Key Facts: Turkey vs Yemen Wages
- Turkey Minimum Wage
- ₺164.94/hr ($3.59 USD)
- Yemen Minimum Wage
- ﷼21,000/mo ($88.07 USD)
- Turkey Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ₺25,482 /mo ($555.24 USD)
- Yemen Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ﷼85,000 /mo ($356.45 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministry of Labour and Social Security (Çalışma ve Sosyal Güvenlik Bakanlığı); 2026 figure announced by Minister Vedat Işıkhan, verified via Daily Sabah (dailysabah.com) (2026-05-04), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Yemen economic monitors (2026-02-25)
Turkey 
Yemen
Updated 2026-05-04
The minimum wage in Turkey is roughly 25 times lower than in Yemen in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a upper-middle-income and a low-income economy. Average salaries are higher in Turkey at $555/mo compared to $356/mo in Yemen. Turkey has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 8.5% compared to 17.3%.
Turkey's unemployment rate is 8.5% compared to Yemen's 17.3%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Turkey | Yemen |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | ₺164.94 $3.59 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | ₺33,030 $719.70 | ﷼21,000 $88.07 |
| Minimum wage /yr | ₺396,360 $8,636.42 | — |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | ₺25,482 /mo $555.24 | ﷼85,000 /mo $356.45 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | ₺20,021 /mo $436.24 | ﷼75,000 /mo $314.52 |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Turkey is higher.
Work Week
- Turkey
-
45 hrs/wk standard
Max 45 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Standard workweek is 45 hours under the Labour Act (No. 4857). Can be distributed unevenly across days of the week, but no more than 11 hours/day. Overtime is limited to 270 hours/year. Overtime premium is 50%; weekend/holiday work is at 100% premium if the worker does not get a substitute rest day.
- 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 Turkey earns 2350% less per hour in USD terms than one in Yemen. Standard work weeks differ: Turkey mandates 45 hours while Yemen mandates 48 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Turkey are $162 vs $4,227 in Yemen.
See this comparison from Yemen's perspective: Yemen vs Turkey
Compare Turkey with...
Turkey vs United States $ 7.25 /hr 
Turkey vs China ¥ 25 /hr 
Turkey vs Germany € 13.9 /hr 
Turkey vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr 
Turkey vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo 
Turkey vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr 
Turkey vs France € 12.02 /hr 
Turkey vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
Turkey vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr 
Turkey vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr 
Turkey vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
Turkey vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr 
Turkey vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo 
Turkey vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr 
Turkey vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr 
Turkey vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr 
Turkey vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr 
Turkey vs Switzerland 
Turkey vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr 
Turkey vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo 
Turkey vs Sweden 
Turkey vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr 
Turkey vs Singapore 
Turkey vs Norway Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Turkey or Yemen?
In Turkey, the minimum wage is ₺164.94/hr ($3.59 USD). In Yemen, it is ﷼21,000/mo ($88.07 USD). Yemen has the higher rate by 2350% 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 Turkey may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much more does the average worker earn in Turkey compared to Yemen?
The average gross salary in Turkey is ₺25,482/mo ($555.24 USD), compared to ﷼85,000/mo ($356.45 USD) in Yemen. In USD terms, workers in Turkey earn approximately 56% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Turkey and Yemen is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Turkey earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Yemen.
How do work hours compare between Turkey and Yemen?
Yemen has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 45 hours in Turkey. Workers in Turkey work 45 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Turkey 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.