North Yemen: Map & History
North Yemen is a term used to describe the Kingdom of Yemen (1918–1962), the Yemen Arab Republic (1962–1990), and the regimes that preceded them and exercised sovereignty over that region of Yemen.
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Historiographical synthesis & structured realm registry
North Yemen is a term used to describe the Kingdom of Yemen (1918–1962), the Yemen Arab Republic (1962–1990), and the regimes that preceded them and exercised sovereignty over that region of Yemen. Its capital was Sanaa from 1918 to 1948 and again from 1962 to 1990. Located in the southwestern part of the Arabian Peninsula, the area of the region is approximately 136,000 square kilometers, and it used to have a population of about thirteen million people prior to the Yemeni unification. It was bordered to the north by Saudi Arabia, to the south and east by South Yemen, to the west by the Red Sea, and to Bab al-Mandab in the southwest.
Modern Countries Once Part of North Yemen
At its mapped extent, North Yemen covered territory in 1 present-day country. The period shown is when the mapped borders include that country, and the note says how much of it.
Largest Present-Day Cities in Its Territory
Each opens on the live map inside North Yemen's borders of that time.
Derived by testing mapped cities against this polity's dated territorial polygons, so the list is indicative and follows the borders in the source dataset.
North Yemen in Depth
History
At the end of World War I, the Ottoman Empire was collapsing. In 1918, as part of the Armistice of Mudros, the Ottoman Empire withdrew from Yemen. That same year, Zaydi religious leader Imam Yahya declared northern Yemen to be independent state, the Mutawakkilite Kingdom of Yemen.
On September 27, 1962, revolutionaries inspired by the Arab nationalist ideology of United Arab Republic (Egyptian) President Gamal Abdel Nasser deposed the newly crowned King Muhammad al-Badr, took control of Sanaʽa, and established the Yemen Arab Republic (YAR). This coup d'état marked the beginning of the North Yemen Civil War that pitted YAR troops, assisted by the United Arab Republic (Egypt), against Badr's royalist forces, supported by Saudi Arabia and Jordan.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: North Yemen (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Interactive map
North Yemen on the World War I map →
See North Yemen on the day-by-day map of World War I.
Interactive map
North Yemen on the World War II map →
See North Yemen on the day-by-day map of World War II.
North Yemen Map Over Time
Dated world maps on which North Yemen appears, with the other states of the time.
North Yemen Timeline
Key historical inflections from foundation to peak territorial expansion
Expansion to peak recorded area of 181,353 km² in 1922 CE.
North Yemen: Frequently Asked Questions
When did North Yemen exist?
North Yemen is dated to 1919 CE – 1989 CE, in the Industrial era.
What was the capital of North Yemen?
The capital of North Yemen was Sanaa (1918–1948, 1962–1990), Taiz.
How large was North Yemen at its peak?
At its peak in 1922 North Yemen covered about 181,353 km².
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