Key Facts: Hong Kong vs Yemen Wages
- Hong Kong Minimum Wage
- HK$42.10/hr ($5.37 USD)
- Yemen Minimum Wage
- ﷼21,000/mo ($88.07 USD)
- Hong Kong Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- HK$20,500 /mo ($2,615.76 USD)
- Yemen Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ﷼85,000 /mo ($356.45 USD)
- Data Sources
- Minimum Wage Commission / Census and Statistics Department, HKSAR; current rate verified via Wikipedia List of countries by minimum wage (eff 2025-05-01) (2026-05-04), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Yemen economic monitors (2026-02-25)
Hong Kong
Yemen
Updated 2026-05-04
The minimum wage in Hong Kong is roughly 16 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: $2,616/mo in Hong Kong versus $356/mo in Yemen, a 7.3:1 ratio. Hong Kong has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 2.8% compared to 17.3%.
Hong Kong's unemployment rate is 2.8% compared to Yemen's 17.3%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Hong Kong | Yemen |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | HK$42.10 $5.37 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | HK$7,297 $931.08 | ﷼21,000 $88.07 |
| Minimum wage /yr | HK$87,568 $11,173.52 | — |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | HK$20,500 /mo $2,615.76 | ﷼85,000 /mo $356.45 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | HK$19,475 /mo $2,484.98 | ﷼75,000 /mo $314.52 |
| Median individual income /yr | HK$246,000 /yr $31,389.16 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Hong Kong is higher.
Work Week
- Hong Kong
-
hrs/wk standard
Hong Kong has NO statutory standard working hours or maximum working hours for most employees (a rare situation globally). The government has considered legislation but has not enacted a standard hours law. Working hours are determined by individual employment contracts. Average actual working hours are ~40-44 hrs/week. Overtime pay is not legally mandated except for certain specific occupations.
- 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 Hong Kong earns 1539% less per hour in USD terms than one in Yemen.
See this comparison from Yemen's perspective: Yemen vs Hong Kong
Compare Hong Kong with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Hong Kong or Yemen?
In Hong Kong, the minimum wage is HK$42.10/hr ($5.37 USD). In Yemen, it is ﷼21,000/mo ($88.07 USD). Yemen has the higher rate by 1539% 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 Hong Kong may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much more does the average worker earn in Hong Kong compared to Yemen?
The average gross salary in Hong Kong is HK$20,500/mo ($2,615.76 USD), compared to ﷼85,000/mo ($356.45 USD) in Yemen. In USD terms, workers in Hong Kong earn approximately 634% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Hong Kong and Yemen is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Hong Kong earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Yemen.