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Key Facts: Lesotho vs Yemen Wages

Lesotho Minimum Wage
L2,000/mo ($124.92 USD)
Yemen Minimum Wage
﷼21,000/mo ($88.07 USD)
Lesotho Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
L4,500 /mo ($281.07 USD)
Yemen Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
﷼85,000 /mo ($356.45 USD)
Data Sources
ILO / Ministry of Labour and Employment (Lesotho) / Wages Order (2026-02-25), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Yemen economic monitors (2026-02-25)

Lesotho flag Lesotho Yemen flag Yemen

Updated 2026-02-25

Lesotho flag Lesotho

Minimum Wage

L2,000 /mo

$124.92 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

L4,500 /mo

Yemen flag Yemen

Minimum Wage

﷼21,000 /mo

$88.07 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

﷼85,000 /mo

Min wage: +42% Lesotho vs Yemen Avg. salary: -21% Lesotho vs Yemen

Lesotho, a lower-middle-income economy, and Yemen, classified as low-income, take different approaches to wage policy. Average salaries are lower in Lesotho at $281/mo compared to $356/mo in Yemen.

Lesotho's unemployment rate is 16.3% compared to Yemen's 17.3%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Lesotho and Yemen
Metric Lesotho Yemen
Minimum wage /mo L2,000 $124.92 ﷼21,000 $88.07
Avg. gross salary /mo L4,500 /mo $281.07 ﷼85,000 /mo $356.45
Avg. net salary /mo N/A/mo ﷼75,000 /mo $314.52
Median individual income /yr L18,000 /yr $1,124.30 N/A/yr

Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Lesotho is higher.

Work Week

Lesotho

45 hrs/wk standard

Max 54 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.33x pay

Labour Code sets standard at 45 hours/week (9 hrs/day, 5 days or 7.5 hrs/day, 6 days). Maximum 54 hours/week including overtime (9 hours overtime limit). Overtime paid at 1.33x normal rate. Sunday rest day and 12 public holidays per year.

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.

• WAGE TRAJECTORY (USD/mo)

Lesotho Yemen Source: wage.is · USD equivalent/mo

What This Means for Workers

A minimum wage worker moving from Yemen to Lesotho would see a 42% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Lesotho mandates 45 hours while Yemen mandates 48 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Lesotho are $5,621 vs $4,227 in Yemen.

See this comparison from Yemen's perspective: Yemen vs Lesotho

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Lesotho or Yemen?

In Lesotho, the minimum wage is L2,000/mo ($124.92 USD). In Yemen, it is ﷼21,000/mo ($88.07 USD). Lesotho has the higher rate by 42% 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 Yemen may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.

How much less does the average worker earn in Lesotho compared to Yemen?

The average gross salary in Lesotho is L4,500/mo ($281.07 USD), compared to ﷼85,000/mo ($356.45 USD) in Yemen. In USD terms, workers in Lesotho earn approximately 27% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Lesotho 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 Lesotho.

How do work hours compare between Lesotho and Yemen?

Yemen has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 45 hours in Lesotho. Workers in Lesotho work 45 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Lesotho 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.