l 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, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, 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 FAX: [1] (202) 337-2017 telephone: [1]
(202) 965-4760 chancery: Suite 705, 2600 Virginia Avenue NW, Washington,
DC 20037

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador
Edmund J. HULL (since 17 September 2001) 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

Economy Yemen

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 has been harmed by periodic declines in oil prices. Yemen
has embarked on an IMF-supported structural adjustment program designed to
modernize and streamline the economy, which has led to substantial 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
and internal political dissension complicate the government's task.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $14.8 billion (2001 est.)

GDP - real growth rate: 4% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $820 (2001 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 17% industry: 40% services:
43% (1998)

Population below poverty line: NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3%
highest 10%: 25.9% (1998)

Distribution of family income - Gini index: 33.4 (1998)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 10% (2001 est.)

Labor forc