In 1880, the average person born in the area of modern day Yemen could expect to live to just over the age of 23, a rate which would remain largely unchanged throughout the end of the 19th and first half of the 20th century (outside of a small dip from the Spanish Flu in the late 1910s). However, life expectancy in Yemen would begin to rise greatly in the 1950s, as Imam Ahmed would open up the country from its isolationist policies, allowing for a significant expansion in economic growth and improvements to healthcare and living standards. Yemen’s growing oil revenues fueled these developments, resulting in life expectancy more than doubling by the end of the century. However, life expectancy would slow and ultimately stagnate in the 21th century, as the Yemeni Civil War would continue to cause significant disruptions in healthcare services and severe famine in the country. As a result, it is estimated in 2020 that the average person born in Yemen can expect to live to just over the age of 66 years old.
Life expectancy (from birth) in Yemen from 1880 to 2020*
Characteristic
Life expectancy in years
2020
66.03
2015
66
2010
64.71
2005
62.06
2000
59.5
1995
58.19
1990
56.02
1985
51.58
1980
45.28
1975
39.61
1970
34.36
1965
30.66
1960
29.7
1955**
29.23
1950
23.76
1945
23.7
1940
23.7
1935
23.7
1930
23.7
1925
23.6
1920
22.8
1915
23.6
1910
23.6
1905
23.54
1900
23.5
1895
23.5
1890
23.5
1885
23.46
1880
23.4
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*All data given is an average of the preceding five year period.
**The sharp increase is due to the switch from Gapminder to (more recent) UN estimates; Gapminder data also shows an increase in these years, albeit a more gradual one.
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UN DESA, & Gapminder. (August 31, 2019). Life expectancy (from birth) in Yemen from 1880 to 2020* [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved December 20, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1072274/life-expectancy-yemen-historical/
UN DESA, und Gapminder. "Life expectancy (from birth) in Yemen from 1880 to 2020*." Chart. August 31, 2019. Statista. Accessed December 20, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1072274/life-expectancy-yemen-historical/
UN DESA, Gapminder. (2019). Life expectancy (from birth) in Yemen from 1880 to 2020*. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: December 20, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1072274/life-expectancy-yemen-historical/
UN DESA, and Gapminder. "Life Expectancy (from Birth) in Yemen from 1880 to 2020*." Statista, Statista Inc., 31 Aug 2019, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1072274/life-expectancy-yemen-historical/
UN DESA & Gapminder, Life expectancy (from birth) in Yemen from 1880 to 2020* Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1072274/life-expectancy-yemen-historical/ (last visited December 20, 2024)
Life expectancy (from birth) in Yemen from 1880 to 2020* [Graph], UN DESA, & Gapminder, August 31, 2019. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1072274/life-expectancy-yemen-historical/