Yemen is located on the southern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is the second largest country on the Arabian Peninsula. A disastrous civil war began in 2014 when the Houthis from northern Yemen overran the capital of Sanaa. In 2019, the United Nations reported that about 24 million people, or 85% of its population needs humanitarian aid. As of 2024, Yemen is regarded as the world's least peaceful country by the Global Peace Index. In this great humanitarian crisis, all Yemenis suffer—but Yemeni Christians are more vulnerable since emergency relief is mostly distributed through local Muslim leaders that have been accused of discriminating against anyone who is not considered to be a devout Muslim.
Country Stats
Capital City: Sanaa, (Capital in exile: Aden)
Government: Unitary provisional. Currently Civil War
Major People Groups: 92.8% Arab, 3.7% Somalis, 3.5% Other
Population: 35,096,000 (Joshua Project)
Religion: 99.7% Islam, 0.2% Christianity, 0.1% Hinduism
Government: Unitary provisional. Currently Civil War
Major People Groups: 92.8% Arab, 3.7% Somalis, 3.5% Other
Population: 35,096,000 (Joshua Project)
Religion: 99.7% Islam, 0.2% Christianity, 0.1% Hinduism
Yemen is currently number three on the Open Doors World Watch List of countries with the most severe persecution of Christians in the world.
Most Yemeni Christians converts from Islam must live out their faith in secret because conversion from Islam to Christianity is forbidden both in Islam and in Yemeni law. Yemeni culture is extremely tribal, and often the tribal punishment for denouncing Islam can be torture, banishment or death. Those who are married to Muslims risk divorce—and may lose custody of their children. In Houthi-controlled areas it's dangerous to possess a Bible or other Christian books. Despite all this the Lord is building His Church in Yemen, and more people from Yemen have come to faith in Jesus Christ than from any other country on the Arabian Peninsula.
Most Yemeni Christians converts from Islam must live out their faith in secret because conversion from Islam to Christianity is forbidden both in Islam and in Yemeni law. Yemeni culture is extremely tribal, and often the tribal punishment for denouncing Islam can be torture, banishment or death. Those who are married to Muslims risk divorce—and may lose custody of their children. In Houthi-controlled areas it's dangerous to possess a Bible or other Christian books. Despite all this the Lord is building His Church in Yemen, and more people from Yemen have come to faith in Jesus Christ than from any other country on the Arabian Peninsula.
How to Pray
- Pray that God will protect His children in Yemen and preserve the faith of our Yemeni brothers and sisters, especially those facing persecution.
- Pray that the church that God is building in Yemen will be established on the firm foundation of the Word of God.
- Pray that many will come to faith through the faithful witness of courageous believers.
