Factbook
History of Yemen — Timeline
Key dates in the history of Yemen, from the Magna Factbook and the Universal Encyclopedia.
1918The Kingdom of Yemen (colloquially known as North Yemen) became independent from the Ottoman Empire in 1918 and in 1962 became the Yemen Arab Republic.
1967The British, who had set up a protectorate area around the southern port of Aden in the 19th century, withdrew in 1967 from what became the People's Republic of Southern Yemen (colloquially known as South Yemen).
1990Independence: 22 May 1990 (Republic of Yemen established with the merger of the Yemen Arab Republic [Yemen (Sanaa) or North Yemen] and the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen [Yemen (Aden) or South Yemen]); notable earlier dates: 1 November 1918 (North Yemen independent from the Ottoman Empire), 27 September 1962 (North Yemen becomes republic), 30 November 1967 (South Yemen independent from the UK).
1990The exodus of hundreds of thousands of Yemenis from the south to the north contributed to two decades of hostility between the states, which were formally unified as the Republic of Yemen in 1990.
1994A southern secessionist movement and brief civil war in 1994 was quickly subdued.
2000In 2000, Saudi Arabia and Yemen agreed to delineate their border.
2004Fighting in the northwest between the government and the Houthis, a Zaydi Shia Muslim minority, continued intermittently from 2004 to 2010, and then again from 2014 to the present.
2007The southern secessionist movement was revitalized in 2007.
2011Public rallies in Sana'a against then President Ali Abdallah SALIH -- inspired by similar Arab Spring demonstrations in Tunisia and Egypt -- slowly gained momentum in 2011, fueled by complaints over high unemployment, poor economic conditions, and corruption.
2012After HADI's uncontested election victory in 2012, SALIH formally transferred all presidential powers.
2013In accordance with the GCC Initiative, Yemen launched a National Dialogue Conference (NDC) in 2013 to discuss key constitutional, political, and social issues.
2014HADI concluded the NDC in 2014 and planned to proceed with constitutional drafting, a constitutional referendum, and national elections.
2014The Houthis, perceiving their grievances were not addressed in the NDC, joined forces with SALIH and expanded their influence in northwestern Yemen, which culminated in a major offensive against military units and rival tribes and enabled their forces to overrun the capital, Sana'a, in 2014.
2015In 2015, the Houthis surrounded key government facilities, prompting HADI and the cabinet to resign.
2016In 2016, the UN initiated peace talks that ended without agreement.
2016Saudi Arabia assembled a coalition of Arab militaries and began airstrikes, and ground fighting continued through 2016.
2018In 2018, the Houthis and the Yemeni Government participated in UN-brokered peace talks, agreeing to a limited cease-fire and the establishment of a UN mission.
2019In 2019, Yemen’s parliament convened for the first time since the conflict broke out in 2014.
2020HADI's government and the STC signed a power-sharing agreement to end the fighting, and in 2020, the signatories formed a new cabinet.
2020In 2020 and 2021, fighting continued as the Houthis gained territory and also conducted regular UAV and missile attacks against targets in Saudi Arabia.
2020Languages: Arabic (official) Religions: Muslim 99.1% (official; virtually all are citizens, an estimated 65% are Sunni and 35% are Shia), other 0.9% (includes Jewish, Baha'i, Hindu, and Christian; many are refugees or temporary foreign residents) (2020 est.) Urban population: 39.8% of total population (2023).
2022Although the truce formally expired in 2022, the parties nonetheless refrained from large-scale conflict through the end of 2023.
2022In 2022, the UN brokered a temporary truce between the Houthis and the Saudi-led coalition.
2023Generation mix — fossil fuels: 83% of total installed capacity (2023 est.); solar: 17% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) Energy use: 2.987 million Btu/person (2023 est.).
2023Industries: crude oil production and petroleum refining; small-scale production of cotton textiles, leather goods; food processing; handicrafts; aluminum products; cement; commercial ship repair; natural gas production Agriculture: mangoes/guavas, potatoes, milk, onions, spices, chicken, sorghum, watermelons, tomatoes, grapes (2023) Electricity access: 76% (2022 est.).
2023Major urban areas: 3.292 million SANAA (capital), 1.080 million Aden, 941,000 Taiz, 772,000 Ibb (2023) low-income Middle Eastern economy; infrastructure, trade, and economic institutions devastated by civil war; oil/gas-dependent but decreasing reserves; massive poverty, food insecurity, and unemployment; high inflation Inflation: 29.1% (2022 est.).
2025Population: 34.5 million (2025 estimate).
