History of Yemen in Timeline

Yemen, officially the Republic of Yemen, is a West Asian country located in southern Arabia. It borders Saudi Arabia to the north, Oman to the northeast, the Arabian Sea to the east, the Gulf of Aden to the south, and the Red Sea to the west. Yemen shares maritime borders with Djibouti, Eritrea, and Somalia. Covering approximately 455,503 square kilometres, with a coastline of about 2,000 kilometres, it is the second largest country on the Arabian Peninsula by area and the largest by population.

1904: Rebellion against the Turks

In 1904, Imam Yahya Hamidaddin led a rebellion against the Turks; the rebels disrupted the Ottoman ability to govern.

1911: Imam Yahya rules northern highlands

Imam Yahya hamid ed-Din al-Mutawakkil was ruling the northern highlands independently from 1911, from which he began a conquest of the Yemen lands.

1911: Ottomans signed a treaty with imam Yahya Hamidaddin

The Ottomans signed a treaty with imam Yahya Hamidaddin in 1911, recognizing him as an autonomous leader of the Zaydi northern highlands.

1918: Ottomans depart

The Ottomans continued to rule Shafi'i areas in the mid-south until their departure in 1918.

1925: Yahya captures al-Hudaydah

In 1925 Yahya captured al-Hudaydah from the Idrisids.

1926: Italian Empire recognizes Yahya

In 1926, the Italian Empire was the first to recognize Yahya as the king of Yemen.

1927: Yahya's forces bombed by the British

In 1927, Yahya's forces were bombed by the British and had to pull back.

1932: Idrisis broke accord with Ibn Saud and went back to Yahya

In 1932, the Idrisis broke their accord with Ibn Saud and went back to Yahya seeking help against Ibn Saud, who had begun liquidating their authority and expressed his desire to annex those territories into his own Saudi domain.

May 1934: Ceasefire announced in the Saudi-Yemeni war

After the 1934 Saudi-Yemeni war, Ibn Saud announced a ceasefire in May 1934.

1943: Signs of resistance to occupation in Aden

After the rise of labour unions, a rift was apparent between the sectors of workers and the first signs of resistance to the occupation started in 1943.

1950: Population in 1950

In 1950, Yemen's population was 4.3 million.

1951: Signatory to International Accords on Refugee Protection

Yemen is the only country in the Arabian Peninsula that is signatory to international accords dating back to 1951 governing the protection of refugees.

1962: Slavery Officially Abolished

In 1962, Yemen officially abolished slavery, although it is still being practiced.

1962: Army officers attempted to seize power

In 1962, army officers attempted to seize power, sparking the North Yemen Civil War.

1962: Yemen Arab Republic Established

In 1962, the Kingdom of Yemen became the Yemen Arab Republic (North Yemen) following a civil war.

January 1964: British launched Operation Nutcracker

In January 1964, the British launched Operation Nutcracker, which completely burned Radfan.

November 1967: South Yemen was formed

On 30 November 1967, the state of South Yemen was formed, comprising Aden and the former Protectorate of South Arabia.

1967: South Yemen gains independence

In 1967, the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen (South Yemen) gained its independence from the British Aden Protectorate, becoming the first and only communist state in the Middle East and the Arab world.

1967: Signatory to International Accords on Refugee Protection

Yemen is the only country in the Arabian Peninsula that is signatory to international accords dating back to 1967 governing the protection of refugees.

1972: War between the two states

In 1972, the two states fought a war which was resolved with a ceasefire and negotiations brokered by the Arab League, where it was declared that unification would eventually occur.

1978: Saleh Becomes President of North Yemen

In 1978, Ali Abdullah Saleh became president of North Yemen.

1978: Ali Abdullah Saleh named as president

In 1978, Ali Abdullah Saleh was named as president of the Yemen Arab Republic.

1978: Sanaa's Population

Sanaa's population has increased rapidly, from roughly 55,000 in 1978.

