Population in largest city in Yemen
Yemen: Population in largest city was 3.53 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
3.53 million
Change on year
up 3.5%
World rank
54th
of 153 countries
All-time high
3.53 million
in 2025
All-time low
121,000
in 1960
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Population in largest city in Yemen, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN).
Analysis
The most recent figure for population in largest city in Yemen is 3.53 million, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
The figure is up 3.5% on the previous year and up 41.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in largest city in Yemen peaked at 3.53 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 121,000, in 1960.
That places Yemen 54th out of 153 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population in largest city in Yemen, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 121,000 | — |
| 1961 | 127,622 | +5.5% |
| 1962 | 134,616 | +5.5% |
| 1963 | 141,993 | +5.5% |
| 1964 | 149,786 | +5.5% |
| 1965 | 157,983 | +5.5% |
| 1966 | 166,641 | +5.5% |
| 1967 | 175,773 | +5.5% |
| 1968 | 185,420 | +5.5% |
| 1969 | 195,567 | +5.5% |
| 1970 | 206,285 | +5.5% |
| 1971 | 217,590 | +5.5% |
| 1972 | 229,531 | +5.5% |
| 1973 | 240,722 | +4.9% |
| 1974 | 243,183 | +1.0% |
| 1975 | 245,669 | +1.0% |
| 1976 | 249,203 | +1.4% |
| 1977 | 252,778 | +1.4% |
| 1978 | 256,409 | +1.4% |
| 1979 | 260,092 | +1.4% |
| 1980 | 263,834 | +1.4% |
| 1981 | 267,619 | +1.4% |
| 1982 | 293,212 | +9.6% |
| 1983 | 325,693 | +11.1% |
| 1984 | 361,825 | +11.1% |
| 1985 | 401,848 | +11.1% |
| 1986 | 444,742 | +10.7% |
| 1987 | 489,651 | +10.1% |
| 1988 | 539,168 | +10.1% |
| 1989 | 593,534 | +10.1% |
| 1990 | 653,469 | +10.1% |
| 1991 | 719,456 | +10.1% |
| 1992 | 792,212 | +10.1% |
| 1993 | 872,094 | +10.1% |
| 1994 | 960,157 | +10.1% |
| 1995 | 1.03 million | +7.6% |
| 1996 | 1.09 million | +5.5% |
| 1997 | 1.15 million | +5.5% |
| 1998 | 1.21 million | +5.5% |
| 1999 | 1.28 million | +5.5% |
| 2000 | 1.35 million | +5.5% |
| 2001 | 1.42 million | +5.5% |
| 2002 | 1.50 million | +5.5% |
| 2003 | 1.58 million | +5.5% |
| 2004 | 1.67 million | +5.5% |
| 2005 | 1.74 million | +4.5% |
| 2006 | 1.80 million | +3.7% |
| 2007 | 1.87 million | +3.7% |
| 2008 | 1.94 million | +3.7% |
| 2009 | 2.01 million | +3.7% |
| 2010 | 2.08 million | +3.7% |
| 2011 | 2.16 million | +3.7% |
| 2012 | 2.24 million | +3.7% |
| 2013 | 2.32 million | +3.7% |
| 2014 | 2.41 million | +3.7% |
| 2015 | 2.49 million | +3.7% |
| 2016 | 2.59 million | +3.7% |
| 2017 | 2.68 million | +3.7% |
| 2018 | 2.78 million | +3.7% |
| 2019 | 2.87 million | +3.4% |
| 2020 | 2.97 million | +3.4% |
| 2021 | 3.08 million | +3.4% |
| 2022 | 3.18 million | +3.5% |
| 2023 | 3.29 million | +3.5% |
| 2024 | 3.41 million | +3.5% |
| 2025 | 3.53 million | +3.5% |
Yemen compared with similar countries
- Yemen's 3.53 million is above the median for low income countries, which is 1.98 million, 1.8× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Yemen's 3.53 million is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 3.05 million, 1.2× the median. (22 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 155,640 | 121,000 | 195,567 | 10 |
| 1970s | 240,146 | 206,285 | 260,092 | 10 |
| 1980s | 398,113 | 263,834 | 593,534 | 10 |
| 1990s | 975,701 | 653,469 | 1.28 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.69 million | 1.35 million | 2.01 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.46 million | 2.08 million | 2.87 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.24 million | 2.97 million | 3.53 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Yemen
More urban development data for Yemen
- Population in the largest city 22.8% (2025)
- Population density 74.61 people per sq. km of land area (2023)
- PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure 46.84 micrograms per cubic meter (2023)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per capita 0.0844 units per person (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 3.53 million (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, annual 3.51 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per unit 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2018)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per square 6.24 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Crude steelmaking capacity 0.286 Tonnes (2025)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 23 - Ecological 38.18 Hectares (2020)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population in largest city in Yemen?
- Population in largest city in Yemen was 3.53 million in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest population in largest city recorded in Yemen?
- The highest recorded value was 3.53 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest population in largest city recorded in Yemen?
- The lowest recorded value was 121,000 in 1960.
- How does Yemen rank for population in largest city?
- Yemen ranks 54th out of 153 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population in largest city rising or falling in Yemen?
- Over the last ten years it is up 41.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Yemen data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN), published as part of Population in largest city. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 66 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Population in largest city is the urban population living in the country's largest metropolitan area.