Internet Users: Yemen

Analysis# Yemen Internet Users As of 2019, internet penetration in Yemen reached 17.491% of the population, down considerably from the country's peak of 24.579% in 2016. This marks a significant decline from what was once a period of rapid digital expansion. Since 1990, when internet access was nonexistent, Yemen has experienced substantial growth in connectivity, though the recent trajectory suggests serious headwinds. The period from 2008 to 2016 demonstrated dramatic expansion, with internet users climbing from 6.89% to 24.579% in just eight years. The sharp drop between 2016 and 2019—a loss of roughly 7 percentage points—indicates a reversal driven likely by Yemen's ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis, which have degraded infrastructure and limited access. Current conditions suggest further challenges ahead for digital connectivity in the country.