Key Facts: Kenya vs Yemen Wages
- Kenya Minimum Wage
- KSh93/hr ($0.61 USD)
- Yemen Minimum Wage
- ﷼21,000/mo ($88.07 USD)
- Kenya Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- KSh50,000 /mo ($325.73 USD)
- Yemen Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ﷼85,000 /mo ($356.45 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministry of Labour and Social Protection; Legal Notice No. 164 of 2024 (eff 2024-11-01) per labour.go.ke gazette PDF (2026-05-27), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Yemen economic monitors (2026-02-25)
Kenya 
Yemen
Updated 2026-05-27
The minimum wage in Kenya is roughly 145 times lower than in Yemen in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a lower-middle-income and a low-income economy. Average salaries are lower in Kenya at $326/mo compared to $356/mo in Yemen. Kenya has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 5.5% compared to 17.3%.
Kenya's unemployment rate is 5.5% compared to Yemen's 17.3%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Kenya | Yemen |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | KSh93 $0.61 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | KSh16,113.75 $104.98 | ﷼21,000 $88.07 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | KSh50,000 /mo $325.73 | ﷼85,000 /mo $356.45 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | KSh38,500 /mo $250.81 | ﷼75,000 /mo $314.52 |
| Median individual income /yr | KSh180,000 /yr $1,172.64 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Kenya is higher.
Work Week
- Kenya
-
52 hrs/wk standard
Max 52 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Employment Act sets maximum normal working hours at 52 per week. Most formal sector employees work 40-45 hours by contract. Overtime paid at 1.5x normal rate. Work on rest days paid at 2x. Public holidays at 2x.
- 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 Kenya earns 14435% less per hour in USD terms than one in Yemen. Standard work weeks differ: Kenya mandates 52 hours while Yemen mandates 48 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Kenya are $32 vs $4,227 in Yemen.
See this comparison from Yemen's perspective: Yemen vs Kenya
Compare Kenya with...
Kenya vs United States $ 7.25 /hr 
Kenya vs China ¥ 25 /hr 
Kenya vs Germany € 13.9 /hr 
Kenya vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr 
Kenya vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo 
Kenya vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr 
Kenya vs France € 12.02 /hr 
Kenya vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
Kenya vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr 
Kenya vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr 
Kenya vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
Kenya vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr 
Kenya vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo 
Kenya vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr 
Kenya vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr 
Kenya vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr 
Kenya vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr 
Kenya vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr 
Kenya vs Switzerland 
Kenya vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr 
Kenya vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo 
Kenya vs Sweden 
Kenya vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr 
Kenya vs Singapore Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Kenya or Yemen?
In Kenya, the minimum wage is KSh93/hr ($0.61 USD). In Yemen, it is ﷼21,000/mo ($88.07 USD). Yemen has the higher rate by 14435% 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 Kenya may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much less does the average worker earn in Kenya compared to Yemen?
The average gross salary in Kenya is KSh50,000/mo ($325.73 USD), compared to ﷼85,000/mo ($356.45 USD) in Yemen. In USD terms, workers in Kenya earn approximately 9% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Kenya and Yemen is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Yemen earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Kenya.
How do work hours compare between Kenya and Yemen?
Kenya has a longer standard work week at 52 hours, compared to 48 hours in Yemen. Workers in Kenya work 52 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Yemen 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.