Key Facts: Eritrea vs Yemen Wages
- Eritrea Minimum Wage
- Nfk600/mo ($40 USD)
- Yemen Minimum Wage
- ﷼21,000/mo ($88.07 USD)
- Eritrea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Nfk6,000 /mo ($400 USD)
- Yemen Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ﷼85,000 /mo ($356.45 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / OHCHR Eritrea reports (2026-02-25), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Yemen economic monitors (2026-02-25)
Eritrea 
Yemen
Updated 2026-02-25
The minimum wage in Eritrea is 55% lower than in Yemen in USD terms, though average salaries tell a different story. Average salaries are higher in Eritrea at $400/mo compared to $356/mo in Yemen. Eritrea has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 6.0% compared to 17.3%.
Eritrea's unemployment rate is 6.0% compared to Yemen's 17.3%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Eritrea | Yemen |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /mo | Nfk600 $40 | ﷼21,000 $88.07 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | Nfk6,000 /mo $400 | ﷼85,000 /mo $356.45 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | Nfk5,400 /mo $360 | ﷼75,000 /mo $314.52 |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Eritrea is higher.
Work Week
- Eritrea
-
44 hrs/wk standard
Labour Law sets 44 hours/week for civilian workers (8 hours/day, 5.5 days). However, the national service program operates under military regulations outside normal labour law. No reliable enforcement or monitoring data is available.
- 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.
• WAGE TRAJECTORY (USD/mo)
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker in Eritrea earns 120% less per hour in USD terms than one in Yemen. Standard work weeks differ: Eritrea mandates 44 hours while Yemen mandates 48 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Eritrea are $1,760 vs $4,227 in Yemen.
See this comparison from Yemen's perspective: Yemen vs Eritrea
Compare Eritrea with...
Eritrea vs United States $ 7.25 /hr 
Eritrea vs China ¥ 25 /hr 
Eritrea vs Germany € 13.9 /hr 
Eritrea vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr 
Eritrea vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo 
Eritrea vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr 
Eritrea vs France € 12.02 /hr 
Eritrea vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
Eritrea vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr 
Eritrea vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr 
Eritrea vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
Eritrea vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr 
Eritrea vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo 
Eritrea vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr 
Eritrea vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr 
Eritrea vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr 
Eritrea vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr 
Eritrea vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr 
Eritrea vs Switzerland 
Eritrea vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr 
Eritrea vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo 
Eritrea vs Sweden 
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Eritrea vs Singapore Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Eritrea or Yemen?
In Eritrea, the minimum wage is Nfk600/mo ($40 USD). In Yemen, it is ﷼21,000/mo ($88.07 USD). Yemen has the higher rate by 120% 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 Eritrea may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much more does the average worker earn in Eritrea compared to Yemen?
The average gross salary in Eritrea is Nfk6,000/mo ($400 USD), compared to ﷼85,000/mo ($356.45 USD) in Yemen. In USD terms, workers in Eritrea earn approximately 12% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Eritrea and Yemen is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Eritrea earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Yemen.
How do work hours compare between Eritrea and Yemen?
Yemen has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 44 hours in Eritrea. Workers in Eritrea work 44 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Eritrea 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.