Key Facts: Timor-Leste vs Yemen Wages
- Timor-Leste Minimum Wage
- $115/mo
- Yemen Minimum Wage
- ﷼21,000/mo ($88.07 USD)
- Timor-Leste Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- $350 /mo ($350 USD)
- Yemen Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ﷼85,000 /mo ($356.45 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Environment — Timor-Leste / ILO (2026-02-25), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Yemen economic monitors (2026-02-25)
Timor-Leste
Yemen
Updated 2026-02-25
Timor-Leste, a lower-middle-income economy, and Yemen, classified as low-income, take different approaches to wage policy. Average salaries are lower in Timor-Leste at $350/mo compared to $356/mo in Yemen. Timor-Leste has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 1.6% compared to 17.3%.
Timor-Leste's unemployment rate is 1.6% compared to Yemen's 17.3%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Timor-Leste | Yemen |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /mo | $115 | ﷼21,000 $88.07 |
| Minimum wage /yr | $1,380 | — |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | $350 /mo | ﷼85,000 /mo $356.45 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | $330 /mo | ﷼75,000 /mo $314.52 |
| Median individual income /yr | $1,500 /yr | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Timor-Leste is higher.
Work Week
- Timor-Leste
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 52 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Timor-Leste Labour Code sets a standard workweek of 40 hours (8 hours/day, 5 days). Maximum including overtime is 52 hours. Overtime is compensated at 1.5x the normal rate. Work on public holidays and Sundays is 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 moving from Yemen to Timor-Leste would see a 31% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Timor-Leste mandates 40 hours while Yemen mandates 48 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Timor-Leste are $4,600 vs $4,227 in Yemen.
See this comparison from Yemen's perspective: Yemen vs Timor-Leste
Compare Timor-Leste with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Timor-Leste or Yemen?
In Timor-Leste, the minimum wage is $115/mo. In Yemen, it is ﷼21,000/mo ($88.07 USD). Timor-Leste has the higher rate by 31% 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 Yemen may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much less does the average worker earn in Timor-Leste compared to Yemen?
The average gross salary in Timor-Leste is $350/mo, compared to ﷼85,000/mo ($356.45 USD) in Yemen. In USD terms, workers in Timor-Leste earn approximately 2% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Timor-Leste 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 Timor-Leste.
How do work hours compare between Timor-Leste and Yemen?
Yemen has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in Timor-Leste. Workers in Timor-Leste work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Timor-Leste 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.