What is the size of Yemen? (2024)

# Summary The article reveals that Yemen's commonly cited size of 555,000 square kilometers is significantly inaccurate, with the correct measurement being approximately 456,000 square kilometers based on Google Maps calculations. The misinformation originated from a 1991 Yemeni statistical yearbook that erroneously extended the northern border to the 20th latitude for propaganda purposes, and this inflated figure was perpetuated through Wikipedia and other sources. The CIA World Factbook's figure of 527,968 square kilometers stems from incorrectly summing outdated measurements of North and South Yemen that were themselves based on century-old Ottoman Empire territory data, demonstrating how geographical errors can persist unchecked across authoritative sources.