In its latest country study titled “Development Challenges in Yemen”, The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) ranked Yemen among the five poorest countries in the world, citing the devastating impact of prolonged conflict, economic collapse, and widespread humanitarian suffering.
ESCWA study found that Yemen’s poverty levels have reached unprecedented depths, with millions of citizens facing chronic food insecurity, lack of access to basic services, and near-total economic paralysis.
Yemen’s GDP per capita, according to the report, has plummeted, and the country’s economic indicators now place it alongside nations such as South Sudan, Somalia, and Haiti in terms of extreme poverty.
ESCWA attributes this decline to over a decade of armed conflict, institutional fragmentation, and the collapse of public infrastructure.
The study also warns that humanitarian aid alone cannot reverse the trajectory of poverty in Yemen, urging international stakeholders to prioritize sustainable development, peace building, and economic recovery.
The report emphasizes that women and children are disproportionately affected, with rising malnutrition rates and limited access to healthcare.
ESCWA’s findings align with recent assessments by the World Bank, which also placed Yemen among the most impoverished nations globally, noting that data scarcity and ongoing conflict make it difficult to fully quantify the extent of poverty.