Yemen
YemenWhat this score means
- Extreme75 to 100
- Severe and systematic. Device search, interception and detention over online activity are documented rather than theoretical. Reconsider what you carry and what you say.
- High50 to 74
- Substantial and consistently evidenced measures. Device inspection, monitored networks or restricted services should be expected rather than treated as unlikely.
- Caution25 to 49
- Some risk, and manageable with precautions. Measures are evidenced but are narrow, inconsistently applied, or the picture is mixed.
- Low0 to 24
- Ordinary precautions. No systematic device search, network restriction or prosecution of visitors for online speech is evidenced.
Government travel advice is written for one citizenry, so the same country carries a different assessment depending on your passport. Change it in the header.
Showing the baseline, which weights every issuer equally. No government in our corpus publishes travel advice written for you, so this is not addressed to you specifically.
For United Kingdom nationals: 72 (high). This leans on advice written for British nationals, and weights other issuers lower.Adjusted by 14 percent for the relationship between United Kingdom and this destination.The United Kingdom maintains a sanctions regime in respect of Yemen under the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018. Source.For most passports in this region, Yemen requires a visa in advance, applied for and vetted before travel. Summarised across 1 passports, which do not all face the same rule. Source.A sanctions regime is not a measure of cyber risk. It is used as a bounded proxy for the closer attention nationals of a sanctioning state are reported to receive on entry, and it can move a score by a limited amount in either direction, never replace it.
For Europe nationals: 72 (high). This leans on advice written for German nationals, and weights other issuers lower.Adjusted by 14 percent for the relationship between Europe and this destination.The European Union maintains restrictive measures in this respect: Restrictive measures in view of the situation in Yemen Source.For most passports in this region, Yemen requires a visa in advance, applied for and vetted before travel. Summarised across 43 passports, which do not all face the same rule. Source.A sanctions regime is not a measure of cyber risk. It is used as a bounded proxy for the closer attention nationals of a sanctioning state are reported to receive on entry, and it can move a score by a limited amount in either direction, never replace it.
For United States nationals: 65 (high). This leans on advice written for US nationals, and weights other issuers lower.Adjusted by 4 percent for the relationship between United States and this destination.For most passports in this region, Yemen requires a visa in advance, applied for and vetted before travel. Summarised across 1 passports, which do not all face the same rule. Source.A sanctions regime is not a measure of cyber risk. It is used as a bounded proxy for the closer attention nationals of a sanctioning state are reported to receive on entry, and it can move a score by a limited amount in either direction, never replace it.
For Canada nationals: 65 (high). This leans on advice written for Canadian nationals, and weights other issuers lower.Adjusted by 4 percent for the relationship between Canada and this destination.For most passports in this region, Yemen requires a visa in advance, applied for and vetted before travel. Summarised across 1 passports, which do not all face the same rule. Source.A sanctions regime is not a measure of cyber risk. It is used as a bounded proxy for the closer attention nationals of a sanctioning state are reported to receive on entry, and it can move a score by a limited amount in either direction, never replace it.
For Latin America and the Caribbean nationals: 66 (high). No government in our corpus writes travel advice for Latin America and the Caribbean, so this starts from the neutral baseline and is then adjusted for the relationship below.Adjusted by 4 percent for the relationship between Latin America and the Caribbean and this destination.For most passports in this region, Yemen requires a visa in advance, applied for and vetted before travel. Summarised across 33 passports, which do not all face the same rule. Source.A sanctions regime is not a measure of cyber risk. It is used as a bounded proxy for the closer attention nationals of a sanctioning state are reported to receive on entry, and it can move a score by a limited amount in either direction, never replace it.
For Africa nationals: 66 (high). No government in our corpus writes travel advice for Africa, so this starts from the neutral baseline and is then adjusted for the relationship below.Adjusted by 4 percent for the relationship between Africa and this destination.For most passports in this region, Yemen requires a visa in advance, applied for and vetted before travel. Summarised across 54 passports, which do not all face the same rule. Source.A sanctions regime is not a measure of cyber risk. It is used as a bounded proxy for the closer attention nationals of a sanctioning state are reported to receive on entry, and it can move a score by a limited amount in either direction, never replace it.
