Yemeni Rial flag

Yemeni Rial

ريال يمني

Currency Code

YER

ISO 886

Symbol

YER

Native: ﷼

Decimal Digits

2

Rounding: 0

Countries

YE

Using this currency

Currency Units

Major Unit

Name: rial

Symbol: ﷼

Minor Unit

Name: fils

Symbol:

Value: 0.01

Banknotes

Frequently Used

﷼50﷼100﷼200﷼250﷼500﷼1000

Coins

Frequently Used

﷼1﷼5﷼10﷼20

Plural Forms

English Plural

Yemeni rials

Native Plural

ريالات يمنية

Overview

The Yemeni Rial is the currency of Yemen, managed by the Central Bank of Yemen. It has experienced severe devaluation and instability due to the ongoing civil war and economic crisis that began in 2014.

Economy

  • Yemen is a member of Arab League, OIC, Non-Aligned Movement.
  • Main industries include: Crude oil production, Petroleum refining, Small-scale manufacturing, Cotton textiles, Leather goods, Food processing, Handicrafts.
  • Yemen is part of the World Trade Organization.
  • Imports are food and live animals, machinery, equipment, chemicals.
  • Major exports include crude oil, coffee, dried and salted fish, liquefied natural gas.
  • GDP: $21.6 billion (2020 est.).
  • GDP per capita: $690 (2020 est.).
  • Unemployment rate: 13% (2014 est.).
  • Inflation rate: 35% (2020 est.).
  • Main trading partners: China, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, India, Kuwait, Malaysia.
  • Trade agreements: Limited due to ongoing conflict, Arab Free Trade Area (suspended).

History

  • Previous currencies used: North Yemeni rial, South Yemeni dinar, East African shilling (colonial).
  • The rial was introduced in 1990 when North and South Yemen unified, replacing both the North Yemeni rial and South Yemeni dinar. The current crisis has severely impacted the currency's stability.
  • 1990: Unified Yemeni rial introduced after reunification
  • 1995: Currency reform and stabilization efforts
  • 2011: Arab Spring protests begin
  • 2014: Houthi takeover and start of civil war
  • 2016: Central bank operations split between competing authorities
  • 2020-present: Severe economic and humanitarian crisis
  • Exchange rate peg: Free floating (severely devalued).

General Information

  • ISO 4217 Code: YER
  • Symbols: YER/﷼
  • Currency Subunits: 100 fils
  • Central Bank: Central Bank of Yemen (split operations)
  • Monetary Policy: Limited monetary policy effectiveness due to civil war. Multiple competing authorities issue currency, leading to further devaluation.
  • Bills: 50 YER, 100 YER, 200 YER, 250 YER, 500 YER, 1000 YER
  • Coins: 1 rial, 5 rials, 10 rials, 20 rials
  • USD Exchange Rate: Variable (approximately 750-1000+ YER per USD, multiple exchange rates)
  • Pegged To: None (Floating)
  • Capital: Sana'a (de jure), Aden (temporary capital)
  • Population: 31,154,867 (2023 est.)
  • Area: 527,968 km²
  • Languages: Arabic (official), English
  • Time Zones: UTC+3 (Arabia Standard Time)
  • Government Type: In transition (civil war ongoing)
  • Head of Government: President (internationally recognized government), competing authorities
  • Independence: May 22, 1990 (unification of North and South Yemen)
  • Ethnic Groups: Predominantly Arab, Afro-Arab, South Asian, European
  • Religions: Muslim 99.1% (Shia 35%, Sunni 64%), Other 0.9%
  • Literacy Rate: 70.1% (2015 est.)
  • Transport: Sana'a International Airport (limited operations), Aden Airport, damaged road networks, Red Sea and Arabian Sea ports
  • Communications: Severely damaged telecommunications, 27% internet penetration, limited mobile coverage
  • Energy: Oil and gas (production severely reduced), minimal electricity generation
  • Countries Using This Currency: Yemen
  • Data Sources: Central Bank: Central Bank of Yemen (limited operations), Economic Data: World Bank estimates, IMF estimates, UN agencies, Trade Data: Limited official data due to conflict, Demographic Data: UN estimates, World Bank, Geographic Data: Yemen Meteorological Organization (limited operations), Historical Data: Central Bank of Yemen archives (limited access)
  • Last Updated: 2025