Urban population in Yemen
Yemen: Urban population was 15.47 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Urban population in Yemen, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
Analysis
The most recent figure for urban population in Yemen is 15.47 million, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.6% on the previous year and up 53.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban population in Yemen peaked at 15.47 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 188,098, in 1960.
Yemen ranks 55th of 218 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Urban population in Yemen, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 188,098 | — |
| 1961 | 203,297 | +8.1% |
| 1962 | 219,678 | +8.1% |
| 1963 | 237,337 | +8.0% |
| 1964 | 256,710 | +8.2% |
| 1965 | 278,156 | +8.4% |
| 1966 | 301,840 | +8.5% |
| 1967 | 328,078 | +8.7% |
| 1968 | 357,185 | +8.9% |
| 1969 | 389,617 | +9.1% |
| 1970 | 425,330 | +9.2% |
| 1971 | 466,233 | +9.6% |
| 1972 | 514,593 | +10.4% |
| 1973 | 570,431 | +10.9% |
| 1974 | 633,860 | +11.1% |
| 1975 | 705,035 | +11.2% |
| 1976 | 784,057 | +11.2% |
| 1977 | 870,919 | +11.1% |
| 1978 | 965,654 | +10.9% |
| 1979 | 1.07 million | +10.7% |
| 1980 | 1.18 million | +10.5% |
| 1981 | 1.30 million | +10.2% |
| 1982 | 1.43 million | +9.9% |
| 1983 | 1.57 million | +9.6% |
| 1984 | 1.71 million | +9.3% |
| 1985 | 1.86 million | +8.9% |
| 1986 | 2.02 million | +8.6% |
| 1987 | 2.20 million | +8.6% |
| 1988 | 2.39 million | +8.6% |
| 1989 | 2.59 million | +8.5% |
| 1990 | 2.80 million | +8.3% |
| 1991 | 3.03 million | +8.0% |
| 1992 | 3.26 million | +7.7% |
| 1993 | 3.50 million | +7.3% |
| 1994 | 3.74 million | +6.9% |
| 1995 | 3.98 million | +6.5% |
| 1996 | 4.22 million | +6.0% |
| 1997 | 4.47 million | +5.7% |
| 1998 | 4.71 million | +5.5% |
| 1999 | 4.96 million | +5.4% |
| 2000 | 5.22 million | +5.2% |
| 2001 | 5.48 million | +5.0% |
| 2002 | 5.75 million | +4.8% |
| 2003 | 6.01 million | +4.7% |
| 2004 | 6.29 million | +4.5% |
| 2005 | 6.58 million | +4.6% |
| 2006 | 6.88 million | +4.7% |
| 2007 | 7.20 million | +4.6% |
| 2008 | 7.52 million | +4.5% |
| 2009 | 7.86 million | +4.4% |
| 2010 | 8.19 million | +4.3% |
| 2011 | 8.53 million | +4.1% |
| 2012 | 8.87 million | +4.0% |
| 2013 | 9.22 million | +3.9% |
| 2014 | 9.63 million | +4.5% |
| 2015 | 10.09 million | +4.8% |
| 2016 | 10.58 million | +4.8% |
| 2017 | 11.10 million | +5.0% |
| 2018 | 11.66 million | +5.0% |
| 2019 | 12.26 million | +5.1% |
| 2020 | 12.90 million | +5.3% |
| 2021 | 13.40 million | +3.8% |
| 2022 | 13.88 million | +3.6% |
| 2023 | 14.41 million | +3.8% |
| 2024 | 14.94 million | +3.7% |
| 2025 | 15.47 million | +3.6% |
Yemen compared with similar countries
- Yemen's 15.47 million is above the median for low income countries, which is 6.96 million, 2.2× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Yemen's 15.47 million is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 9.90 million, 1.6× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 276,000 | 188,098 | 389,617 | 10 |
| 1970s | 700,487 | 425,330 | 1.07 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.82 million | 1.18 million | 2.59 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.87 million | 2.80 million | 4.96 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 6.48 million | 5.22 million | 7.86 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 10.01 million | 8.19 million | 12.26 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 14.17 million | 12.90 million | 15.47 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Yemen
More climate change data for Yemen
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 64.14 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 11,632 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 4,282 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 7,350 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 16.16 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 262.5 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 485.83 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 474.06 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 11.77 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 1.79 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban population in Yemen?
- Urban population in Yemen was 15.47 million in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest urban population recorded in Yemen?
- The highest recorded value was 15.47 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban population recorded in Yemen?
- The lowest recorded value was 188,098 in 1960.
- How does Yemen rank for urban population?
- Yemen ranks 55th out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban population rising or falling in Yemen?
- Over the last ten years it is up 53.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Yemen data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN), published as part of Urban population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 66 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated using World Bank population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects. Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverages.