Aden — A newly released report by the World Bank has placed Yemen among the poorest countries in the world, warning that the war-torn nation is edging closer to becoming the poorest globally. 

The Poverty and Equity Assessment 2024, published during the Spring Meetings of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund, ranks Yemen as the 12th poorest country worldwide, alongside Afghanistan, Haiti, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, and several Sahel nations.

The report highlights that Yemen’s poverty rate has surged dramatically due to a decade-long conflict, widespread food insecurity, and economic collapse. Millions of Yemenis are facing extreme hardship, with over 80% of the population requiring humanitarian assistance. The World Bank warns that if current trends continue, Yemen could soon fall to the bottom of the global poverty rankings.

“Yemen was already one of the poorest countries before the war,” the report notes. “Ten years of conflict have devastated livelihoods, displaced millions, and eroded basic services, pushing the country into a state of chronic crisis”.

The assessment also underscores the impact of inflation, currency depreciation, and disrupted public services, which have compounded the suffering of ordinary Yemenis. The collapse of banking infrastructure and limited access to international aid have further deepened the crisis.

Humanitarian organizations have echoed the report’s findings, urging international donors to increase support and calling for renewed diplomatic efforts to end the conflict. The World Bank emphasized that rebuilding Yemen’s economy will require sustained peace, institutional reform, and targeted poverty alleviation programs.

The report serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of prolonged conflict and the urgent need for coordinated global action to prevent Yemen from sliding further into destitution.