Population in the largest city in Yemen
Yemen: Population in the largest city was 22.8% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Latest (2025)
22.8%
Change on year
down 0.1%
World rank
106th
of 153 countries
All-time high
64.3%
in 1960
All-time low
20.5%
in 1982
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Population in the largest city in Yemen, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN). Measured in % of urban population.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population in the largest city in Yemen is 22.8%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.1% on the previous year and down 7.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in the largest city in Yemen peaked at 64.3% in 1960 and was at its lowest, 20.5%, in 1982.
That places Yemen 106th out of 153 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 66 years of available data.
Population in the largest city in Yemen, year by year
| Year | % of urban population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 64.3% | — |
| 1961 | 62.8% | -2.4% |
| 1962 | 61.3% | -2.4% |
| 1963 | 59.8% | -2.4% |
| 1964 | 58.3% | -2.5% |
| 1965 | 56.8% | -2.7% |
| 1966 | 55.2% | -2.8% |
| 1967 | 53.6% | -3.0% |
| 1968 | 51.9% | -3.1% |
| 1969 | 50.2% | -3.3% |
| 1970 | 48.5% | -3.4% |
| 1971 | 46.7% | -3.8% |
| 1972 | 44.6% | -4.4% |
| 1973 | 42.2% | -5.4% |
| 1974 | 38.4% | -9.1% |
| 1975 | 34.8% | -9.2% |
| 1976 | 31.8% | -8.8% |
| 1977 | 29.0% | -8.7% |
| 1978 | 26.6% | -8.5% |
| 1979 | 24.3% | -8.3% |
| 1980 | 22.3% | -8.2% |
| 1981 | 20.6% | -7.9% |
| 1982 | 20.5% | -0.3% |
| 1983 | 20.8% | +1.4% |
| 1984 | 21.2% | +1.7% |
| 1985 | 21.6% | +2.0% |
| 1986 | 22.0% | +1.9% |
| 1987 | 22.3% | +1.4% |
| 1988 | 22.6% | +1.4% |
| 1989 | 22.9% | +1.5% |
| 1990 | 23.3% | +1.7% |
| 1991 | 23.8% | +1.9% |
| 1992 | 24.3% | +2.2% |
| 1993 | 24.9% | +2.6% |
| 1994 | 25.7% | +3.0% |
| 1995 | 25.9% | +1.0% |
| 1996 | 25.8% | -0.5% |
| 1997 | 25.7% | -0.2% |
| 1998 | 25.7% | -0.1% |
| 1999 | 25.7% | +0.1% |
| 2000 | 25.8% | +0.3% |
| 2001 | 25.9% | +0.4% |
| 2002 | 26.1% | +0.6% |
| 2003 | 26.3% | +0.8% |
| 2004 | 26.5% | +0.9% |
| 2005 | 26.5% | -0.1% |
| 2006 | 26.2% | -1.0% |
| 2007 | 26.0% | -0.9% |
| 2008 | 25.8% | -0.8% |
| 2009 | 25.6% | -0.7% |
| 2010 | 25.4% | -0.6% |
| 2011 | 25.3% | -0.4% |
| 2012 | 25.2% | -0.3% |
| 2013 | 25.2% | -0.2% |
| 2014 | 25.0% | -0.8% |
| 2015 | 24.7% | -1.1% |
| 2016 | 24.4% | -1.1% |
| 2017 | 24.1% | -1.2% |
| 2018 | 23.8% | -1.3% |
| 2019 | 23.5% | -1.6% |
| 2020 | 23.0% | -1.7% |
| 2021 | 23.0% | -0.4% |
| 2022 | 22.9% | -0.2% |
| 2023 | 22.9% | -0.3% |
| 2024 | 22.8% | -0.2% |
| 2025 | 22.8% | -0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 57.4% | 50.2% | 64.3% | 10 |
| 1970s | 36.7% | 24.3% | 48.5% | 10 |
| 1980s | 21.7% | 20.5% | 22.9% | 10 |
| 1990s | 25.1% | 23.3% | 25.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 26.1% | 25.6% | 26.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 24.7% | 23.5% | 25.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 22.9% | 22.8% | 23.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Yemen
- 103 Zimbabwe 23.8% compare
- 104 El Salvador 23.6% compare
- 105 Philippines 23.4% compare
- 107 Australia 22.3% compare
- 108 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 22.2% compare
- 109 Mexico 21.5% compare
More urban development data for Yemen
- 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)
- Population in largest city 3.53 million (2025)
- 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 the largest city in Yemen?
- Population in the largest city in Yemen was 22.8% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest population in the largest city recorded in Yemen?
- The highest recorded value was 64.3% in 1960.
- What is the lowest population in the largest city recorded in Yemen?
- The lowest recorded value was 20.5% in 1982.
- How does Yemen rank for population in the largest city?
- Yemen ranks 106th out of 153 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population in the largest city rising or falling in Yemen?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Yemen data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN), published as part of Population in the largest city (% of urban population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Population in largest city is the percentage of a country's urban population living in that country's largest metropolitan area.