Key Facts: Yemen vs Brunei Wages
- Yemen Minimum Wage
- ﷼21,000/mo ($88.07 USD)
- Brunei Minimum Wage
- B$2.62/hr ($2.06 USD)
- Yemen Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ﷼85,000 /mo ($356.45 USD)
- Brunei Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- B$2,500 /mo ($1,968.50 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Yemen economic monitors (2026-02-25), Labour Department, Ministry of Home Affairs — Brunei Darussalam (2026-02-25)
Yemen 
Brunei
Updated 2026-02-25
The minimum wage in Yemen is roughly 43 times higher than in Brunei in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a low-income and a high-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $356/mo in Yemen versus $1,969/mo in Brunei, a 5.5:1 ratio. Brunei has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 5.3% compared to 17.3%.
Yemen's unemployment rate is 17.3% compared to Brunei's 5.3%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Yemen | Brunei |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | — | B$2.62 $2.06 |
| Minimum wage /mo | ﷼21,000 $88.07 | B$500 $393.70 |
| Minimum wage /yr | — | B$6,000 $4,724.41 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | ﷼85,000 /mo $356.45 | B$2,500 /mo $1,968.50 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | ﷼75,000 /mo $314.52 | B$2,500 /mo $1,968.50 |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | B$18,000 /yr $14,173.23 |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Yemen is higher.
Work Week
- 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.
- Brunei
-
44 hrs/wk standard
Max 44 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Standard working hours are 8 hours per day or 44 hours per week under the Employment Order, 2009. Overtime is paid at 1.5x the regular rate. During Ramadan, Muslim workers typically work 6 hours/day. The government sector generally works 37.5-40 hours/week.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from Brunei to Yemen would see a 4169% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Yemen mandates 48 hours while Brunei mandates 44 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Yemen are $4,227 vs $91 in Brunei.
See this comparison from Brunei's perspective: Brunei vs Yemen
Compare Yemen with...
Yemen vs United States $ 7.25 /hr 
Yemen vs China ¥ 25 /hr 
Yemen vs Germany € 13.9 /hr 
Yemen vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr 
Yemen vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo 
Yemen vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr 
Yemen vs France € 12.02 /hr 
Yemen vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
Yemen vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr 
Yemen vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr 
Yemen vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
Yemen vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr 
Yemen vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo 
Yemen vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr 
Yemen vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr 
Yemen vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr 
Yemen vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr 
Yemen vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr 
Yemen vs Switzerland 
Yemen vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr 
Yemen vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo 
Yemen vs Sweden 
Yemen vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr 
Yemen vs Singapore Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Yemen or Brunei?
In Yemen, the minimum wage is ﷼21,000/mo ($88.07 USD). In Brunei, it is B$2.62/hr ($2.06 USD). Yemen has the higher rate by 4169% 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 Brunei may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much less does the average worker earn in Yemen compared to Brunei?
The average gross salary in Yemen is ﷼85,000/mo ($356.45 USD), compared to B$2,500/mo ($1,968.50 USD) in Brunei. In USD terms, workers in Yemen earn approximately 452% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Yemen and Brunei is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Brunei earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Yemen.
How do work hours compare between Yemen and Brunei?
Yemen has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 44 hours in Brunei. Workers in Yemen work 48 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Brunei 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.