Key Facts: Syria vs Yemen Wages
- Syria Minimum Wage
- £S1,850/mo ($16.46 USD)
- Yemen Minimum Wage
- ﷼21,000/mo ($88.07 USD)
- Syria Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- £S13,500 /mo ($120.13 USD)
- Yemen Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ﷼85,000 /mo ($356.45 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Syria Report economic analyses (2026-02-25), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Yemen economic monitors (2026-02-25)
Syria
Yemen
Updated 2026-02-25
The minimum wage in Syria is roughly 5 times lower than in Yemen in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a low-income and a low-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $120/mo in Syria versus $356/mo in Yemen, a 3.0:1 ratio. Syria has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 13.6% compared to 17.3%.
Syria's unemployment rate is 13.6% compared to Yemen's 17.3%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Syria | Yemen |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /mo | £S1,850 $16.46 | ﷼21,000 $88.07 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | £S13,500 /mo $120.13 | ﷼85,000 /mo $356.45 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | £S12,000 /mo $106.78 | ﷼75,000 /mo $314.52 |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Syria is higher.
Work Week
- Syria
-
48 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Labour Law No. 17 of 2010 set 48 hours/week as the standard. Friday is the weekly rest day. Enforcement is impossible across most of the country due to conflict. Government employees in Damascus and other major cities are the primary remaining formal workforce.
- 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 Syria earns 435% less per hour in USD terms than one in Yemen.
See this comparison from Yemen's perspective: Yemen vs Syria
Compare Syria with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Syria or Yemen?
In Syria, the minimum wage is £S1,850/mo ($16.46 USD). In Yemen, it is ﷼21,000/mo ($88.07 USD). Yemen has the higher rate by 435% 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 Syria may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much less does the average worker earn in Syria compared to Yemen?
The average gross salary in Syria is £S13,500/mo ($120.13 USD), compared to ﷼85,000/mo ($356.45 USD) in Yemen. In USD terms, workers in Syria earn approximately 197% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Syria 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 Syria.
How do work hours compare between Syria and Yemen?
Both Syria and Yemen mandate a similar standard work week of 48 hours. When work hours are equal, the country with the higher minimum wage delivers proportionally higher weekly earnings. Standard work week rules set the baseline; actual hours worked often differ based on industry norms and individual employment contracts.