Key Facts: Yemen vs Iran Wages
- Yemen Minimum Wage
- ﷼21,000/mo ($88.07 USD)
- Iran Minimum Wage
- ﷼692,731/hr ($1.02 USD)
- Yemen Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ﷼85,000 /mo ($356.45 USD)
- Iran Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ﷼400,000,000 /mo ($588.24 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Yemen economic monitors (2026-02-25), Supreme Labour Council / ILO ILOSTAT. 2026 (Iranian year 1405) figure verified via WageIndicator (March 22, 2026 update) and Euronews coverage of 60% nominal increase amid sanctions pressure. (2026-05-04)
Yemen 
Iran
Updated 2026-05-04
The minimum wage in Yemen is roughly 86 times higher than in Iran in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a low-income and a lower-middle-income economy. Average salaries are lower in Yemen at $356/mo compared to $588/mo in Iran. Iran has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 8.3% compared to 17.3%.
Yemen's unemployment rate is 17.3% compared to Iran's 8.3%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Yemen | Iran |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | — | ﷼692,731 $1.02 |
| Minimum wage /day | — | ﷼5,541,850 $8.15 |
| Minimum wage /mo | ﷼21,000 $88.07 | ﷼166,255,500 $244.49 |
| Minimum wage /yr | — | ﷼1,995,066,000 $2,933.92 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | ﷼85,000 /mo $356.45 | ﷼400,000,000 /mo $588.24 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | ﷼75,000 /mo $314.52 | N/A/mo |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | ﷼1,440,000,000 /yr $2,117.65 |
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.
- Iran
-
44 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.4x pay
Article 51 of the Labour Law sets ordinary working hours at 44 hours per week (8 hours/day, 6 days, with 4 hours on the sixth day — or equivalent arrangements). Maximum including overtime is 48 hours/week. Overtime is compensated at 140% of the ordinary hourly rate. Friday is the official weekly rest day. Workers in hazardous conditions have reduced hours.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from Iran to Yemen would see a 8545% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Yemen mandates 48 hours while Iran mandates 44 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Yemen are $4,227 vs $45 in Iran.
See this comparison from Iran's perspective: Iran 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 Iran?
In Yemen, the minimum wage is ﷼21,000/mo ($88.07 USD). In Iran, it is ﷼692,731/hr ($1.02 USD). Yemen has the higher rate by 8545% 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 Iran 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 Iran?
The average gross salary in Yemen is ﷼85,000/mo ($356.45 USD), compared to ﷼400,000,000/mo ($588.24 USD) in Iran. In USD terms, workers in Yemen earn approximately 65% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Yemen and Iran is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Iran 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 Iran?
Yemen has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 44 hours in Iran. Workers in Yemen work 48 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Iran 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.