Key Facts: Estonia vs Yemen Wages
- Estonia Minimum Wage
- €5.67/hr ($6.60 USD)
- Yemen Minimum Wage
- ﷼21,000/mo ($88.07 USD)
- Estonia Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- €1,950 /mo ($2,270.87 USD)
- Yemen Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ﷼85,000 /mo ($356.45 USD)
- Data Sources
- Government of Estonia; 2026 figure per Riigi Teataja Government Regulation (töötasu alammäär) eff 2026-04-01 (2026-05-27), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Yemen economic monitors (2026-02-25)
Estonia
Yemen
Updated 2026-05-27
The minimum wage in Estonia is roughly 13 times lower than in Yemen in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a high-income and a low-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $2,271/mo in Estonia versus $356/mo in Yemen, a 6.4:1 ratio. Estonia has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 8.3% compared to 17.3%.
Estonia's unemployment rate is 8.3% compared to Yemen's 17.3%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Estonia | Yemen |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | €5.67 $6.60 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | €946 $1,101.67 | ﷼21,000 $88.07 |
| Minimum wage /yr | €11,352 $13,219.98 | — |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | €1,950 /mo $2,270.87 | ﷼85,000 /mo $356.45 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | €1,560 /mo $1,816.70 | ﷼75,000 /mo $314.52 |
| Median individual income /yr | €14,400 /yr $16,769.54 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Estonia is higher.
Work Week
- Estonia
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Standard workweek is 40 hours over 5 days. Overtime must be compensated at 1.5x rate or with equivalent time off. Annual overtime limit varies by agreement.
- 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 Estonia earns 1234% less per hour in USD terms than one in Yemen. Standard work weeks differ: Estonia mandates 40 hours while Yemen mandates 48 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Estonia are $264 vs $4,227 in Yemen.
See this comparison from Yemen's perspective: Yemen vs Estonia
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Estonia or Yemen?
In Estonia, the minimum wage is €5.67/hr ($6.60 USD). In Yemen, it is ﷼21,000/mo ($88.07 USD). Yemen has the higher rate by 1234% 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 Estonia may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much more does the average worker earn in Estonia compared to Yemen?
The average gross salary in Estonia is €1,950/mo ($2,270.87 USD), compared to ﷼85,000/mo ($356.45 USD) in Yemen. In USD terms, workers in Estonia earn approximately 537% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Estonia and Yemen is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Estonia earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Yemen.
How do work hours compare between Estonia and Yemen?
Yemen has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in Estonia. Workers in Estonia work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Estonia 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.