Key Facts: Yemen vs Colombia Wages
- Yemen Minimum Wage
- ﷼21,000/mo ($88.07 USD)
- Colombia Minimum Wage
- COP7,295.44/hr ($1.77 USD)
- Yemen Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ﷼85,000 /mo ($356.45 USD)
- Colombia Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- COP2,200,000 /mo ($532.69 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Yemen economic monitors (2026-02-25), Ministerio del Trabajo y Seguridad Social; 2026 SMLMV per Decretos 1469 y 1470 de 2025 + Decreto 0159 de 2026 (auxilio de transporte) (2026-05-27)
Yemen 
Colombia
Updated 2026-05-27
The minimum wage in Yemen is roughly 50 times higher than in Colombia in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a low-income and a upper-middle-income economy. Average salaries are lower in Yemen at $356/mo compared to $533/mo in Colombia. Colombia has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 8.3% compared to 17.3%.
Yemen's unemployment rate is 17.3% compared to Colombia's 8.3%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Yemen | Colombia |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | — | COP7,295.44 $1.77 |
| Minimum wage /mo | ﷼21,000 $88.07 | COP1,750,905 $423.95 |
| Minimum wage /yr | — | COP22,761,765 $5,511.32 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | ﷼85,000 /mo $356.45 | COP2,200,000 /mo $532.69 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | ﷼75,000 /mo $314.52 | COP1,936,000 /mo $468.77 |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | COP16,800,000 /yr $4,067.80 |
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.
- Colombia
-
44 hrs/wk standard
Max 44 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.25x pay
Colombia is reducing the workweek from 48 to 42 hours under Ley 2101 de 2021 in annual steps. As of 2026-01-01, the maximum is 44 hours/week. The final step (44h → 42h) takes effect July 2026. Daytime overtime: 25% premium. Night overtime: 75% premium. Sunday/holiday work: 75% premium (175% if also overtime).
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from Colombia to Yemen would see a 4885% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Yemen mandates 48 hours while Colombia mandates 44 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Yemen are $4,227 vs $78 in Colombia.
See this comparison from Colombia's perspective: Colombia 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 Colombia?
In Yemen, the minimum wage is ﷼21,000/mo ($88.07 USD). In Colombia, it is COP7,295.44/hr ($1.77 USD). Yemen has the higher rate by 4885% 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 Colombia 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 Colombia?
The average gross salary in Yemen is ﷼85,000/mo ($356.45 USD), compared to COP2,200,000/mo ($532.69 USD) in Colombia. In USD terms, workers in Yemen earn approximately 49% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Yemen and Colombia is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Colombia 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 Colombia?
Yemen has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 44 hours in Colombia. Workers in Yemen work 48 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Colombia 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.