Population of Yemen
As of May 2026, the population of Yemen is 36.7 million. The number of inhabitants has increased by 784 thousand in the last year, representing a growth of 2.17%. The median age of the population has increased in recent years, rising from 17.8 years in 2016 to 19.7 years in 2026. Currently, life expectancy at birth is 66.8 years and population density is 69.7 inhabitants per square kilometer.
Population Growth
The population growth rate of Yemen peaked in 1987, reaching around 3.92% annually, but has since declined to approximately 2.13% in 2026. However, the annual increase in the number of people continues to rise, reaching around 783.71 thousand in 2026.
Life Expectancy
Life expectancy at birth has increased slightly in Yemen, with the indicator rising from 66 years in 2006 to 66.8 year in 2026, representing an increase of almost 1 year over the past 2 decades.
Most populous cities in Yemen
The cities of Yemen are mostly small, but 7 stand out with more than 100 thousand inhabitants. The most populous city is Sanaa, Amanat Alasimah, with approximately 1.9 million inhabitants. It is followed by Aden with 1.1 million and Taiz, Ta‘izz with 940.6 thousand.
These are the 20 most populous cities in Yemen:
| # | City | Population |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sanaa, Amanat Alasimah | 1,937,451 |
| 2 | Aden | 1,079,670 |
| 3 | Taiz, Ta‘izz | 940,600 |
| 4 | Ibb, Ibb Governorate | 771,514 |
| 5 | Al Ḩudaydah, Al Hudaydah | 734,699 |
| 6 | Mukalla, Muhafazat Hadramaout | 594,951 |
| 7 | Dhamār | 160,114 |
| 8 | ‘Amrān, Omran | 90,792 |
| 9 | Sayyān, Sanaa Governorate | 69,404 |
| 10 | Zabīd, Al Hudaydah | 52,590 |
| # | City | Population |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Sa'dah, Şa‘dah | 51,870 |
| 12 | Bājil, Al Hudaydah | 48,218 |
| 13 | Ḩajjah | 43,549 |
| 14 | Dhī as Sufāl, Ibb Governorate | 37,997 |
| 15 | Al Bayda | 37,821 |
| 16 | Ataq, Shabwah | 37,315 |
| 17 | Bayt al Faqīh, Al Hudaydah | 34,204 |
| 18 | Yarīm, Ibb Governorate | 33,050 |
| 19 | Saḩar, Sanaa Governorate | 31,859 |
| 20 | Laḩij | 23,375 |