Key Facts: Israel vs Yemen Wages
- Israel Minimum Wage
- ₪35.40/hr ($12.57 USD)
- Yemen Minimum Wage
- ﷼21,000/mo ($88.07 USD)
- Israel Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ₪12,000 /mo ($4,262.12 USD)
- Yemen Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ﷼85,000 /mo ($356.45 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministry of Economy and Industry / National Insurance Institute; 2026 figure verified via Wikipedia List of countries by minimum wage (eff 2026-04-01) (2026-05-04), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Yemen economic monitors (2026-02-25)
Israel
Yemen
Updated 2026-05-04
The minimum wage in Israel is roughly 7 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: $4,262/mo in Israel versus $356/mo in Yemen, a 12.0:1 ratio. Israel has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 3.5% compared to 17.3%.
Israel's unemployment rate is 3.5% compared to Yemen's 17.3%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Israel | Yemen |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | ₪35.40 $12.57 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | ₪6,443.85 $2,288.71 | ﷼21,000 $88.07 |
| Minimum wage /yr | ₪77,326.20 $27,464.46 | — |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | ₪12,000 /mo $4,262.12 | ﷼85,000 /mo $356.45 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | ₪9,000 /mo $3,196.59 | ﷼75,000 /mo $314.52 |
| Median individual income /yr | ₪108,000 /yr $38,359.08 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Israel is higher.
Work Week
- Israel
-
42 hrs/wk standard
Max 42 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.25x pay
Standard workweek reduced from 43 to 42 hours in April 2018. Typically 5-day work week (8.4 hrs/day) or 6-day week. First 2 overtime hours: 125% of regular rate; subsequent hours: 150%. Weekly rest day is typically Friday evening to Saturday evening (Shabbat). Maximum 12 hours in any workday.
- 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 Israel earns 600% less per hour in USD terms than one in Yemen. Standard work weeks differ: Israel mandates 42 hours while Yemen mandates 48 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Israel are $528 vs $4,227 in Yemen.
See this comparison from Yemen's perspective: Yemen vs Israel
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Israel or Yemen?
In Israel, the minimum wage is ₪35.40/hr ($12.57 USD). In Yemen, it is ﷼21,000/mo ($88.07 USD). Yemen has the higher rate by 600% 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 Israel may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much more does the average worker earn in Israel compared to Yemen?
The average gross salary in Israel is ₪12,000/mo ($4,262.12 USD), compared to ﷼85,000/mo ($356.45 USD) in Yemen. In USD terms, workers in Israel earn approximately 1096% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Israel and Yemen is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Israel earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Yemen.
How do work hours compare between Israel and Yemen?
Yemen has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 42 hours in Israel. Workers in Israel work 42 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Israel 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.