Population of Yemen
As of July 2026, the population of Yemen is 43 million. The number of inhabitants has increased by 1 million in the last year, representing a growth of 2.84%. The median age of the population has increased in recent years, rising from 17.8 years in 2016 to 18.5 years in 2026. Currently, life expectancy at birth is 69.7 years and population density is 81.4 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 2.76% in 2026. The annual increase in the number of people has also decreased from a peak of around 1.19 million in 2023 to nearly 1.19 million in 2026.
Life Expectancy
In Yemen, life expectancy at birth has been increasing, with the indicator rising from 65.8 years in 2006 to 69.7 years in 2026, representing an increase of almost 4 years 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 |