ABSTRACT
The Yemen Arab Republic (YAR) is located in the south-west of the Arabian peninsula, north of the People’s Democratic Republic of Yemen. The first reliable and comprehensive source of information on the population of the YAR is the census of 1975. The first point to make is the distinction between those YAR temporarily abroad, with or without families, mostly working in Saudi Arabia, and those Yemenis abroad who are long-term emigrants, having left the country on a semi-permanent basis. YAR is enjoying the financial benefits of the goodwill of her oil-rich neighbours and the concern of a wide range of international and bilateral donor agencies. The YAR economy is also experiencing the uncertain benefit of very high levels of workers’ remittances. Despite immense challenges to YAR development, the past decade is generally considered, in economic, political and social terms, to have been one of success and improvement.
