Key Facts: Egypt vs Yemen Wages
- Egypt Minimum Wage
- E£29.17/hr ($0.57 USD)
- Yemen Minimum Wage
- ﷼21,000/mo ($88.07 USD)
- Egypt Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- E£6,833 /mo ($134.51 USD)
- Yemen Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ﷼85,000 /mo ($356.45 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministry of Manpower / National Wages Council; 2025 and 2026 announcements verified via JETRO citing Egyptian government sources (2026-05-27), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Yemen economic monitors (2026-02-25)
Egypt 
Yemen
Updated 2026-05-27
The minimum wage in Egypt is roughly 153 times lower than in Yemen in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a lower-middle-income and a low-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $135/mo in Egypt versus $356/mo in Yemen, a 2.7:1 ratio. Egypt has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 6.8% compared to 17.3%.
Egypt's unemployment rate is 6.8% compared to Yemen's 17.3%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Egypt | Yemen |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | E£29.17 $0.57 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | E£7,000 $137.80 | ﷼21,000 $88.07 |
| Minimum wage /yr | E£84,000 $1,653.54 | — |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | E£6,833 /mo $134.51 | ﷼85,000 /mo $356.45 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | E£6,150 /mo $121.06 | ﷼75,000 /mo $314.52 |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Egypt is higher.
Work Week
- Egypt
-
48 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.35x pay
Labour Law No. 12 of 2003 sets maximum working hours at 8 hours/day or 48 hours/week (excluding meal breaks). Overtime premium: 35% during the day, 70% at night. Maximum 2 overtime hours/day. Friday is the default weekly rest day. During Ramadan, working hours are commonly reduced in practice.
- 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 Egypt earns 15237% less per hour in USD terms than one in Yemen.
See this comparison from Yemen's perspective: Yemen vs Egypt
Compare Egypt with...
Egypt vs United States $ 7.25 /hr 
Egypt vs China ¥ 25 /hr 
Egypt vs Germany € 13.9 /hr 
Egypt vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr 
Egypt vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo 
Egypt vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr 
Egypt vs France € 12.02 /hr 
Egypt vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
Egypt vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr 
Egypt vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr 
Egypt vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
Egypt vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr 
Egypt vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo 
Egypt vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr 
Egypt vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr 
Egypt vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr 
Egypt vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr 
Egypt vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr 
Egypt vs Switzerland 
Egypt vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr 
Egypt vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo 
Egypt vs Sweden 
Egypt vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr 
Egypt vs Singapore Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Egypt or Yemen?
In Egypt, the minimum wage is E£29.17/hr ($0.57 USD). In Yemen, it is ﷼21,000/mo ($88.07 USD). Yemen has the higher rate by 15237% 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 Egypt may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much less does the average worker earn in Egypt compared to Yemen?
The average gross salary in Egypt is E£6,833/mo ($134.51 USD), compared to ﷼85,000/mo ($356.45 USD) in Yemen. In USD terms, workers in Egypt earn approximately 165% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Egypt 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 Egypt.
How do work hours compare between Egypt and Yemen?
Both Egypt and Yemen mandate a similar standard work week of 48 hours. When work hours are equal, the country with the higher minimum wage delivers proportionally higher weekly earnings. Standard work week rules set the baseline; actual hours worked often differ based on industry norms and individual employment contracts.