Pray for Yemen
Learn about and pray for Yemen in just 5 minutes per week!
Receive one email per week for 13 weeks about Yemen’s history, geography, persecution profile, and largest unreached people groups.
WEEK 1
Prayercast
Pray along with a local believer for their nation.
WEEK 2
Operation World
Pray through Operation World's country profile.
WEEK 3
World Watch List
Pray through the country's persecution profile.
WEEKS 4-13
People Groups
Pray for the country's 10 largest unreached people groups.
Introduction
Yemen was historically known as Arabia Felix, or the “Happy Land.” Now it is the poorest Arab nation facing a devastating humanitarian crisis. Decades of war and instability have torn it apart, with civilians bearing the brunt of violence and suffering. The country is plagued by famine, cholera outbreaks, and severe water shortages, exacerbated by qat consumption. Terrorist groups exploit the chaos.
Yemen remains one of the least evangelized nations globally, with only 0.2% of the population following Christ and severe persecution for believers. Despite dire challenges, the Church in Yemen is growing through secret gatherings and social media, offering hope in the midst of adversity.
Read on to learn how you can pray for Yemen.
Fast Facts
Capital City: Sanaa
Population: 34 million (99.7% unreached)
People Groups: 29
10/40 Window: Yes
Major People Groups: 46% Northern Yemeni Arab; 42% Southern Yemeni Arab
Major Religions: Muslim 100%
Language: Arabic
GDP Per Capita: $2,500
Literacy Rate: 70%
Did you know? Yemen is home to unique mud-brick skyscrapers, called “qasabas,” that can reach several stories high.
Pray for the unreached people groups of Yemen
With 99.7% of its population living in an unreached people group, Yemen is one of the least reached countries in the world.
Below are the 10 largest unreached people groups in Yemen:
| Name | Religion | Population |
| 1. Northern Yemeni Arab | Islam | 15,004,000 |
| 2. Yemeni Arab | Islam | 7,764,000 |
| 3. Tihami Arab | Islam | 5,137,000 |
| 4. Hidrami Arab | Islam | 2,200,000 |
| 5. Muhamasheen | Islam | 1,735,000 |
| 6. Somali | Islam | 516,000 |
| 7. Sudanese Arab | Islam | 438,000 |
| 8. South Asian | Hinduism | 365,000 |
| 9. Omani Arab | Islam | 174,000 |
| 10. Socotran | Islam | 128,000 |
Pray for Christians being persecuted
Yemen is ranked #5 on the 2024 World Watch List published by Open Doors.
Yemen is strongly tribal and it’s illegal to convert from Islam to Christianity. Yemeni Christian converts are at great risk of being ostracized, expelled, or even killed by their families, clans and tribes.
Islamic extremist groups threaten so-called ‘apostates’ with death if they do not return to Islam. In other areas, including those controlled by the Islamist Houthis, converts risk imprisonment. In detention centers, Christian detainees have reportedly suffered physical and mental torture.
World Watch List
You can learn about Christian persecution and pray for our brothers and sisters who being persecuted around the world by praying through the Open Doors’ World Watch List.
“[God] has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.”
Pray for Yemen
“Slow drip” your learning and prayers for Yemen: its history, geography, persecution profile, and largest unreached people groups.