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Yemen Facts & Worksheets

Yemen is a country located on the southern border of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia.

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The Republic of Yemen, or Yemen, is a country located on the southern border of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. Yemen is the second-largest sovereign state in the Arabian Peninsula.

See the fact file below for more information on Yemen or you can download our 26-page Yemen worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

GEOGRAPHY

  • As the second-largest sovereign state in the Arabian peninsula, Yemen has a total area of 527,968 km².
  • Yemen is bordered to the north by the Middle Eastern country of Saudi Arabia, to the west by the Red Sea, to the south by the Gulf of Aden and Guardafui Channel, and to the east by the Arabian country of Oman.
  • The Yemen coastline stretches for approximately 2,000 kilometers or 1,200 miles. 
  • Yemen consists of more than 200 islands.

THE CAPITAL

  • As stated by law, Sana’a is the capital of Yemen. It is the largest city in Yemen as well as the center of the Sana’a Governorate.
    • Although it is the capital city according to the Yemeni constitution, it is now occupied by the Houthis, an Islamic political and armed movement.
  • Sana’a has a total area of 126 km² and an elevation of 2,250 meters.
  • As of 2017, Sana’a has a population of 2,545,000.
  • As Sana’a has been occupied by the Houthis, Aden is now the temporary capital of Yemen.

MOTTO AND FLAG

  • Yemen is a Western Asian country located on the southern end of the Arabian Peninsula.
  • Currently, Yemen is categorized as a failed state, a sovereign government that no longer functions properly. 
  • The motto of Yemen is “God, Country, Revolution, Unity.”
  • The National Flag and ensign of Yemen is a tricolor flag of red, white, and black arranged horizontally.
    • It was adopted on May 22, 1990. 
    • The flag’s symbolism is as follows:
      • Red represents the bloodshed of the martyrs of Yemen. 
      • White represents Yemen’s bright future. 
      • Black represents Yemen’s supposedly dark past.

DEMOGRAPHICS

  • The official language of Yemen is Arabic.
  • The citizens of Yemen are called Yemeni and/or Yemenite.
  • Yemen is an Islamic country.
  • The Yemeni populace consists of ethnic groups of Arab, Somalis, Afro-Arab, Indian, and Pakistani, among others.
  • A 2018 estimate reports that the population of Yemen grew to 28,498,683.

ETYMOLOGY

  • Yammat is an Old South Arabian title for the king of Shammar Yahr’ish, which probably referred to the southwestern coastline of the Arabian peninsula and the southern coastline of Aden and Hadramout.
  • Yemen might also have derived from “tmnt,” which simply means “south.”
  • Yemen could also have come from “yemen,” which means fertile.

RELIGION

  • Islam is the primary religion in Yemen.
  • As reported by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), there are two major Islamic religious groups in Yemen: Sunni comprises 65%, while Shia makes up 35%.

SITES AND LANDMARKS

  • The Jabal Bura Forest is one of the remaining subtropical forests in Southern Arabia, found in Al Hudaydah. 
  • Bir Ali is a source of green water found in this volcano crater in Shabwa.
  • The Giniba Cave is the longest in the region of Socotra; the explored part measures 13,525 meters.
  • Old Stone Age tombs containing mummies and relics were discovered at Al-Mahwit.
  • Al-Timahah megaliths consisting of seven groups of megaliths dating from 2400 BCE and 1800 BCE were discovered in Al Hudaydah. 
  • The Sira Fortress, dating to the 11th century, is an ancient harbor that protected the city of Aden from Portuguese and Turkish attacks; it is now one of Yemen’s top tourist attractions.
  • Situated on a mountain valley, the Old City of Sana’a is one of the world’s oldest cities and is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
    • By the 11th century, more than 6,000 houses made of rammed earth were built in the Old City of Sana’a.
    • With hundreds of mosques and several bathhouses called hammams, the Old City of Sana’a offers much to explore when it comes to Yemen’s religious heritage.
  • The Old Walled City of Shibam is dubbed the “Manhattan of the Desert” because of the abundance of skyscrapers.
  • The Cisterns of Tawila also called the Tawila Tanks, are one of the most popular historic sites in the city of Aden. 
    • There is a series of differently-shaped tanks that make up the Tawila Tanks.
    • The tanks are linked to each other.
    • Originally, there were reportedly 53 tanks on the site. After renovation work was done, there are now only 13 of them.

HISTORY

  • The ancient settlers of Yemen were the Sabaeans, ancient South Arabian people whose territory included modern-day Ethiopia and Eritrea.
  • The southern highlands of Yemen was ruled by the Himyarite Kingdom in 275 CE.
  • Christianity came to Yemen in the 4th century.
  • In the 7th century, Islam spread quickly, and Islamic conquests were carried out by Yemenite troops. 
  • The Rasulid Dynasty was known as the most successful dynasty and ruled Yemen from 1229 to 1454.
  • In the 20th century, Yemen was divided between the rule of the British and the Ottoman Empires. 
  • On October 30, 1918, after World War I, the Mutawakkilite Kingdom of Yemen was established. 
  • The Yemen Arab Republic was established on September 26, 1962.
  • The current constitution of Yemen was established on May 16, 1991.
  • The first president of Yemen was Ali Abdullah Saleh,  who remained president until he resigned in 2012.
  • Abdullah’s presidency was considered kleptocracy, in which he abused his power to appropriate wealth. 

CULTURE

  • Arts 
    • Aden is known as the center of Yemeni theatre. 
    • Sana’a has hosted several theatre festivals in the past decades. 
    • Yemeni art is influenced by Arab culture.
  • Music and Dance
    • Sana’a has a tradition of poetic songs, which were proclaimed by UNESCO as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.
  • Sports
    • The most popular sport in Yemen is football. 
    • Outdoor sports such as biking, rock climbing, trekking, hiking, skiing, and mountain jumping are popular in Yemen. 
    • A traditional sport called camel jumping involves camels being placed side to side and competitors play by leaping over the most camels.
  • Cuisine
    • Saltah, a brown meat stew is considered the national dish of Yemen.
    • Spice is a major feature in Yemeni cuisine; spices such as chili peppers, cumin, and turmeric are among the staple spices in Yemeni cuisine.
    • Yemeni cuisine, in terms of meat, features chicken, goat, and lamb. Buttermilk is a dairy product daily consumed in some Yemeni villages where it is available.

Yemen Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle that includes everything you need to know about Yemen across 26 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use worksheets that are perfect for teaching kids about Yemen, which is a country located on the southern border of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

  1. Yemen Facts
  2. Post the Basics
  3. Based on the Map
  4. True or False?
  5. Notable Spots
  6. Correct Sequence
  7. Culture Match
  8. Yemeni Proverbs
  9. Image Narrative
  10. Middle East Contrast
  11. With Love from Yemen

Frequently Asked Questions

How did Yemen get its name?

Some people think Yemen got its name from ymnt, which means “south.” This is because Yemen is located on the right side of a map. Another possibility is that Yemen comes from yamn or yumn, which means “bliss” and “happiness.” This might be because there are a lot of resources in Yemen.

Does Yemen still have war?

Since 2014, the Yemeni Civil War has been a relentless conflict between two groups: the Rashad al-Alimi administration and its affiliates versus Houthi forces and their allies. This power struggle continues to leave a devastating impact on Yemen today.

Who is helping Yemen?

Since the start of the civil war in Yemen, the United States has contributed an impressive $4.5 billion to humanitarian aid efforts – making it one of the biggest benefactors worldwide.

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Link will appear as Yemen Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, December 8, 2022

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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