For Middle East nationals: 66 (high). No government in our corpus writes travel advice for Middle East, so this starts from the neutral baseline and is then adjusted for the relationship below.Adjusted by 4 percent for the relationship between Middle East and this destination.For most passports in this region, Yemen requires a visa in advance, applied for and vetted before travel. Summarised across 17 passports, which do not all face the same rule. Source.A sanctions regime is not a measure of cyber risk. It is used as a bounded proxy for the closer attention nationals of a sanctioning state are reported to receive on entry, and it can move a score by a limited amount in either direction, never replace it.
For South Asia nationals: 66 (high). No government in our corpus writes travel advice for South Asia, so this starts from the neutral baseline and is then adjusted for the relationship below.Adjusted by 4 percent for the relationship between South Asia and this destination.For most passports in this region, Yemen requires a visa in advance, applied for and vetted before travel. Summarised across 14 passports, which do not all face the same rule. Source.A sanctions regime is not a measure of cyber risk. It is used as a bounded proxy for the closer attention nationals of a sanctioning state are reported to receive on entry, and it can move a score by a limited amount in either direction, never replace it.
For East and South East Asia nationals: 66 (high). No government in our corpus writes travel advice for East and South East Asia, so this starts from the neutral baseline and is then adjusted for the relationship below.Adjusted by 4 percent for the relationship between East and South East Asia and this destination.For most passports in this region, Yemen requires a visa in advance, applied for and vetted before travel. Summarised across 19 passports, which do not all face the same rule. Source.A sanctions regime is not a measure of cyber risk. It is used as a bounded proxy for the closer attention nationals of a sanctioning state are reported to receive on entry, and it can move a score by a limited amount in either direction, never replace it.
For Oceania nationals: 66 (high). No government in our corpus writes travel advice for Oceania, so this starts from the neutral baseline and is then adjusted for the relationship below.Adjusted by 4 percent for the relationship between Oceania and this destination.For most passports in this region, Yemen requires a visa in advance, applied for and vetted before travel. Summarised across 14 passports, which do not all face the same rule. Source.A sanctions regime is not a measure of cyber risk. It is used as a bounded proxy for the closer attention nationals of a sanctioning state are reported to receive on entry, and it can move a score by a limited amount in either direction, never replace it.
Dimensions
Each dimension is scored independently, because the traveller who cares about legal exposure for what they have posted is often not the one carrying client data. Higher means more risk.
Speech and legal exposure
What legal risk attaches to what I have said online, or say while I am there?
good confidence8 independent sources
Why this score (10 sources)
Freedom House 2026 scored YEM 1 of 4 on freedom to express personal views on sensitive topics without fear of surveillance or retribution.
Freedom House, Freedom in the World · observed 2026-01-01
Freedom House 2026 scored YEM 0 of 4 on free and independent media.
Freedom House, Freedom in the World · observed 2026-01-01
V-Dem Digital Society Project 2025 scored YEM 2.04 of 4 on how routinely the government censors political content on social media, where higher is freer.
V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, Digital Society Project · observed 2025-12-31
V-Dem Digital Society Project 2025 scored YEM 0.89 of 4 on how often people are arrested for political content they posted online, where higher is freer.
V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, Digital Society Project · observed 2025-12-31
Yemen - Level 4: Do Not Travel
US Department of State, Travel Advisories · observed 2026-10-10 · written for USA nationals
FCDO advice for Yemen: avoid_all_travel_to_whole_country.
UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Foreign travel advice · observed 2026-07-31 · written for GBR nationals
Yemen: Avoid all travel
Global Affairs Canada, Travel advice and advisories · observed 2026-10-13 · written for CAN nationals
Yemen (Jemen): Reisewarnung: travel warning in force
Auswärtiges Amt, Reise- und Sicherheitshinweise · observed 2026-09-09 · written for DEU nationals
A security force affiliated with the Security Administration of Huraidha District arrested Kashmeem on the street after days of surveillance, a raid on his home, and the intimidation of his family—acts which appear to be in retaliation for his journalistic work and opinions he expressed on social media.
