Key Facts: Ecuador vs Yemen Wages
- Ecuador Minimum Wage
- $1.96/hr
- Yemen Minimum Wage
- ﷼21,000/mo ($88.07 USD)
- Ecuador Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- $650 /mo ($650 USD)
- Yemen Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ﷼85,000 /mo ($356.45 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministerio del Trabajo — Ecuador; 2025 figure verified via Wikipedia List of countries by minimum wage (eff 2025-01-01) (2026-05-04), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Yemen economic monitors (2026-02-25)
Ecuador
Yemen
Updated 2026-05-04
The minimum wage in Ecuador is roughly 45 times lower than in Yemen in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a upper-middle-income and a low-income economy. Average salaries are higher in Ecuador at $650/mo compared to $356/mo in Yemen. Ecuador has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 3.3% compared to 17.3%.
Ecuador's unemployment rate is 3.3% compared to Yemen's 17.3%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Ecuador | Yemen |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | $1.96 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | $470 | ﷼21,000 $88.07 |
| Minimum wage /yr | $6,580 | — |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | $650 /mo | ﷼85,000 /mo $356.45 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | $585 /mo | ﷼75,000 /mo $314.52 |
| Median individual income /yr | $4,800 /yr | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Ecuador is higher.
Work Week
- Ecuador
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 40 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Código del Trabajo sets the standard workweek at 40 hours (8 hours/day, 5 days). Overtime (horas suplementarias) is paid at 50% premium for day hours and 100% premium for night hours (7pm-6am) and weekends/holidays. Maximum 4 hours of overtime per day, 12 hours per week. Night work (7pm-6am) has a 25% surcharge even within regular hours.
- 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 Ecuador earns 4393% less per hour in USD terms than one in Yemen. Standard work weeks differ: Ecuador mandates 40 hours while Yemen mandates 48 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Ecuador are $78 vs $4,227 in Yemen.
See this comparison from Yemen's perspective: Yemen vs Ecuador
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Ecuador or Yemen?
In Ecuador, the minimum wage is $1.96/hr. In Yemen, it is ﷼21,000/mo ($88.07 USD). Yemen has the higher rate by 4393% 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 Ecuador may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much more does the average worker earn in Ecuador compared to Yemen?
The average gross salary in Ecuador is $650/mo, compared to ﷼85,000/mo ($356.45 USD) in Yemen. In USD terms, workers in Ecuador earn approximately 82% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Ecuador and Yemen is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Ecuador earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Yemen.
How do work hours compare between Ecuador and Yemen?
Yemen has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in Ecuador. Workers in Ecuador work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Ecuador 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.