1979: Fighting resumes between the two states

In 1979, fresh fighting between the two states resumed and efforts were renewed to bring about unification.

1981: Prison Authority Organization Act

The Prison Authority Organization Act, Republican decree no. 48 (1981), provides the legal framework for management of the country's prison system.

1982: Shibam inscribed by UNESCO

In 1982, the Old Walled City of Shibam in Wadi Hadhramaut was inscribed by UNESCO as a World Heritage site.

1986: Sanaa inscribed as World Heritage site

In 1986, The Old City of Sanaa was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

1986: Sanaa becomes a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Since 1986, the old city of Sanaa is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, although its conservation is threatened by the ongoing Yemeni Civil War.

1986: Thousands killed in the South Yemen Civil War

Thousands were killed in 1986 in the South Yemen Civil War. President Ali Nasser Muhammad fled to the north.

May 1990: Countries Merged

In May 1990, the two governments reached a full agreement on the joint governing of Yemen, and the countries were merged on 22 May 1990, with Saleh as president.

1990: Census Data on Soqotri Language Speakers

According to the 1990 census, the number of Soqotri language speakers was 57,000.

1990: Yemen Opposed Military Intervention

After the invasion of Kuwait crisis in 1990, Yemen's president opposed military intervention from non-Arab states.

1990: Government reforms radio corporations

After unification in 1990, the Yemeni government reformed its corporations and founded some additional radio stations that broadcast locally.

1990: Saleh Becomes President of Unified Yemen

In 1990, Ali Abdullah Saleh became president of unified Yemen.

1990: Yemeni States unite

In 1990, the two Yemeni states united to form the modern Republic of Yemen.

1990: Unification of Yemen

Since its unification in 1990, Yemen has been one of the poorest countries in the Middle East.

1991: Yemen Abstains on UNSC Resolutions

As a member of the United Nations Security Council for 1990 and 1991, Yemen abstained on a number of UNSC resolutions concerning Iraq and Kuwait and voted against the "...use of force resolution."

1991: Presidential Election Rules

The 1991 constitution mandates that the president be elected by popular vote from at least two candidates endorsed by at least 15 members of the Parliament.

1991: Constitution Establishes Government Structure

Under the 1991 constitution, Yemen operates as a unitary semi-presidential republic with a bicameral legislature, including an elected president, an elected Assembly of Representatives, and an appointed Shura Council.

1992: Food riots in major towns

Following food riots in major towns in 1992, a new coalition government made up of the ruling parties from both the former Yemeni states was formed in 1993.

August 1993: Vice President al-Beidh withdrew to Aden

In August 1993, Vice President al-Beidh withdrew to Aden and said he would not return to the government until his grievances were addressed.

1993: Zabid inscribed as World Heritage site

In 1993, the historic town of Zabid was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

1993: First election after unification

In the 1993 parliamentary election, the first held after unification, the General People's Congress won 122 of 301 seats.

February 1994: Accord signed in Amman

An accord between northern and southern leaders was signed in Amman, Jordan on 20 February 1994, but this could not stop the civil war.

1994: Infrastructure destroyed after civil war

In 1994, the government drew back after the 1990 reforms due to destroyed infrastructure resulting from the 1994 civil war.

1994: Negotiations to end the political deadlock

Negotiations to end the political deadlock dragged on into 1994. The government of Prime Minister Haydar Abu Bakr Al-Attas became ineffective due to political infighting.

1994: End of Civil War

Since the end of the 1994 civil war, progress has been made restoring normal relations with Yemen's neighbors.

1999: Saleh becomes directly elected president

Ali Abdullah Saleh became Yemen's first directly elected president in the 1999 presidential election, winning 96% of the vote.

October 2000: Attack on the USS Cole

In October 2000, 17 U.S. personnel died after an al-Qaeda suicide attack on the U.S. naval vessel USS Cole in Aden.