Committee to Protect Journalists, via a site scoped search · observed 2025-04-18 · extracted by language model
Credible sources reported that the Houthis have carried out a wave of arrests and rounded up scores of people in northern governorates for peacefully celebrating or posting on social media content related to the 26th September anniversary.
CIVICUS Monitor country updates · observed 2025-10-28 · extracted by language model
Report an inaccuracy (corrections need a link to the reporting, statute or research that shows it).
1 excluded source
- SMEX, via a site scoped search, observed 2023-11-28: aged out after 3 years.
Border device risk
How likely is my device to be searched, imaged, or seized at the border, and can I be compelled to unlock it?
good confidence5 independent sources
No reports were found of devices being searched, imaged or seized at this border, or of travellers being compelled to unlock them. The score below is drawn from general indicators for this country rather than from anything observed about this risk, so it describes an absence of reports rather than evidence that the risk is absent.
What the score rests on (5 indirect sources)
Freedom House 2026 scored YEM 0 of 4 on due process in civil and criminal matters.
Freedom House, Freedom in the World · observed 2026-01-01
Yemen - Level 4: Do Not Travel
US Department of State, Travel Advisories · observed 2026-10-10 · written for USA nationals
FCDO advice for Yemen: avoid_all_travel_to_whole_country.
UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Foreign travel advice · observed 2026-07-31 · written for GBR nationals
Yemen: Avoid all travel
Global Affairs Canada, Travel advice and advisories · observed 2026-10-13 · written for CAN nationals
Yemen (Jemen): Reisewarnung: travel warning in force
Auswärtiges Amt, Reise- und Sicherheitshinweise · observed 2026-09-09 · written for DEU nationals
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1 excluded source
- SMEX, via a site scoped search, observed 2023-11-28: aged out after 3 years.
Network threat
How hostile is the network environment to a foreign visitor, from state actors and criminals alike?
good confidence2 independent sources
Why this score (2 sources)
ITU Global Cybersecurity Index 2024, Technical pillar: 1.90 of 20.
International Telecommunication Union, Global Cybersecurity Index · observed 2024-12-31
紛争中のイエメンで活動する実在しない医師、軍人、国連職員等になりすまし、Facebook、X（旧Twitter）、Instagram等のSNS、LINE等のメッセージアプリを通じて親密になった後に、荷物の輸送費・日本への渡航費・契約解除金・病院への治療費等様々な名目で高額の送金を求める詐欺の手口が多数確認されています。
Our translation: Many cases have been confirmed of a scam method in which, impersonating non-existent doctors, military personnel, UN staff and others operating in conflict-ridden Yemen, becoming intimate through social networking services such as Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram and messaging apps such as LINE, and then requesting large remittances under various pretexts such as transportation costs for luggage, travel expenses to Japan, contract cancellation fees and hospital treatment costs.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Overseas travel safety information · observed 2026-10-16 · written for JPN nationals · extracted by language model
Report an inaccuracy (corrections need a link to the reporting, statute or research that shows it).
Connectivity continuity
How likely am I to lose access to the internet, or to the specific tools I depend on?
good confidence9 independent sources
Why this score (17 sources)
V-Dem Digital Society Project 2025 scored YEM 2.32 of 4 on how often the government shuts down domestic access to the internet, where higher is freer.
V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, Digital Society Project · observed 2025-12-31
V-Dem Digital Society Project 2025 scored YEM 1.41 of 4 on how routinely the government filters internet content in practice, where higher is freer.
V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, Digital Society Project · observed 2025-12-31
OONI recorded 0 confirmed and 5,794 anomalous results across 64,925 web connectivity measurements in YEM over the 30 days to 2026-10-16, a confirmed blocking rate of 0.00 percent.
