Yemen, located on the southwestern edge of the Arabian Peninsula, is facing one of the most severe education crises in the world. More than a decade of conflict, economic collapse and humanitarian emergencies have hurt schooling, especially for girls. While access to education was already uneven before 2015, the war has transformed education from a development issue into an urgent survival priority.

8 facts about girls’ education in Yemen

1. Yemen boasts one of the largest out-of-school populations globally. According to UNICEF, over 4.5 million children are currently out of school, with girls disproportionately impacted due to cultural norms and safety concerns. An additional 1.5 million children are at risk of dropping out, meaning the crisis is still expanding rather than stabilizing.
2. Although enrollment gaps at early grades have narrowed slightly, disparities increase as children grow older. The World Bank reports that girls are significantly less likely than boys to transition into secondary education, particularly in rural areas. This reflects a pattern where access exists at the primary level but retention and progression remain major barriers for girls.
3. Child marriage poses one of the biggest obstacles to girls’ education. According to UNICEF data, 30% of girls in Yemen are married before age 18, and around 9% before age 15. Families facing economic hardship often view early marriage as a coping strategy. Consequently, many girls leave school permanently once married, eliminating future economic opportunities.
4. Since the escalation of the conflict in 2015, Yemen’s education infrastructure has been severely damaged. UNICEF reveals that more than 2,700 schools are unusable – either destroyed, damaged, or used for military purposes or as shelters for displaced families. This has drastically reduced available classroom space, notably in rural and conflict-affected regions.
5. Geography and security continue to shape access. Approximately 70% of Yemen’s population lives in rural areas, where schools may be hours away. For girls, distance is not just an inconvenience, it’s an obstacle tied to safety and cultural expectations. Families are often unwilling to send daughters to schools that are far away or lack female teachers and gender-segregated facilities.
6. Even when schools are open, learning conditions are relatively poor. The World Bank and humanitarian agencies found that many teachers have gone years without regular salaries, leading to absenteeism and declining instructional quality. This disproportionately affects girls, who are more likely to drop out when school quality declines.
7. Despite these problems, large-scale interventions are helping keep children in school. Save the Children operates education programs across Yemen, including temporary learning spaces, accelerated learning programs and teacher training for children who have missed years of schooling. In 2022 alone, they assisted more than 10 million people in Yemen, over half of them children
8. Education in Yemen is no longer just a social service, it’s critical to the country’s long-term recovery. UNICEF emphasizes that “education is a lifeline for children in Yemen,” providing not only learning but also psychological support and protection from exploitation.

For girls, education is linked to delayed marriage, improved health outcomes and increased economic participation. Without sustained investment, experts warn that Yemen risks losing an entire generation of girls to illiteracy and poverty.

Overall, girls’ education in Yemen has experienced some targeted improvements through international support. However, general conditions remain fragile. The data show a clear pattern: access at early stages, followed by steep drop-offs due to conflict, poverty and social norms. While organizations and donors continue to establish programs, the scale of the crisis means that progress will depend on both sustained humanitarian funding and long-term political stability.

– Jeff Zhou
Photo: Flickr