2000: International Border Treaty Signed

In the summer of 2000, Yemen and Saudi Arabia signed an International Border Treaty, settling a 50-year-old dispute over the location of the border between the two countries.

2001: Subdivisions of Governorates

As of 2001, Yemen's governorates are subdivided into 333 districts (muderiah), 2,210 sub-districts, and 38,284 villages.

2001: Violence surrounds a referendum

In 2001, violence surrounded a referendum, which apparently supported extending Saleh's rule and powers.

2002: Health care expenditures in Yemen

In 2002, total expenditures on health care in Yemen constituted 3.7 percent of GDP. The per capita expenditure for health care was US$58 according to United Nations statistics and US$23 according to the World Health Organization.

April 2003: Parliamentary Elections Held

Parliamentary elections were held in April 2003, where the General People's Congress maintained an absolute majority.

2003: Hospital beds available

In 2003, Yemen had only 0.6 hospital beds available per 1,000 persons.

2003: National Basic Education Development Strategy

The government developed the National Basic Education Development Strategy in 2003 that aimed at providing education to 95% of children between the ages of six and 14 years.

June 2004: Houthi insurgency began

The Houthi insurgency in Yemen began in June 2004 when dissident cleric Hussein Badreddin al-Houthi, launched an uprising against the Yemeni government.

2004: Doctor to person ratio in Yemen

As of 2004, there were only three doctors per 10,000 persons in Yemen.

2005: Clashes over fuel prices

In 2005, at least 36 people were killed in clashes across the country between police and protesters over rising fuel prices.

September 2006: Saleh Re-elected as President

Ali Abdullah Saleh was re-elected to office in September 2006. The election was judged "partly free" by international observers but was accompanied by violence, violations of press freedoms, and fraud allegations.

2006: Defense Budget Represents 40 Percent of Government Budget

In 2006, Yemen's defense budget represented approximately 40 percent of the total government budget.

2006: Saleh won presidential election

In the 2006 presidential election, Saleh won with 77% of the vote and was sworn in for another term on 27 September.

July 2007: Tourists Killed in Marib Governorate

In July 2007, a suicide bomber killed eight Spanish tourists and two Yemenis in the Marib Governorate.

September 2007: Government Announces Reinstatement of Compulsory Military Service

In September 2007, the Yemeni government announced the reinstatement of compulsory military service.

2007: Volcanic Eruptions on Jabal al-Tair Island

Jabal al-Tair Island in Yemen had volcanic eruptions in 2007.

2007: Refugee Population

Yemen hosted a population of refugees and asylum seekers numbering approximately 124,600 in 2007, predominantly from Somalia, Iraq, Ethiopia, and Syria.

March 2008: World Bank approves education project

In March 2008, the World Bank approved a seven-year project to improve gender equity and the quality and efficiency of secondary education, focusing on girls in rural areas.

September 2008: Car Bombings Outside U.S. Embassy

Car bombings outside the U.S. embassy in Sanaa killed 18 people, including six of the assailants in September 2008.

2008: Rising Food Prices Push Population into Poverty, Leads to Food Riots

In 2008, rising food prices pushed an additional six percent of the country into poverty and led to food riots in poorer cities.

October 2009: First Liquified Natural Gas Plant Begins Production

Yemen's first liquified natural gas plant began production in October 2009.

2009: Water Scarcity Prompts Warning of Impending Crisis

In 2009, The Times wrote "Yemen could become first nation to run out of water", highlighting the severe water scarcity challenge.

2010: Yemen hosts Arabian Gulf Cup

In 2010, Yemen hosted the 20th Arabian Gulf Cup in Aden and Abyan. Yemen was defeated in the first three matches of the tournament.

2010: Adult Literacy Rate

The adult literacy rate in Yemen in 2010 was 64%.

March 2011: Police Snipers Open Fire on Pro-Democracy Camp

In March 2011, police snipers opened fire on a pro-democracy camp in Sanaa, resulting in the deaths of over 50 people.

