Key Facts: Spain vs Yemen Wages
- Spain Minimum Wage
- €7.96/hr ($9.27 USD)
- Yemen Minimum Wage
- ﷼21,000/mo ($88.07 USD)
- Spain Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- €2,450 /mo ($2,853.15 USD)
- Yemen Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ﷼85,000 /mo ($356.45 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministerio de Trabajo y Economía Social (2026-03-02), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Yemen economic monitors (2026-02-25)
Spain
Yemen
Updated 2026-03-02
The minimum wage in Spain is roughly 10 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: $2,853/mo in Spain versus $356/mo in Yemen, a 8.0:1 ratio. Spain has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 10.4% compared to 17.3%.
Spain's unemployment rate is 10.4% compared to Yemen's 17.3%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Spain | Yemen |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | €7.96 $9.27 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | €1,221 $1,421.92 | ﷼21,000 $88.07 |
| Minimum wage /yr | €17,094 $19,906.84 | — |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | €2,450 /mo $2,853.15 | ﷼85,000 /mo $356.45 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | €1,900 /mo $2,212.65 | ﷼75,000 /mo $314.52 |
| Median individual income /yr | €22,000 /yr $25,620.12 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Spain is higher.
Work Week
- Spain
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Standard workweek is 40 hours (Workers' Statute, Article 34). Maximum 80 hours of overtime per year. Overtime compensation is set by collective agreement or individual contract, with a minimum of regular hourly rate or equivalent time off. EU Working Time Directive caps average weekly hours at 48.
- 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 Spain earns 850% less per hour in USD terms than one in Yemen. Standard work weeks differ: Spain mandates 40 hours while Yemen mandates 48 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Spain are $371 vs $4,227 in Yemen.
See this comparison from Yemen's perspective: Yemen vs Spain
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Spain or Yemen?
In Spain, the minimum wage is €7.96/hr ($9.27 USD). In Yemen, it is ﷼21,000/mo ($88.07 USD). Yemen has the higher rate by 850% 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 Spain may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much more does the average worker earn in Spain compared to Yemen?
The average gross salary in Spain is €2,450/mo ($2,853.15 USD), compared to ﷼85,000/mo ($356.45 USD) in Yemen. In USD terms, workers in Spain earn approximately 700% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Spain and Yemen is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Spain earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Yemen.
How do work hours compare between Spain and Yemen?
Yemen has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in Spain. Workers in Spain work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Spain 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.