Yemen, located at the southern end of the Arabian Peninsula, has undergone one of the fastest population growth trajectories in the Middle East. In 1950, Yemen’s population was only 4.6 million, but by 2024 it has reached 40.6 million. Despite ongoing conflict, humanitarian crises, and migration pressures, the population is projected to keep increasing throughout the century, surpassing 110 million by 2100.
Historical Population Growth (1950–2024)
Yemen’s population has grown more than eightfold in just over 70 years.
- 1950: 4.6 million
- 1960: 5.5 million
- 1970: 7.1 million
- 1980: 9.5 million
- 1990: 13.9 million
- 2000: 19.6 million
- 2010: 26.8 million
- 2020: 36.1 million
- 2024: 40.6 million
This growth reflects high fertility rates and declining infant mortality through the latter half of the 20th century.
Future Population Projections for Yemen (2025–2100)
Despite severe socio-political and economic challenges, Yemen’s population is expected to keep rising rapidly before eventually stabilizing.
- 2030: 47.7 million
- 2050: 71.0 million
- 2075: 96.0 million
- 2100: 110.0 million
This means that Yemen’s population will nearly triple between 2024 and 2100.
Key Insights
- Yemen has one of the highest population growth rates in the Arab world.
- By 2050, it will likely overtake countries like Italy and South Korea in total population size.
- Rapid growth places immense pressure on water resources, food security, healthcare, and infrastructure.
- Stabilization is projected after 2080, but only after decades of sharp growth.
FAQ
In 2024, Yemen’s population is 40.6 million.
It has grown from 4.6 million in 1950 to 40.6 million in 2024 — nearly a ninefold increase.
By 2050, Yemen is projected to have 71 million people.
Yes, projections show Yemen crossing the 100 million mark around 2080.
Yemen faces resource scarcity, ongoing conflict, limited infrastructure, and climate stress, all of which complicate managing such rapid demographic expansion.
Source:
United Nations. World Population Prospects 2024.
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