Population Analysis of Yemen

Population Analysis of YemenGeographyYemen is basically situated on the grey tip of the Arabian Peninsula, between Oman to the northeast (288 km of borderlines) and Saudi Arabia to the north (1,458 km of borderlines). Yemen has border with the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Aden to the s revealh, and the Red Sea to the west. The length of coastline constitutes 1,906 kilometres and the width of coastal strip is between 30 and 60km.Yemen is worlds 49th largest country covering the area of 527,968 square kilometres or nearly twice the size of the US state of Wyoming or about the size of France. Topographically, Yemen is divided into five main geographical areas mountains, plateaus, coast, Empty Quarter (AR-Rub-Alkhali) and islands. Yemen has 112 islands (mostly volcanic origin) of which the biggest and most inhabited is Kamaran. Kamaran is known for surpassing wild animals and meant species. Mayonoon Island (Breem) has strategic im mienance due to its location which lets to control the strait of Bab Al-Mandab.The specific feature of this country is that it is situated at the entrance to the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, which cogitate the Red Sea to the Indian Ocean (via the Gulf of Aden) and this circumstance permits it to call matchless of the most active and strategic shipping lanes in the world.Temperatures are primarily very game in Yemen, especially in the coastal regions. This part of country is hot and humid throughout the year. The central highlands at 10,000 feet (3,048 meters), experience an modal(a) annual high temperature of 21C average daily temperature in January stands at 14C and in July reaches 22C. The mood of western coastal plain is tropical, therefore temperatures occasionally exceed 54 C, and the humidity ranges from 50 to 70 per cent. Rainfall usually comes in irregular heavy torrents with averages of 130 millimetres annually. The climate in Yemen is mostly desert, very hot and humid along the coastal sections. In addition to this, Yemens weste rn mountains are affected by seasonal monsoons, which rains may occur from April to August and from November to January.Chart 1 Location of YemenSource Euromonitor multinationalRegionsYemen administratively is divided into 21 governorates, including the three newly created governorates Amran and Al-Daleh and Reymah. The governorates are elevate subdivided into a total of 333 districts and around 2,000 sub-districts.Yemen is a relatively rural country, at an urbanization rate of on the dot less than 33% at the end of the period. about governorates boast low urbanization rates with the exception of Aden and Sanaa City that were 100% and 98% urbanized in 2013, respectively. According to the World Bank spread over 2012, governorates with the greatest poverty rate were Amran, Al-Bayda, Hajjah, and Shabwah and moat wealthy are Sanaa City and Al-Maharah.Yemen is suffering from a strong north-south divide, with violence, armed clashes and protests hindering not just regional educatio n and agricultural activities, but also detracting investors and much needed tourists away from the region. Up to late 2013, the UN-backed national dialogue between northern and southern representatives was mostly unsuccessful, causing UN to warn participators about procrastination and obstruction and urge breakthrough in the talks. The northern regions are expected to remain in a relatively better position than the south, due to greater political power and control of most natural resources.The future of Yemen and its administrative division pull up stakes suppose on the performance of the National Dialogue Conference and the presidents decision. A new federal system in Yemen is to be expected in the near future. In early 2014, the National Dialogue Conferences committee presented a final re larboard on resolving the North-South tension issue. The Confederate region would get 50% representation in executive, legislative and judicial bodies, as well as the army and security servi ces. The final step is for the president to form a committee to decide on the number of regions in Yemen.Chart 2 Regional Map of YemenSource Euromonitor InternationalTable 4 Regional Statistics Population, Urbanization Rate and Share of Population in PovertyPopulation 000 (2013) Urbanization rate (2013)% of population in poverty (2006)Taiz2,9542238Al-Hodeidah2,6843532Ibb2,6221830Sanaa City2,2059815Hajjah1,825948Dhamar1,6411426Hadramout1,2854636Sanaa1,1362.828Amran1,0871764Laheg896947Saadah8591517Aden74810017Al-Baida7121952Al-Mahweet611731Al-Daleh5831344Shabwah5821654Al-Jawf5451350Abyan5402646Reymah4861.034Mareb2951346Al-Maharah111429Total24,4073335Source Euromonitor International from National StatisticsCitiesAs of 2012, there were 225 cities in Yemen. The most significant and the largest urban centres in terms of population were the nifty Sanaa (2.2 million people in 2013), a harbor city of Aden (748,000 ) and Taizz (around 600,000). Although an overwhelming majority of Yemenis l ive in rural areas (close to 70% in 2013), urbanisation is increasing.SanaaSanaa Yemens capital city has played a let out political and sparing role in Yemen for