Yemen

Arabian Peninsula

Middle East

Yemen is affected by armed conflict, humanitarian crisis, fragmented administration, infrastructure failure, and severe security and mobility risks. It is not a conventional relocation destination.

Overall score

Low · Penalty applied · 77% data coverage

Language

Arabic

Currency

YER

Citizenship

10 years

Personal tax

Progressive; administration varies by territory

Cost of living

$550 / mo (single; access and security vary)

Rules change often. Confirm any immigration, tax or legal decision with a qualified professional.

Score breakdown

Access

17%

35Residence12%

29Citizenship and passport5%

Earning power

25%

–Salary and work12%

54Buying power13%

Business and wealth

20%

48Taxes7%

15Business8%

37Investment5%

Daily life

25%

34Quality of life18%

40Education7%

Rights and institutions

13%

9Freedom6%

3Rule of law7%

Severe safety risk (39) cut the overall score from 34 to 33.

Healthcare collapse (32) cut the overall score from 33 to 30.

Severe environmental risk (4) cut the overall score from 30 to 15.

Weak rights and institutions (6) cut the overall score from 15 to 8.

Pros

Country-wide comparison coverage
Local residence and work pathways available

Cons

Legal and tax outcomes are case-specific
Costs vary materially by city and lifestyle

Best for

Users comparing regional optionsPeople prepared to verify a specific pathway

Score profile

Access

Residence

Citizenship

Passport

Earning power

Salary & work

–

Buying power

Cost of living

Economy

Business and wealth

Taxes

Personal tax

Corporate tax

Business

Investment

Wealth building

–

Daily life

Safety

Healthcare

Environment

Infrastructure

Education

HDI

Rights and institutions

Freedom

Rule of law

How the scores are calculated

Access

Residence

Openness to residents

Limited

Migrant stock1.0% of population (2024)

Regulatory quality-1.58 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Main pathways

EmploymentStudyFamily reunificationBusiness or investment where eligible

Student	Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.
Work	Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.
Self-employed	Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.
Permanent	Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.

Citizenship

Citizenship accessibility

Limited

Years required	10 years
Dual allowed	Depends on route and existing nationality
Language	Check the current naturalisation rules for the selected route
Residence	Typical headline route: 10 years; qualifying residence and absence rules apply
Notes	Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.

Passport

Passport power

Low

44 / 198

Mobility

#97

Global rank

Biometric

Visa-free15
On arrival28
eTA1
Visa required154

Placeholder estimates for 2024 to 2025. Check entry rules with each destination before travelling.

Earning power

Salary & work

Labour-market strength

Data not available

–

Unemployment17.3% (2025)

Participation33.1% of 15+ (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Tech salary (estimate)	Varies substantially by city, seniority, and employer
Freelance	Market access depends on language, sector, and work authorisation
Job market	Use current local vacancy and salary data for role-specific decisions.

Buying power

Purchasing power score

Moderate

GNI / person$3,020 PPP (2013)

Consumption / person$1,992 PPP (2013)

Price level42 (US = 100) (2013)

Income inequality36.7 Gini (2014)

Inflation8.1% / yr (2014)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Cost of living

Affordability

Excellent

Price level42 (US = 100) (2013)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Rent	Varies substantially by city and neighbourhood
Monthly	$550 / mo (single; access and security vary)
Cities	Sana'a, Aden, Taiz

Economy

Economic strength

Limited

Output & income

GDP$21.6B (2018)

GDP / person$634 (2018)

GNI / person$3,020 PPP (2013)

GDP growth0.8% / yr (2018)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Stability & labour

Inflation8.1% / yr (2014)

Unemployment17.3% (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Sector composition

Agriculture28.7% of GDP (2018)

Industry25.4% of GDP (2018)

Services41.8% of GDP (2018)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Main industries

AgricultureOil (disrupted)FishingRemittance-fed services

Top exports

Crude oil (when flowing)FishCoffee

Type	Low-income, conflict economy
Key sectors	Agriculture, Fisheries, Aid & remittances
Summary	One of the world's poorest economies, shattered by war and reliant on humanitarian aid and remittances.
Currency	Yemeni rial (fragmented and devalued)

