Key Facts: Switzerland vs Yemen Wages
- Switzerland Minimum Wage
- No statutory minimum wage
- Yemen Minimum Wage
- ﷼21,000/mo ($88.07 USD)
- Switzerland Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- CHF7,800 /mo ($9,951.52 USD)
- Yemen Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ﷼85,000 /mo ($356.45 USD)
- Data Sources
- Swiss Federal Statistical Office (BFS) (2026-02-24), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Yemen economic monitors (2026-02-25)
Switzerland
Yemen
Updated 2026-02-25
Switzerland has no statutory minimum wage, while Yemen sets a floor of $88/mo. Average gross salaries diverge further: $9,952/mo in Switzerland versus $356/mo in Yemen, a 27.9:1 ratio. Switzerland has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 4.9% compared to 17.3%.
Switzerland's unemployment rate is 4.9% compared to Yemen's 17.3%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Switzerland | Yemen |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /mo | None | ﷼21,000 $88.07 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | CHF7,800 /mo $9,951.52 | ﷼85,000 /mo $356.45 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | CHF6,396 /mo $8,160.24 | ﷼75,000 /mo $314.52 |
| Median individual income /yr | CHF81,456 /yr $103,924.47 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Switzerland is higher.
Work Week
- Switzerland
-
42 hrs/wk standard
Max 45 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.25x pay
No single statutory standard; typical contractual hours are 40-42/week depending on sector. Maximum legal hours: 45/week for industrial, office, and retail workers; 50/week for others. Overtime premium is 25% (can be compensated with time off by agreement). Swiss Labour Act (Arbeitsgesetz) governs working time.
- 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
Standard work weeks differ: Switzerland mandates 42 hours while Yemen mandates 48 hours.
See this comparison from Yemen's perspective: Yemen vs Switzerland
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Switzerland or Yemen?
In Switzerland, the minimum wage is no statutory minimum wage. In Yemen, it is ﷼21,000/mo ($88.07 USD).
How much more does the average worker earn in Switzerland compared to Yemen?
The average gross salary in Switzerland is CHF7,800/mo ($9,951.52 USD), compared to ﷼85,000/mo ($356.45 USD) in Yemen. In USD terms, workers in Switzerland earn approximately 2692% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Switzerland and Yemen is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Switzerland earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Yemen.
How do work hours compare between Switzerland and Yemen?
Yemen has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 42 hours in Switzerland. Workers in Switzerland work 42 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Switzerland 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.