October 2011: Tawakul Karman Wins Nobel Peace Prize

In October 2011, Yemeni human rights activist Tawakul Karman was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. The UN Security Council condemned violence and called for a transfer of power in Yemen.

November 2011: Saleh Signs Gulf Co-operation Council Plan

On 23 November 2011, President Saleh traveled to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to sign the Gulf Co-operation Council plan for political transition, agreeing to transfer presidential powers to Vice President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi.

2011: Mass Protests Against Saleh

In 2011, mass protests erupted due to local frustration with Saleh's refusal to hold another round of elections, combined with the Arab Spring.

2011: Political Crisis in Yemen

Since 2011, Yemen has been enduring a political crisis, marked by street protests against poverty, unemployment, corruption, and President Saleh's plan to amend Yemen's constitution and eliminate the presidential term limit.

2011: Yemeni Revolution

The 2011 Yemeni revolution followed other Arab Spring mass protests in early 2011. The uprising was initially against unemployment, economic conditions, and corruption.

February 2012: AQAP Suicide Attack on Presidential Palace

In February 2012, AQAP claimed responsibility for a suicide attack on the presidential palace, which resulted in the deaths of 26 Republican Guards on the day President Hadi was sworn in.

February 2012: Hadi Takes Office

In February 2012, Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi assumed office for a two-year term after winning the uncontested presidential elections. Former president Saleh also returned in February 2012 and was granted full immunity from prosecution despite protests.

September 2012: Car Bomb Attack in Sanaa

In September 2012, a car bomb attack in Sanaa killed 11 people, one day after a local al-Qaeda leader, Said al-Shihri, was reported dead in the south.

2012: Increased U.S. Military Presence

By 2012, a small contingent of U.S. special-operations troops, in addition to CIA and an unofficially acknowledged U.S. military presence, were in Yemen in response to increasing terror attacks by AQAP. Following the election of President Hadi, the Yemeni military was able to push Ansar al-Sharia back and recapture the Shabwah Governorate.

2012: Groundwater Depletion

By 2012, the water table in Sanaa had dropped to 1,200 metres (3,900 feet) below the surface, highlighting severe groundwater depletion.

2012: Agreement to Manage Container Terminals Ended

In 2012, Aden International Port had ended its agreement to manage two container terminals with Dubai Ports World, due to economic decline and failure to fulfill commitments.

2012: President Saleh resigns

In 2012, Ali Abdullah Saleh resigned as president of Yemen in the wake of the Arab Spring.

2012: Saleh Forced to Resign

In 2012, Ali Abdullah Saleh was forced to resign from power but remained an important figure in Yemeni politics, later allying with the Houthis.

2012: Yemen's Active Military Personnel Reach 401,000

In 2012, Yemen had 401,000 active military personnel, making it the second largest military force on the Arabian Peninsula after Saudi Arabia.

2012: Yemen Ranked Last in Global Gender Gap Report

In 2012, Yemen was ranked last out of 135 countries in the Global Gender Gap Report, indicating significant gender inequality.

December 2013: Creation of Soqatra Governorate

In December 2013, Soqatra Governorate was created, encompassing Socotra Island, previously part of Hadramaut Governorate.

2013: Yemen's GDP and Economic Sectors

As of 2013 Yemen had a GDP (PPP) of US$61.63 billion, with an income per capita of $2,500. Services are the largest economic sector (61.4% of GDP), followed by the industrial sector (30.9%), and agriculture (7.7%).

2013: Government Budget and Debt

As of 2013, Yemen's government budget had $7.769 billion in revenues and $12.31 billion in expenditures, with public debt at 47.1% of GDP.

2013: Industrial Production Growth Rate

In 2013, Yemen had an industrial production growth rate of 4.8%.