Business and wealth

Taxes

Tax friendliness

Moderate

Personal	Progressive; administration varies by territory
Corporate	Generally about 20%, subject to activity and administration
Capital gains	Treatment varies by asset, holding structure, residence, and treaty position
Dividends	Rates and withholding depend on residence and treaty eligibility
Exit tax	Check current domestic rules before changing tax residence
Foreign companies	Management, permanent-establishment, CFC, and reporting rules may apply

Personal tax

Moderate

Personal	Progressive; administration varies by territory
Freelance	Registration, immigration permission, tax, and social contributions may apply
Capital gains	Treatment varies by asset, holding structure, residence, and treaty position
Dividends	Rates and withholding depend on residence and treaty eligibility
Exit tax	Check current domestic rules before changing tax residence

Corporate tax

Limited

Corporate	Generally about 20%, subject to activity and administration
Capital gains	Treatment varies by asset, holding structure, residence, and treaty position
Dividends	Rates and withholding depend on residence and treaty eligibility
Foreign companies	Management, permanent-establishment, CFC, and reporting rules may apply

Business

Business friendliness

Low

Regulation & bureaucracy

Regulatory quality-1.58 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Government effectiveness-1.87 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Operating rules

Foreign company	Generally possible, subject to sector, registration, tax, and substance rules
Local company	Available company forms and capital requirements vary
Freelance	Registration, immigration permission, tax, and social contributions may apply

Investment

Investing environment

Limited

Private credit6% of GDP (2013)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Capital gains	Treatment varies by asset, residence, holding period, and treaty position
Dividends	Data not available yet
ETFs & funds	Data not available yet
Wealth tax	Check current national and subnational rules
Brokers	Local and international availability varies by residency and compliance checks
Foreign access	Data not available yet
Tax-advantaged	Data not available yet

Wealth building

Wealth accumulation

Data not available

–

Salary & work

Data not available

–

Business

Low

Investment

Limited

Tax friendliness

Moderate

Cost of living

Excellent

Daily life

Safety

Safety & stability

Limited

Personal safety

Homicide rate5.8 per 100,000 (2013)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Institutions & stability

Control of corruption-1.64 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Political stability-2.75 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Check current government travel and security advice before relocating.

Healthcare

Healthcare score

Limited

Outcomes

Life expectancy69.4 years (2024)

Under-5 mortality38.1 per 1,000 births (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Capacity & resourcing

Physicians0.10 per 1,000 (2023)

Hospital beds0.46 per 1,000 (2023)

Health spending$169 PPP / person (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

System & costs

System	Public/private mix varies by eligibility and residence status
Insurance	Check residence-permit and local coverage requirements
Average cost	Depends on eligibility, income, insurer, and chosen coverage

Environment

Environment score

Low

Environmental pressure

PM2.5 exposure46.8 μg/m³ annually (2023)

Water stress169.8% (2022)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Infrastructure

Infrastructure score

Limited

Digital infrastructure

Internet use17.5% (2019)

Internet resilience28 / 100 (2026)

Fixed speed45 / 100 download index (2026)

Mobile speed32 / 100 download index (2026)

Sources: World Bank World Development Indicators · Internet Society Pulse Internet Resilience Index

Utilities

Electricity access83.6% (2023)

Grid losses31.2% of output (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Transport

Transport quality1.90 / 5 (2022)

Air connectivity119 departures / million people (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Education

Education score

Limited

Attainment

Expected schooling7.5 years (2023)

Mean schooling5.5 years (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Participation & investment

Tertiary enrolment9% gross (2011)

Education spending5.2% of GDP (2008)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Tuition	Access and availability are severely constrained
Public university	Varies by institution, programme, and student nationality
Languages	Arabic
Student work	Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.

HDI

Human development score

Moderate

HDI0.470 (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Long & healthy life

Life expectancy69.3 years (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Knowledge

Expected schooling7.5 years (2023)

Mean schooling5.5 years (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025