Key Facts: Palestine vs Japan Wages
- Palestine Minimum Wage
- ₪1,880/mo ($667.73 USD)
- Japan Minimum Wage
- ¥1,121/hr ($7.03 USD)
- Palestine Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ₪3,200 /mo ($1,136.57 USD)
- Japan Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ¥398,333 /mo ($2,497.54 USD)
- Data Sources
- Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) / ILO (2026-02-25), Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (2026-05-23)
Palestine
Japan
Updated 2026-05-23
The minimum wage in Palestine is roughly 95 times higher than in Japan in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a lower-middle-income and a high-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $1,137/mo in Palestine versus $2,498/mo in Japan, a 2.2:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Japan is 11.9x that of Palestine, underscoring the structural economic divide.
Palestine has lower GDP per capita ($4,371 vs $52,039). Palestine's unemployment rate is 24.4% compared to Japan's 2.5%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Palestine | Japan |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | — | ¥1,121 $7.03 |
| Minimum wage /day | ₪86 $30.55 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | ₪1,880 $667.73 | ¥194,303 $1,218.28 |
| Minimum wage /yr | — | ¥2,331,680 $14,619.60 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | ₪3,200 /mo $1,136.57 | ¥398,333 /mo $2,497.54 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | N/A/mo | ¥290,833 /mo $1,823.52 |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | ¥3,620,000 /yr $22,697.35 |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Palestine is higher.
Work Week
- Palestine
-
45 hrs/wk standard
Max 54 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.25x pay
Palestinian Labour Law sets 45 hours/week maximum ordinary time (8 hours/day, 6 days). Overtime payable at 1.25x. Friday is the weekly rest day. Workers employed in Israel work under Israeli labour law (which has different provisions). The conflict beginning October 2023 has fundamentally disrupted normal labour conditions across the territory.
- 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%.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from Japan to Palestine would see a 9400% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Palestine mandates 45 hours while Japan mandates 40 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Palestine are $30,048 vs $281 in Japan.
See this comparison from Japan's perspective: Japan vs Palestine
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Palestine or Japan?
In Palestine, the minimum wage is ₪1,880/mo ($667.73 USD). In Japan, it is ¥1,121/hr ($7.03 USD). Palestine has the higher rate by 9400% 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 less does the average worker earn in Palestine compared to Japan?
The average gross salary in Palestine is ₪3,200/mo ($1,136.57 USD), compared to ¥398,333/mo ($2,497.54 USD) in Japan. In USD terms, workers in Palestine earn approximately 120% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Palestine and Japan 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 Palestine.
How do work hours compare between Palestine and Japan?
Palestine has a longer standard work week at 45 hours, compared to 40 hours in Japan. Workers in Palestine work 45 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.
What is the cost of living difference between Palestine and Japan?
While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Japan has the higher GDP per capita at $52,039, which is 11.9x that of Palestine at $4,371. From Palestine's perspective, this means goods and services are priced at a lower economic level. A higher GDP per capita generally correlates with higher wages, higher consumer prices, and greater availability of goods and services. Workers moving between these two countries should expect significant differences in rent, food, and transportation costs.