2013: Exports and Imports

In 2013, Yemen's exports totaled $6.694 billion, and imports totaled $10.97 billion, with main commodities including crude oil, machinery, foodstuffs, and livestock.

2013: Yemen Classified as Tier 3 Country in Trafficking in Persons Report

In 2013, the United States Department of State Trafficking in Persons report classified Yemen as a Tier 3 country, indicating that the government does not fully comply with minimum standards against human trafficking.

September 2014: Houthi Insurgency Intensifies

The Houthi insurgency intensified in September 2014 after Hadi took power, escalating as anti-government forces led by Abdul-Malik al-Houthi swept into the capital and forced Hadi to agree to a "unity" government.

2014: GDP Drops Due to Civil War and Blockade

After the start of the civil war in 2014, Yemen's GDP dropped rapidly by over 50%, due to the blockade led by Saudi Arabia and an effective embargo on oil exports imposed by the Houthis.

2014: Drafting of a New Constitution

In 2014, Al-Hadi was to oversee the drafting of a new constitution, followed by parliamentary and presidential elections.

2014: Federal Proposal

In 2014, a constitutional panel decided to divide Yemen into six regions to create a federalist model of governance. This proposal contributed to the Houthi coup d'état.

January 2015: Government Mass Resignation

In January 2015, the government's mass resignation occurred after the Houthis refused to participate in the government and continued to pressure Hadi and his ministers, even shelling the president's private residence and placing him under house arrest.

February 2015: Houthis Dissolve Parliament

In February 2015, the Houthis dissolved parliament and declared that a Revolutionary Committee under Mohammed Ali al-Houthi was the interim authority in Yemen. This constitutional declaration was widely rejected.

February 2015: Hadi Flees to Aden

On 21 February 2015, Hadi fled from Sanaa to Aden, his hometown in the south, and rescinded his resignation in a televised speech, condemning the Houthi coup.

March 2015: Saudi Arabia Announces Operation Decisive Storm

In March 2015, Saudi Arabia announced Operation Decisive Storm, beginning airstrikes and leading a military coalition against the Houthis, claiming they were aided by Iran.

2015: Estimate of Christians from Muslim Background

A 2015 study estimates 400 Christians from a Muslim background reside in the country.

2015: Civil War in Yemen

By 2015, Yemen became engulfed by an ongoing civil war with multiple entities vying for governance, including the Presidential Leadership Council of the internationally recognized government, and the Houthi movement's Supreme Political Council.

2015: Water Infrastructure Delayed Due to Civil War

In part due to the 2015 Yemeni civil war, the infrastructure required to build better access to water has been delayed in construction, with estimated that as many as 80% of the population struggles to access water.

2015: Submission of Intended NDC

Yemen submitted an intended Nationally Determined Contribution in 2015, although they have not yet joined the Paris Agreement.

March 2016: Missionaries of Charity Attack in Aden

After Hadi troops took control of Aden from Houthis, jihadist groups became active in the city, and some terrorist incidents were linked to them such as Missionaries of Charity attack in Aden on 4 March 2016.

2016: Yemeni Jews Brought to Israel

Some 200 Yemeni Jews were brought to Israel by the Jewish Agency c. 2016.

2016: Famine Declared

Yemen has been suffering from a famine since 2016 as a result of the civil war.

December 2017: Assassination of Ali Abdullah Saleh

On 4 December 2017, former president Ali Abdullah Saleh was assassinated by Houthis while attempting to flee clashes near Sanaa.

2017: Child Starvation Deaths

In 2017, it was reported that more than 50,000 children in Yemen had died from starvation.

2017: UN Human Rights Council creates expert team to investigate breaches of human rights

In 2017, the UN Human Rights Council voted to create a team of experts to investigate suspected breaches of humanitarian law and human rights in Yemen.

February 2018: Aden Seized by Southern Transitional Council

In February 2018, Aden was seized by the UAE-backed separatist Southern Transitional Council (STC).

