Key Facts: Cuba vs Yemen Wages
- Cuba Minimum Wage
- $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD)
- Yemen Minimum Wage
- ﷼21,000/mo ($88.07 USD)
- Cuba Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- $MN6,649 /mo ($16.22 USD)
- Yemen Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ﷼85,000 /mo ($356.45 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministerio de Trabajo y Seguridad Social (MTSS) — Cuba (2026-02-25), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Yemen economic monitors (2026-02-25)
Cuba
Yemen
Updated 2026-02-25
The minimum wage in Cuba is roughly 2979 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: $16/mo in Cuba versus $356/mo in Yemen, a 22.0:1 ratio. Cuba has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 1.8% compared to 17.3%.
Cuba's unemployment rate is 1.8% compared to Yemen's 17.3%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Cuba | Yemen |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | $MN12.12 $0.03 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | $MN2,100 $5.12 | ﷼21,000 $88.07 |
| Minimum wage /yr | $MN25,200 $61.46 | — |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | $MN6,649 /mo $16.22 | ﷼85,000 /mo $356.45 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | $MN6,300 /mo $15.37 | ﷼75,000 /mo $314.52 |
| Median individual income /yr | $MN48,000 /yr $117.07 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Cuba is higher.
Work Week
- Cuba
-
44 hrs/wk standard
Max 44 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.25x pay
Labour Code sets standard working hours at 8 hours/day and 44 hours/week. Overtime is paid at 125% of normal rate. Some sectors work 40 hours/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 Cuba earns 297810% less per hour in USD terms than one in Yemen. Standard work weeks differ: Cuba mandates 44 hours while Yemen mandates 48 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Cuba are $1 vs $4,227 in Yemen.
See this comparison from Yemen's perspective: Yemen vs Cuba
Compare Cuba with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Cuba or Yemen?
In Cuba, the minimum wage is $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD). In Yemen, it is ﷼21,000/mo ($88.07 USD). Yemen has the higher rate by 297810% 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 Cuba may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much less does the average worker earn in Cuba compared to Yemen?
The average gross salary in Cuba is $MN6,649/mo ($16.22 USD), compared to ﷼85,000/mo ($356.45 USD) in Yemen. In USD terms, workers in Cuba earn approximately 2098% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Cuba and Yemen is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Yemen earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Cuba.
How do work hours compare between Cuba and Yemen?
Yemen has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 44 hours in Cuba. Workers in Cuba work 44 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Cuba 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.