Key Facts: South Africa vs Yemen Wages
- South Africa Minimum Wage
- R30.23/hr ($1.86 USD)
- Yemen Minimum Wage
- ﷼21,000/mo ($88.07 USD)
- South Africa Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- R26,500 /mo ($1,630.41 USD)
- Yemen Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ﷼85,000 /mo ($356.45 USD)
- Data Sources
- Department of Employment and Labour; 2026 figure cross-verified via Wikipedia List of countries by minimum wage (eff 2026-03-01) (2026-05-04), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Yemen economic monitors (2026-02-25)
South Africa 
Yemen
Updated 2026-05-04
The minimum wage in South Africa is roughly 47 times lower than in Yemen in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a upper-middle-income and a low-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $1,630/mo in South Africa versus $356/mo in Yemen, a 4.6:1 ratio. Yemen has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 17.3% compared to 32.4%.
South Africa's unemployment rate is 32.4% compared to Yemen's 17.3%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | South Africa | Yemen |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | R30.23 $1.86 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | R5,239.87 $322.38 | ﷼21,000 $88.07 |
| Minimum wage /yr | R62,878.40 $3,868.58 | — |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | R26,500 /mo $1,630.41 | ﷼85,000 /mo $356.45 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | R21,500 /mo $1,322.78 | ﷼75,000 /mo $314.52 |
| Median individual income /yr | R72,000 /yr $4,429.79 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means South Africa is higher.
Work Week
- South Africa
-
45 hrs/wk standard
Max 45 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Basic Conditions of Employment Act sets maximum ordinary hours at 45 per week (9 hrs/day for 5-day week, or 8 hrs/day for 6-day week). Overtime maximum of 10 additional hours per week. Overtime rate is 1.5x; Sunday/public holiday work is 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 South Africa earns 4635% less per hour in USD terms than one in Yemen. Standard work weeks differ: South Africa mandates 45 hours while Yemen mandates 48 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in South Africa are $84 vs $4,227 in Yemen.
See this comparison from Yemen's perspective: Yemen vs South Africa
Compare South Africa with...
South Africa vs United States $ 7.25 /hr 
South Africa vs China ¥ 25 /hr 
South Africa vs Germany € 13.9 /hr 
South Africa vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr 
South Africa vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo 
South Africa vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr 
South Africa vs France € 12.02 /hr 
South Africa vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
South Africa vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr 
South Africa vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr 
South Africa vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
South Africa vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr 
South Africa vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo 
South Africa vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr 
South Africa vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr 
South Africa vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr 
South Africa vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr 
South Africa vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr 
South Africa vs Switzerland 
South Africa vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr 
South Africa vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo 
South Africa vs Sweden 
South Africa vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr 
South Africa vs Singapore Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in South Africa or Yemen?
In South Africa, the minimum wage is R30.23/hr ($1.86 USD). In Yemen, it is ﷼21,000/mo ($88.07 USD). Yemen has the higher rate by 4635% 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 South Africa may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much more does the average worker earn in South Africa compared to Yemen?
The average gross salary in South Africa is R26,500/mo ($1,630.41 USD), compared to ﷼85,000/mo ($356.45 USD) in Yemen. In USD terms, workers in South Africa earn approximately 357% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between South Africa and Yemen is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in South Africa earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Yemen.
How do work hours compare between South Africa and Yemen?
Yemen has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 45 hours in South Africa. Workers in South Africa work 45 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in South Africa 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.