Key Facts: Japan vs Yemen Wages
- Japan Minimum Wage
- ¥1,121/hr ($7.03 USD)
- Yemen Minimum Wage
- ﷼21,000/mo ($88.07 USD)
- Japan Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ¥398,333 /mo ($2,497.54 USD)
- Yemen Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ﷼85,000 /mo ($356.45 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (2026-05-23), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Yemen economic monitors (2026-02-25)
Japan 
Yemen
Updated 2026-05-23
The minimum wage in Japan 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: $2,498/mo in Japan versus $356/mo in Yemen, a 7.0:1 ratio. Japan has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 2.5% compared to 17.3%.
Japan's unemployment rate is 2.5% compared to Yemen's 17.3%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Japan | Yemen |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | ¥1,121 $7.03 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | ¥194,303 $1,218.28 | ﷼21,000 $88.07 |
| Minimum wage /yr | ¥2,331,680 $14,619.60 | — |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | ¥398,333 /mo $2,497.54 | ﷼85,000 /mo $356.45 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | ¥290,833 /mo $1,823.52 | ﷼75,000 /mo $314.52 |
| Median individual income /yr | ¥3,620,000 /yr $22,697.35 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Japan is higher.
Work Week
- Japan
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Overtime : 1.25x pay
Labour Standards Act sets 40 hrs/week base. Overtime premium 25% (50% over 60 hrs/month). Late night (10pm-5am) adds 25%. Holiday work adds 35%.
- 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 Japan earns 1153% less per hour in USD terms than one in Yemen. Standard work weeks differ: Japan mandates 40 hours while Yemen mandates 48 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Japan are $281 vs $4,227 in Yemen.
See this comparison from Yemen's perspective: Yemen vs Japan
Compare Japan with...
Japan vs United States $ 7.25 /hr 
Japan vs China ¥ 25 /hr 
Japan vs Germany € 13.9 /hr 
Japan vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr 
Japan vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo 
Japan vs France € 12.02 /hr 
Japan vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
Japan vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr 
Japan vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr 
Japan vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
Japan vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr 
Japan vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo 
Japan vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr 
Japan vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr 
Japan vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr 
Japan vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr 
Japan vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr 
Japan vs Switzerland 
Japan vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr 
Japan vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo 
Japan vs Sweden 
Japan vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr 
Japan vs Singapore 
Japan vs Norway Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Japan or Yemen?
In Japan, the minimum wage is ¥1,121/hr ($7.03 USD). In Yemen, it is ﷼21,000/mo ($88.07 USD). Yemen has the higher rate by 1153% 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 Japan may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much more does the average worker earn in Japan compared to Yemen?
The average gross salary in Japan is ¥398,333/mo ($2,497.54 USD), compared to ﷼85,000/mo ($356.45 USD) in Yemen. In USD terms, workers in Japan earn approximately 601% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Japan and Yemen is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Japan earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Yemen.
How do work hours compare between Japan and Yemen?
Yemen has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in Japan. Workers in Japan work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Japan 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.