Yemen - Government
Based on the etymolgy of Yemen, it was the name origin is unclear but may come from the Arabic word al-yamin, meaning "the right," as a reference to its geographic position in relation to Mecca. The Government system in this country is the in transition type and the different Administrative divisions includes: 22 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Abyan, 'Adan (Aden), Ad Dali', Al Bayda', Al Hudaydah, Al Jawf, Al Mahrah, Al Mahwit, Amanat al 'Asimah (Sanaa City), 'Amran, Arkhabil Suqutra (Socotra Archipelago), Dhamar, Hadramawt, Hajjah, Ibb, Lahij, Ma'rib, Raymah, Sa'dah, San'a' (Sanaa), Shabwah, Ta'izz
National symbols
Golden eagle.
The flag
The National flag of Yemen has .
Info
The National Anthem
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More about the government of Yemen
| Date of Independence | 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) |
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| National holiday | Unification Day, 22 May (1990) |
| Legal system | mixed system of Islamic (sharia) law, Napoleonic law, English common law, and customary law |
| International law organization participation | has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt |
| Constitution | |
| History | Adopted by referendum 16 May 1991 (following unification) |
| Citizenship | |
| Citizenship by birth | no |
| Citizenship by descent only | the father must be a citizen of Yemen; if the father is unknown, the mother must be a citizen |
| Dual citizenship recognized | no |
| Residency requirement for naturalization | 10 years |
| Executive Branch | |
| Chief of state | Presidential Leadership Council Chairperson Dr. Rashad Muhammad al-ALIMI (since 19 April 2022) |
| Head of government | Prime Minister Salim Salih BIN BURAYK (since 9 May 2025) |
| Cabinet | 24 members from northern and southern Yemen, with representatives from Yemen's major political parties |
| Election/appointment process | formerly, the president was directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 7-year term (eligible for a second term); vice president appointed by the president; prime minister appointed by the president |
| Most recent election date | 21 February 2012 |
| Election results | 2012: Abd Rabuh Mansur HADI (GPC) elected consensus president |
| Legislative branch | |
| Legislature name | Parliament (Majlis) |
| Legislative structure | Bicameral |
| Judicial branch | |
| Highest court(s) | Supreme Court (consists of the court president, 2 deputies, and nearly 50 judges; court organized into constitutional, civil, commercial, family, administrative, criminal, military, and appeals scrutiny divisions) |
| Judge selection and term of office | Judges appointed by the Supreme Judicial Council, which is chaired by the president of the republic and includes 10 high-ranking judicial officers; judges serve for life with mandatory retirement at age 65 |
| Subordinate courts | Appeal courts; district or first instance courts; commercial courts |
| Diplomatic representation in the US | |
| Chief of mission | Ambassador Abdulwahab Abdullah Ahmed AL-HAJRI (since 24 July 2025) |
| Chancery | 2319 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 |
| Telephone | [1] (202) 965-4760 |
| FAX | [1] (202) 337-2017 |
| Email address and website | [email protected] https://www.yemenembassy.org/ |
| Diplomatic representation from the US | |
| Chief of mission | Ambassador Steven H. FAGIN (since 1 June 2022); note - the embassy closed in March 2015; Yemen Affairs Unit currently operates out of US Embassy Riyadh |
| Embassy | Previously - Sa'awan Street, Sanaa |
| Mailing address | 6330 Sanaa Place, Washington DC 20521-6330 |
| Telephone | US Embassy Riyadh [966] 11-488-3800 previously - [967] 1 755-2000 |
| FAX | US Embassy Riyadh [966] 11-488-7360 |
| Email address and website | [email protected] https://ye.usembassy.gov/ |
| National heritage | |
| Total World Heritage Sites | 5 (4 cultural, 1 natural) |
| Selected World Heritage Site locales | Old Walled City of Shibam (c); Old City of Sana'a (c); Historic Town of Zabid (c); Socotra Archipelago (n); Landmarks of the Ancient Kingdom of Saba, Marib (c) |
Key Political parties and their leaders in Yemen
Info
International organization participation
All Important Facts about Yemen
Want to know more about Yemen? Check all different factbooks for Yemen below.
