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Yemen

Republic of Yemen

Mixed (Islamic law and civil law)Republic with contested authorityReviewed· 2026-08-03
Capital
Sana'a (constitutional); Aden (interim seat of government)
Population
34,400,000
Languages
Arabic
Currency
YER

Yemen · Constitution

Constitution of the Republic of Yemen

Adopted at unification in 1991 and amended in 1994 and 2001. It declares Yemen an Arab Islamic state, makes Sharia the source of all legislation, and establishes a presidential republic with an elected House of Representatives of 301 members, an appointed Shura Council and an independent judiciary. A draft federal constitution produced by the National Dialogue Conference in 2015 was never put to referendum. Presidential authority was transferred in 2022 to a Presidential Leadership Council, an arrangement without express constitutional basis, and elections have not been held since 2003.

The constitutional text

Adopted at unification in 1991 and amended in 1994 and 2001. It declares Yemen an Arab Islamic state, makes Sharia the source of all legislation, and establishes a presidential republic with an elected House of Representatives of 301 members, an appointed Shura Council and an independent judiciary. A draft federal constitution produced by the National Dialogue Conference in 2015 was never put to referendum. Presidential authority was transferred in 2022 to a Presidential Leadership Council, an arrangement without express constitutional basis, and elections have not been held since 2003.

Separation of powers

Nominally unitary with twenty-two governorates and appointed governors, and a 2000 local authority law providing for elected local councils. In practice territorial control is divided between rival authorities, and the 2015 draft federal constitution proposing six regions was never adopted.

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