4 | - | 83.2 | 51.3 | - |
| 2009 | 56.9 | - | 83.2 | 57.1 | - |
| 2008 | 53.8 | - | 83.2 | 58.5 | - |
| 2007 | 54.1 | - | 83.2 | 56.2 | - |
| 2006 | 52.6 | - | 75 | 56.2 | - |
| 2005 | 53.8 | - | 74.9 | 66.5 | - |
| 2004 | 50.5 | - | 75 | 66.5 | - |
| 2003 | 50.3 | - | 75 | 63.5 | - |
| 2002 | 48.6 | - | 74.9 | 69.3 | - |
| 2001 | 44.3 | - | 74.7 | 33.7 | - |
| 2000 | 44.5 | - | 74.8 | 41.9 | - |
| 1999 | 43.3 | - | 74.1 | 52.5 | - |
| 1998 | 46.1 | - | 81.2 | 80.3 | - |
| 1997 | 48.4 | - | 81.4 | 74.8 | - |
| 1996 | 49.6 | - | 78.4 | 75.3 | - |
| 1995 | 49.8 | - | 78.2 | 73.4 | - |
Data sources: The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08).
GeoRank.org/economy/yemen | CC BY
Yemen is ranked 131/176 for economic freedom with a score of 53.7, compared to 78/100 and a score of 49.8 in 1995.
Other economic metrics
|
Yemen
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Services, % of GDP |
41.8%
2018 |
172/191 |
| Industry, % of GDP |
25.4%
2018 |
80/194 |
| Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP |
28.7%
2018 |
17/193 |
|
GNI, Atlas method
|
$25.3B
2018 |
117/194 |
| GNI per capita, PPP |
$3,020
2013 |
175/191 |
| Total reserves including gold |
$1.25B
2022 |
139/177 |
|
Net foreign direct investment
|
$15.4M
2015 |
38/189 |
|
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
|
-$371M
2019 |
180/193 |
|
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
|
$0
2024 |
165/193 |
|
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
|
0.53%
2018 |
115/121 |
| Poverty at national poverty lines |
48.6%
2014 |
25/176 |
|
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
|
6.18%
2018 |
173/179 |
Compare Yemen vs other countries
GDP per capita map
Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).
GeoRank.org/economy/yemen | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Economy & Growth (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2018–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- TradeMap (2020–2024, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.
The current account balance is the sum of net trade in goods and services, net earnings from cross-border investments, and net transfer payments. It reflects a country's economic transactions with the rest of the world and is a fundamental component of the balance of payments. A surplus indicates that a country exports more than it imports, while a deficit shows the opposite.
Gross National Income (GNI) measures a country's total income. It encompasses income earned by residents, businesses, and foreign sources, defined as employee compensation and investment profits. GNI adds product taxes not included elsewhere and subtracts subsidies. It accounts for income from residents working abroad but excludes earnings from foreigners within the country.
A negative value for Net Foreign Direct Investment indicates a country is a net receiver of investments, as foreign inflows exceed outflows after Balance of Payments adjustments. A positive value indicates a net provider, with outflows exceeding inflows. Inflows are credits (increasing foreign claims on domestic assets), while outflows are debits (increasing domestic assets abroad).
Foreign direct investment (FDI, net inflows) shows how much capital foreign investors bring into a country after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of overseas companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in the reporting country. A positive number means more capital entered the country than was withdrawn, while a negative number means foreign investors pulled out more than they invested.
Foreign direct investment (FDI, net outflows) shows how much capital residents of a country invest abroad after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of domestic companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in other countries. A positive number means more capital was invested abroad than withdrawn, while a negative number means residents pulled back more than they invested.
Principal and interest payments to the IMF in currency, goods, or services on long-term debt expressed as a share of GNI.
Formerly gross domestic investment, gross capital formation measures the share of a country’s economic output invested in fixed assets, including buildings, machinery, and infrastructure. It indicates how much of the economy is devoted to building productive capacity.