2019: Global Innovation Index Ranking

In 2019, Yemen was ranked 129th in the Global Innovation Index.

2019: Humanitarian Aid Needed in Yemen

In 2019, the United Nations reported that Yemen had the highest number of people in need of humanitarian aid, amounting to about 24 million individuals, or nearly 75% of its population.

March 2020: Trump administration cuts aid to Yemen

In March 2020, the Trump administration, along with U.S. allies, cut off tens of millions of dollars in aid to the United Nations' appeal for Yemen, impacting healthcare programs and other assistance.

June 2020: Human rights group reveals scale of torture and deaths in Yemen detention centres

In June 2020, a human rights group revealed the scale of torture and deaths in Yemen's unofficial detention centres, attributing some of the most shocking treatment of prisoners to UAE and Saudi forces.

June 2020: Human Rights Watch Urges Improved Protection of Children in Yemen

On 22 June 2020, Human Rights Watch wrote an open letter to the UN Secretary-General to improve the protection of children in Yemen in the Children and Armed Conflict report.

September 2020: Human Rights Watch Demands End to Interference in Yemen Aid Operations

On 14 September 2020, Human Rights Watch demanded an end to the interference caused by Houthi rebels and other authorities in Yemen aid operations, putting millions of lives at risk.

2020: Increase in Gender-Based Violence Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

According to 2020 United Nations Population Fund estimates, 6.1 million girls and women in Yemen were in need of gender-based violence services, with reported rise in gender-based violence cases amid COVID-19 pandemic.

2020: Estimate of Jews Remaining in Yemen

According to a 2020 estimate, as few as 26 Jews remain in Yemen.

2020: Yemen Second-Worst on Global Hunger Index

As of 2020, Yemen ranked the second-worst on the Global Hunger Index, surpassed only by the Central African Republic.

December 2021: Saudi Arabia pressure campaign to end UN inquiry into human rights infringements

In December 2021, The Guardian revealed Saudi Arabia used incentives and threats as part of a pressure campaign to end a UN inquiry into human rights infringements in Yemen.

2021: Global Innovation Index Ranking

In 2021, Yemen was ranked 131st in the Global Innovation Index.

2021: UN Estimates War Deaths

The UN estimated that by the end of 2021, the war in Yemen would have caused over 377,000 deaths, and roughly 70% of deaths were children under age 5.

2021: Population Estimate

Yemen's population in 2021 is estimated to be 33 million, with a significant portion under 15 years old.

April 2022: Presidential Leadership Council Takes Power

After losing the support of the Saudi-led coalition, Yemen's President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi resigned, and the Presidential Leadership Council took power in April 2022.

2022: Yemen Ranks Low in Corruption Perceptions Index

In 2022, Yemen ranked 176 out of 180 countries in the Corruption Perceptions Index, highlighting significant corruption issues.

2022: Yemen Number Five on World Watch List

Yemen is number five on Open Doors' 2022 World Watch List, an annual ranking of the 50 countries where Christians face the most extreme persecution.

2023: Yemeni film industry status

As of 2023, only eight Yemeni films have been released.

January 2024: US, Britain and Allies Launch Military Assault on Houthi Targets

In January 2024, President Joe Biden announced that the United States, Britain, and allies Australia, Bahrain, Canada, and the Netherlands launched a military assault on Houthi militant targets in Yemen.

June 2024: Pressure to Lease Aden International Port

In June 2024, the UAE-backed STC were putting pressure to lease the Aden International Port to Abu Dhabi Ports, a move opposed by the Parliament and the public.

2024: Yemen not ratified Paris Agreement

As of 2024, Yemen is one of three countries which have not ratified the Paris Agreement to limit climate change.

2024: Yemen Ranked Sixth-Highest in Fragile States Index

As of 2024, Yemen ranked the sixth-highest in the Fragile States Index, and is regarded as the world's least peaceful country by the Global Peace Index.