Key Facts: Yemen vs China Wages
- Yemen Minimum Wage
- ﷼21,000/mo ($88.07 USD)
- China Minimum Wage
- ¥25/hr ($3.70 USD)
- Yemen Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ﷼85,000 /mo ($356.45 USD)
- China Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ¥10,343 /mo ($1,528.88 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Yemen economic monitors (2026-02-25), Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (MOHRSS); regional rates verified via china-briefing.com aggregator (April 2026) (2026-05-04)
Yemen 
China
Updated 2026-05-04
The minimum wage in Yemen is roughly 24 times higher than in China in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a low-income and a upper-middle-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $356/mo in Yemen versus $1,529/mo in China, a 4.3:1 ratio. China has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 4.6% compared to 17.3%.
Yemen's unemployment rate is 17.3% compared to China's 4.6%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Yemen | China |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | — | ¥25 $3.70 |
| Minimum wage /mo | ﷼21,000 $88.07 | ¥2,740 $405.02 |
| Minimum wage /yr | — | ¥32,880 $4,860.24 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | ﷼85,000 /mo $356.45 | ¥10,343 /mo $1,528.88 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | ﷼75,000 /mo $314.52 | ¥8,274 /mo $1,223.04 |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | ¥34,707 /yr $5,130.30 |
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.
- China
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 44 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Labour Law sets 40 hours/week standard (8 hrs/day, 5 days). Overtime limited to 36 hours/month. Weekday overtime: 150%, rest day overtime: 200%, statutory holiday overtime: 300%. The '996' culture (9am-9pm, 6 days/week) is widespread in tech but was ruled illegal by the Supreme People's Court in 2021.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from China to Yemen would see a 2283% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Yemen mandates 48 hours while China mandates 40 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Yemen are $4,227 vs $148 in China.
See this comparison from China's perspective: China vs Yemen
Compare Yemen with...
Yemen vs United States $ 7.25 /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 
Yemen vs Norway Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Yemen or China?
In Yemen, the minimum wage is ﷼21,000/mo ($88.07 USD). In China, it is ¥25/hr ($3.70 USD). Yemen has the higher rate by 2283% 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 China 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 China?
The average gross salary in Yemen is ﷼85,000/mo ($356.45 USD), compared to ¥10,343/mo ($1,528.88 USD) in China. In USD terms, workers in Yemen earn approximately 329% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Yemen and China is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in China 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 China?
Yemen has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in China. Workers in Yemen work 48 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in China 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.