centuries. Sanaa is one of the major transport hubs in Yemen. A bridle-path link from the capital leads to Taizz and further to the old port of Mocha. Sanaas function as one of the most important transport nodes in Yemen, however, was underscored by the countrys biggest international airport located in the nearby town of Al Rahabah. Through this airport, Yemens capital is connected to key metropolises on the Arabian Peninsula, nearby African countries and India. In 2013, United Arab Emirates national airline Etihad Airways launched its new Abu Dhabi-Sanaa route by conducting an inaugural flight with high level officials from both countries.Excellent education is one of the most notable characteristics of the Sanaa city the University of Sanaa, founded in 1970, is one of the biggest higher education institutions in the Arab countries. In terms of manufacturing, a once flagship plant in the city a cotton textile mill after years of neglect and mismanagement, stands vacant awaiting for more funding.Nevertheless, Yemens capital is witnessing a major real estate boom, as urbanisation processes in the country are moving forward. Some of the on-going projects include Sanaa City Mall and Sanaa East Sanaa Terraces. Sanaa City Mall was estimated to cost US$200 million and was scheduled to be correct in 2013. The mall is expected to perplex the biggest shopping centre in Yemen, hosting shops, 10 cinema halls, an amusement area, a food court, a supermarket, and a position space for 2,000 cars. Sanaa East Sanaa Terraces is a project worth US$400 million and expected to be completed in 2016. It will be a mixed use development encompassing residences, hotel facilities, recreation, shopping and office zones.Sanaas main strengths in attracting business opportunities are the propinquity of government agen cies and relatively extensive infrastructure. As of 2013, Sanaa international airport was undergoing a major renovation initiative amid the governmental ambition to ascending touristry revenues the construction of 12 air bridges and four halls to enable simultaneous handling of 18 aircrafts. Yet the future development of the city is likely to be significantly constrained by an on-going severe water crisis and lack of security. If the citys water resources do not get replenished, Sanaa is expected to become a ghost town by 2030, according to an insight by the Reuters investigation.AdenAden, located 400 km south of the capital Sanaa, is a vital seaport of Yemen, handling more than 60% of the countrys total incoming ships in 2012 and nearly 70% of net registered tonnage. Throughout its history, commercial activities in the port dominated in Adens economy. It used to be a major refuelling stop for vessels under the British colonial rule in 1950-1960 and later an economic engine of Sou th Yemen. However, recently, the port has been witnessing a major blow to its operations, resulting from political protests in the country following the Arab Spring and disagreements between the national government and the port operator Dubai Ports (DP) World that abandoned its obligations in 2012. With the port operations having been so essential to Aden, as of early 2013, Yemeni authorities were negotiating a master plan for the citys future development with the World Bank.Aden has strengths that may be utilized to realise its commercial and tourism potential. It is strategically positioned in close proximity to major trade routes. Given its location on the Gulf of Aden, the city can potentially avoid widespread water shortages in Yemen if resources are mobilised to tool sea water desalination projects.Yet a major weakness in the citys development has been the poor execution of laid out plans. For example, Aden Free Zone, created in 1991, is still only an empty parch of land, wh ile in nearby Djibouti, the Free Zone, established in 2004, is already up and running.Adens port has seen a precipitous decline of transhipment volumes of 37% per year in 2007-2009, whereas Djibouti ports figures have been on the rise (15% growth per annum in the like period). Future development of Aden will greatly depend on whether citys officials can follow through with commitments and plans.TaizzTaizz is one of the most populous cities in Yemen. Taizz is Yemens most developed industrial city. Adequate rainfall and arable soil in the surrounding areas boost agro-industrial activities in Taizz, particularly coffee, cotton and vegetable cultivation. The city is also known for its leather and jewellery industries. Another important factor contributing to the development of Taizzs industrial sector is the proximity of Aden, Al Hodeidah and Mocha ports which provide for an easy shipment of produced goods.Taizz is the capital of the most populous governorate of the same name, with a r elatively large consumer market providing further benefits for local companies. In fact, numerous biggest businesses in Yemen are located in Taizz, some of which die to the HSA Group Yemens major conglomerate engaged in manufacturing, commercial and services sectors. Taizz has good prospects for continued growth yet as in all of Yemen, progress is primarily stalled by political upheavals and lack of security.