Key Facts: China vs Yemen Wages
- China Minimum Wage
- ¥25/hr ($3.68 USD)
- Yemen Minimum Wage
- ﷼21,000/mo ($88.07 USD)
- China Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ¥10,343 /mo ($1,522.26 USD)
- Yemen Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ﷼85,000 /mo ($356.45 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (MOHRSS); regional rates verified via china-briefing.com aggregator (April 2026) (2026-05-04), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Yemen economic monitors (2026-02-25)
China 
Yemen
Updated 2026-05-04
The minimum wage in China is roughly 24 times lower than in Yemen in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a upper-middle-income and a low-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $1,522/mo in China versus $356/mo in Yemen, a 4.3:1 ratio. China has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 4.6% compared to 17.3%.
China's unemployment rate is 4.6% compared to Yemen's 17.3%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | China | Yemen |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | ¥25 $3.68 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | ¥2,740 $403.27 | ﷼21,000 $88.07 |
| Minimum wage /yr | ¥32,880 $4,839.21 | — |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | ¥10,343 /mo $1,522.26 | ﷼85,000 /mo $356.45 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | ¥8,274 /mo $1,217.75 | ﷼75,000 /mo $314.52 |
| Median individual income /yr | ¥34,707 /yr $5,108.10 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means China is higher.
Work Week
- China
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 44 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Labour Law sets 40 hours/week standard (8 hrs/day, 5 days). Overtime limited to 36 hours/month. Weekday overtime: 150%, rest day overtime: 200%, statutory holiday overtime: 300%. The '996' culture (9am-9pm, 6 days/week) is widespread in tech but was ruled illegal by the Supreme People's Court in 2021.
- 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 China earns 2293% less per hour in USD terms than one in Yemen. Standard work weeks differ: China mandates 40 hours while Yemen mandates 48 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in China are $147 vs $4,227 in Yemen.
See this comparison from Yemen's perspective: Yemen vs China
Compare China with...
China vs United States $ 7.25 /hr 
China vs Germany € 13.9 /hr 
China vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr 
China vs India ₹ 4,628 /mo 
China vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr 
China vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
China vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr 
China vs Australia A$ 26.44 /hr 
China vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
China vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr 
China vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo 
China vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr 
China vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr 
China vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr 
China vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr 
China vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr 
China vs Switzerland 
China vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr 
China vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo 
China vs Sweden 
China vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr 
China vs Singapore 
China vs Norway 
China vs Malaysia RM 8.72 /hr Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in China or Yemen?
In China, the minimum wage is ¥25/hr ($3.68 USD). In Yemen, it is ﷼21,000/mo ($88.07 USD). Yemen has the higher rate by 2293% 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 China may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much more does the average worker earn in China compared to Yemen?
The average gross salary in China is ¥10,343/mo ($1,522.26 USD), compared to ﷼85,000/mo ($356.45 USD) in Yemen. In USD terms, workers in China earn approximately 327% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between China and Yemen is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in China earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Yemen.
How do work hours compare between China and Yemen?
Yemen has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in China. Workers in China work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in China 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.