ese local elections
aim to decentralize political power and are a key element of the
government's political reform program

Political pressure groups and leaders: NA

International organization participation: ACC, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU,
CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, NAM, OAS
(observer), OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador
Abd al-Wahhab Abdallah al-HAJRI

chancery: Suite 705, 2600 Virginia Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037

telephone: [1] (202) 965-4760

FAX: [1] (202) 337-2017

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador
Barbara K. BODINE

embassy: Dhahar Himyar Zone, Sheraton Hotel District, Sanaa

mailing address: P. O. Box 22347, Sanaa

telephone: [967] (1) 303-161

FAX: [967] (1) 303-182

Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white,
and black; similar to the flag of Syria which has two green stars
and of Iraq which has three green stars (plus an Arabic inscription)
in a horizontal line centered in the white band; also similar to the
flag of Egypt which has a heraldic eagle centered in the white band

Yemen Economy

Economy - overview: Yemen, one of the poorest countries in the Arab
world, reported strong growth in the mid-1990s with the onset of oil
production, but was harmed by low oil prices in 1998. Yemen has
embarked on an IMF-supported structural adjustment program designed
to modernize and streamline the economy, which has led to foreign
debt relief and restructuring. Aided by higher oil prices in
1999-2000, Yemen worked to maintain tight control over spending and
implement additional components of the IMF program. A high
population growth rate of nearly 3.4% and internal political
dissension complicate the government's task.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $14.4 billion (2000 est.)

GDP - real growth rate: 6% (2000 est.)

GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $820 (2000 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 20%

industry: 42%

services: 38% (1998)

Population below poverty line: 19% (1992 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%:
2.3%

highest 10%: 30.8% (1992)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 10% (2000 est.)

Labor force: NA

Labor force - by occupatio