Key Facts: Belgium vs Yemen Wages
- Belgium Minimum Wage
- €13.30/hr ($15.49 USD)
- Yemen Minimum Wage
- ﷼21,000/mo ($88.07 USD)
- Belgium Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- €3,886 /mo ($4,525.45 USD)
- Yemen Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ﷼85,000 /mo ($356.45 USD)
- Data Sources
- SPF Emploi, Travail et Concertation Sociale; 2026 figure verified via Wikipedia EU member states by minimum wage table (eff 2026-04-01) (2026-05-04), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Yemen economic monitors (2026-02-25)
Belgium
Yemen
Updated 2026-05-04
The minimum wage in Belgium is roughly 6 times lower than in Yemen in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a high-income and a low-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $4,525/mo in Belgium versus $356/mo in Yemen, a 12.7:1 ratio. Belgium has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 5.9% compared to 17.3%.
Belgium's unemployment rate is 5.9% compared to Yemen's 17.3%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Belgium | Yemen |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | €13.30 $15.49 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | €2,189.81 $2,550.15 | ﷼21,000 $88.07 |
| Minimum wage /yr | €26,277.72 $30,601.75 | — |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | €3,886 /mo $4,525.45 | ﷼85,000 /mo $356.45 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | €2,450 /mo $2,853.15 | ﷼75,000 /mo $314.52 |
| Median individual income /yr | €33,000 /yr $38,430.19 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Belgium is higher.
Work Week
- Belgium
-
38 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Standard workweek is 38 hours (Labour Act). Daily maximum is 8 hours (9 hours with flexible schedules). Overtime requires authorization and must be compensated at 150% on weekdays and 200% on Sundays/public holidays. Compensatory time off is also required. EU Working Time Directive caps average at 48 hrs/week.
- Yemen
-
48 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Labour Law sets 48 hours/week. Thursday–Friday is the traditional weekend. Normal labour law enforcement has effectively ceased. Informal employment — petty trade, agriculture, and subsistence activities — dominates the economy.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker in Belgium earns 469% less per hour in USD terms than one in Yemen. Standard work weeks differ: Belgium mandates 38 hours while Yemen mandates 48 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Belgium are $589 vs $4,227 in Yemen.
See this comparison from Yemen's perspective: Yemen vs Belgium
Compare Belgium with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Belgium or Yemen?
In Belgium, the minimum wage is €13.30/hr ($15.49 USD). In Yemen, it is ﷼21,000/mo ($88.07 USD). Yemen has the higher rate by 469% in USD terms. That nominal gap does not account for local prices; see the purchasing power comparison below for a cost-of-living-adjusted view. Workers in Belgium may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much more does the average worker earn in Belgium compared to Yemen?
The average gross salary in Belgium is €3,886/mo ($4,525.45 USD), compared to ﷼85,000/mo ($356.45 USD) in Yemen. In USD terms, workers in Belgium earn approximately 1170% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Belgium and Yemen is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Belgium earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Yemen.
How do work hours compare between Belgium and Yemen?
Yemen has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 38 hours in Belgium. Workers in Belgium work 38 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Belgium working fewer hours may have comparable or better effective hourly earnings depending on the wage levels of each country. Total annual compensation depends on both the wage rate and the number of hours required.