Capital of Yemen: Sana'a — Facts & 5-Question Quiz
The capital of Yemen is Sana'a. Yemen sits in Asia, has a population of 33,696,614, and uses the YER. Official languages include Arabic.
Quick facts
- Capital: Sana'a
- Continent: Asia
- Population: ~33,696,614
- Area: 527,968 km²
- Population density: 63.8 people per km²
- Official language: Arabic
- Currency: YER
- ISO code: YE
How big is Yemen?
By population, Yemen ranks 46th in the world, holding roughly 0.42% of all people on Earth. By land area it ranks 49th.
Those two numbers rarely match, and the gap between them is the interesting part. Yemen has 63.8 people per square kilometre, which is close to the world average of 59.4. It is more crowded than its size alone would suggest.
Within Asia, Yemen is the 19th most populous country of 48.
Countries of a similar size
The two countries closest to Yemen in population are Ghana (33,475,870) and Malaysia (33,938,221).
By land area, its closest counterparts are Thailand (513,120 km²) and Spain (505,992 km²).
Comparisons like these are worth more than raw figures when you are trying to remember them. A number on its own is hard to hold; a number next to a country you already have a feel for is much easier.
Language and currency
Arabic is spoken officially in 25 countries in this dataset, including Algeria, Bahrain, Chad, Comoros and Djibouti, and 19 others.
Yemen uses the YER, and it is the only country that does, which makes the currency name a reliable one-to-one clue.
How to remember Yemen
Sanaa is about 2,300 m above sea level, which makes it one of the highest capital cities in the world. For the flag, read it from the bottom up as a story: black past, red struggle, white future.
The flag of Yemen: red, white and black
🇾🇪 The flag is three horizontal stripes of red, white and black. The colours come from the Arab Liberation flag. They stand for dark times (black) overcome through struggle (red), to be replaced by a bright future (white).
Region and neighbours
Yemen is a country at the southern end of the Arabian Peninsula in West Asia, with coasts on the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea, and including the Socotra islands. It shares land borders with 2 countries: Saudi Arabia and Oman.
- Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦 — capital Riyadh
- Oman 🇴🇲 — capital Muscat
Three facts about Yemen
- About a third of the plants on the island of Socotra grow nowhere else on Earth, and the island is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- The old town of Shibam is famous for its tall mudbrick buildings, up to eleven storeys high, and is nicknamed the 'Manhattan of the Desert'.
- For centuries Yemen was a leading producer of coffee, which was shipped from the port of Mocha.
Sources: Wikipedia: Yemen, Wikipedia: Flag of Yemen, Wikipedia: Sanaa, Wikipedia: Socotra, Wikipedia: Shibam, CIA World Factbook.
Quiz yourself on Yemen
- Asian capitals quiz — match Yemen to Sana'a
- Asian flags quiz — spot the Yemen flag among its neighbours
Yemen capital quiz
What is the capital of Yemen 🇾🇪?
- Hanoi
- Tehran
- Sana'a
- Ramallah
Show answer
Sana'a
What is the capital of Malaysia 🇲🇾?
- Kuala Lumpur
- Pyongyang
- Hanoi
- Doha
Show answer
Kuala Lumpur
What is the capital of Uzbekistan 🇺🇿?
- Tashkent
- Doha
- Baku
- Malé
Show answer
Tashkent
What is the capital of Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦?
- Yerevan
- Riyadh
- Tehran
- Phnom Penh
Show answer
Riyadh
What is the capital of Nepal 🇳🇵?
- Kathmandu
- Vientiane
- Phnom Penh
- Muscat
Show answer
Kathmandu
Yemen is also in the Middle East capitals quiz.
Yemen in Asia
The largest countries by population sharing this continent are China, India, Indonesia and Pakistan.
If you are learning capitals region by region — far more effective than working alphabetically — Asia is the block Yemen belongs to, and its neighbours are the ones worth learning alongside it.
Try the Country to Capital Quiz, or the harder reverse direction. There is also a full country profile for Yemen.
Frequently asked questions
What is the capital of Yemen?
The capital of Yemen is Sana'a.
What is the population of Yemen?
About 33,696,614, making it the 46th most populous country in the world.
How big is Yemen?
527,968 square kilometres, ranking 49th by land area, at a density of 63.8 people per square kilometre.
What currency does Yemen use?
The YER, which no other country uses.
What are the colours of the Yemen flag?
The flag of Yemen is three horizontal stripes of red, white and black. The colours come from the Arab Liberation flag. They stand for dark times (black) overcome through struggle (red), to be replaced by a bright future (white).
Which countries border Yemen?
Yemen shares land borders with Saudi Arabia and Oman.
How can I remember the capital of Yemen?
Sanaa is about 2,300 m above sea level, which makes it one of the highest capital cities in the world. For the flag, read it from the bottom up as a story: black past, red struggle, white future.
More capitals to learn
Get the free Mind Skills Arcade app
Brain games for memory, logic, math and focus, free and offline: Get it on Google Play · Download on the App Store