Open Observatory of Network Interference, OONI measurement data · observed 2026-10-16
Yemen - Level 4: Do Not Travel
US Department of State, Travel Advisories · observed 2026-10-10 · written for USA nationals
FCDO advice for Yemen: avoid_all_travel_to_whole_country.
UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Foreign travel advice · observed 2026-07-31 · written for GBR nationals
Yemen: Avoid all travel
Global Affairs Canada, Travel advice and advisories · observed 2026-10-13 · written for CAN nationals
Yemen (Jemen): Reisewarnung: travel warning in force
Auswärtiges Amt, Reise- und Sicherheitshinweise · observed 2026-09-09 · written for DEU nationals
These include frequent internet shutdowns, extensive surveillance of dissidents, and censorship of news and social media platforms, limiting communication with friends and family, online learning, remote work, and economic opportunities.
Global Voices (Advox), via a site scoped search · observed 2025-03-21 · extracted by language model
On September 6, Barran Press, which is based in the government-controlled city of Marib , said users across the country had been unable to access its website for several days without a virtual private network.
Committee to Protect Journalists, via a site scoped search · observed 2025-09-10 · extracted by language model
Despite the Socotris commitment to their native language, the absence of essential technological services like accessible internet restricts their expression, negatively impacting the survival of the Socotri language.
Global Voices (Advox), via a site scoped search · observed 2024-01-17 · extracted by language model
IODA detected 1 internet outage event affecting Yemen in the 7 days to 2026-09-07, with an aggregate disruption score of 51.
Georgia Tech Internet Intelligence Lab, Internet Outage Detection and Analysis · observed 2026-09-07
IODA detected 1 internet outage event affecting Yemen in the 7 days to 2026-09-06, with an aggregate disruption score of 51.
Georgia Tech Internet Intelligence Lab, Internet Outage Detection and Analysis · observed 2026-09-06
IODA detected 1 internet outage event affecting Yemen in the 7 days to 2026-09-05, with an aggregate disruption score of 51.
Georgia Tech Internet Intelligence Lab, Internet Outage Detection and Analysis · observed 2026-09-05
IODA detected 1 internet outage event affecting Yemen in the 7 days to 2026-09-04, with an aggregate disruption score of 51.
Georgia Tech Internet Intelligence Lab, Internet Outage Detection and Analysis · observed 2026-09-04
IODA detected 1 internet outage event affecting Yemen in the 7 days to 2026-09-03, with an aggregate disruption score of 51.
Georgia Tech Internet Intelligence Lab, Internet Outage Detection and Analysis · observed 2026-09-03
IODA detected 1 internet outage event affecting Yemen in the 7 days to 2026-09-02, with an aggregate disruption score of 51.
Georgia Tech Internet Intelligence Lab, Internet Outage Detection and Analysis · observed 2026-09-02
IODA detected 1 internet outage event affecting Yemen in the 7 days to 2026-09-01, with an aggregate disruption score of 51.
Georgia Tech Internet Intelligence Lab, Internet Outage Detection and Analysis · observed 2026-09-01
Report an inaccuracy (corrections need a link to the reporting, statute or research that shows it).
2 excluded sources
- SMEX, via a site scoped search, observed 2023-08-24: aged out after 3 years.
- ARTICLE 19, via a site scoped search, observed 2023-11-24: aged out after 3 years.
Encryption and VPN legality
Are VPNs and strong encryption lawful, and can I be required to install an application or hand over keys?
moderate confidence1 independent source
No law or enforcement action was found restricting the use of a VPN or strong encryption here. The score below is drawn from general indicators for this country rather than from anything observed about this risk, so it describes an absence of reports rather than evidence that the risk is absent.
What the score rests on (1 indirect source)
V-Dem Digital Society Project 2025 scored YEM 1.80 of 4 on whether the government regulates the internet in a way consistent with international human rights standards, where higher is freer. This does not establish whether encryption or VPN use is lawful. It measures internet regulation in general, and is used as indirect evidence because the only survey that reads encryption law directly was published in 2019.
