Key Facts: Suriname vs Yemen Wages
- Suriname Minimum Wage
- Sr$2,166/mo ($59.02 USD)
- Yemen Minimum Wage
- ﷼21,000/mo ($88.07 USD)
- Suriname Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Sr$5,500 /mo ($149.86 USD)
- Yemen Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ﷼85,000 /mo ($356.45 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministry of Labour, Technological Development and Environment — Suriname / ILO (2026-02-25), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Yemen economic monitors (2026-02-25)
Suriname
Yemen
Updated 2026-02-25
Suriname, a upper-middle-income economy, and Yemen, classified as low-income, take different approaches to wage policy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $150/mo in Suriname versus $356/mo in Yemen, a 2.4:1 ratio. Suriname has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 7.8% compared to 17.3%.
Suriname's unemployment rate is 7.8% compared to Yemen's 17.3%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Suriname | Yemen |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /mo | Sr$2,166 $59.02 | ﷼21,000 $88.07 |
| Minimum wage /yr | Sr$25,992 $708.23 | — |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | Sr$5,500 /mo $149.86 | ﷼85,000 /mo $356.45 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | Sr$4,700 /mo $128.07 | ﷼75,000 /mo $314.52 |
| Median individual income /yr | Sr$28,000 /yr $762.94 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Suriname is higher.
Work Week
- Suriname
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Suriname Labour Act sets the standard workweek at 40 hours (8 hours/day, 5 days). Maximum including overtime is 48 hours. Overtime is compensated at a minimum of 1.5x the regular wage. Sunday and public holiday work is typically 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.
• WAGE TRAJECTORY (USD/mo)
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker in Suriname earns 49% less per hour in USD terms than one in Yemen. Standard work weeks differ: Suriname mandates 40 hours while Yemen mandates 48 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Suriname are $2,361 vs $4,227 in Yemen.
See this comparison from Yemen's perspective: Yemen vs Suriname
Compare Suriname with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Suriname or Yemen?
In Suriname, the minimum wage is Sr$2,166/mo ($59.02 USD). In Yemen, it is ﷼21,000/mo ($88.07 USD). Yemen has the higher rate by 49% 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 Suriname may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much less does the average worker earn in Suriname compared to Yemen?
The average gross salary in Suriname is Sr$5,500/mo ($149.86 USD), compared to ﷼85,000/mo ($356.45 USD) in Yemen. In USD terms, workers in Suriname earn approximately 138% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Suriname 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 Suriname.
How do work hours compare between Suriname and Yemen?
Yemen has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in Suriname. Workers in Suriname work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Suriname 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.