V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, Digital Society Project · observed 2025-12-31
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Surveillance and interception
How comprehensively are communications intercepted, retained, and monitored, and is commercial spyware in use?
good confidence5 independent sources
Why this score (7 sources)
Freedom House 2026 scored YEM 1 of 4 on freedom to express personal views on sensitive topics without fear of surveillance or retribution.
Freedom House, Freedom in the World · observed 2026-01-01
V-Dem Digital Society Project 2025 scored YEM 1.63 of 4 on how comprehensively the government monitors social media and private online communication, where higher is freer.
V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, Digital Society Project · observed 2025-12-31
V-Dem Digital Society Project 2025 scored YEM 3.91 of 4 on how far privacy protection law shields communications from government access, where higher is freer. This measures what privacy law permits rather than what monitoring is practised, so it is read here as a constraint on interception rather than a measurement of it.
V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, Digital Society Project · observed 2025-12-31
A security force affiliated with the Security Administration of Huraidha District arrested Kashmeem on the street after days of surveillance, a raid on his home, and the intimidation of his family—acts which appear to be in retaliation for his journalistic work and opinions he expressed on social media.
Committee to Protect Journalists, via a site scoped search · observed 2025-04-18 · extracted by language model
These include frequent internet shutdowns, extensive surveillance of dissidents, and censorship of news and social media platforms, limiting communication with friends and family, online learning, remote work, and economic opportunities.
Global Voices (Advox), via a site scoped search · observed 2025-03-21 · extracted by language model
Right to privacy, Telecommunications, Regulation of evidence collection Article 53 The state shall guarantee the freedom and confidentiality of mail, telephone, telegram and all other means of communication, none of which may be censored, searched, exposed, delayed or confiscated except in cases specified by law and according to a court order.
Comparative Constitutions Project · observed 2026-10-16 · extracted by language model
No person can be put under surveillance unless in accordance with the law.
Comparative Constitutions Project · observed 2026-10-16 · extracted by language model
Report an inaccuracy (corrections need a link to the reporting, statute or research that shows it).
Data jurisdiction
What happens to corporate or client data I carry into the jurisdiction?
moderate confidence1 independent source
Why this score (1 source)
V-Dem Digital Society Project 2025 scored YEM 3.91 of 4 on how far privacy protection law shields communications from government access, where higher is freer.
V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, Digital Society Project · observed 2025-12-31
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Trend
The overall score is up 4.4 points over 61 days, from 59.1 to 63.5. Most movement is the event overlay decaying rather than anything happening: a news signal loses half its weight every three weeks, so a score drifts back toward its structural baseline on its own. A step that holds is the one worth reading.
Check this yourself
These are not inputs to the score for Yemen. They are where to look if you want to test what is above against something we did not use.
- OONI ExplorerMeasured tests of website and app blocking, updated continuously by volunteers running probes in country. Not used in our scores: its licence forbids commercial use.
- IODA outage recordThe full outage history behind any continuity events shown above, including the measurement methods that detected them.
- FCDO travel adviceThe UK government view, written for UK nationals.
- US State Department travel advisoriesThe US government view, written for US nationals.
Sources
This assessment draws on 14 sources: Auswärtiges Amt, Reise- und Sicherheitshinweise; CIVICUS Monitor country updates; Committee to Protect Journalists, via a site scoped search; Comparative Constitutions Project; Freedom House, Freedom in the World; Georgia Tech Internet Intelligence Lab, Internet Outage Detection and Analysis; Global Affairs Canada, Travel advice and advisories; Global Voices (Advox), via a site scoped search; International Telecommunication Union, Global Cybersecurity Index; Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Overseas travel safety information; Open Observatory of Network Interference, OONI measurement data; UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Foreign travel advice; US Department of State, Travel Advisories; V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, Digital Society Project. Every contributing claim is quoted with its origin and date above. Model version 0.12.0, computed 2026-10-16.
If something here is wrong, say so. Corrections are handled in public, and we correct because the evidence is wrong, not because someone objects.