Key Facts: Yemen vs Iraq Wages
- Yemen Minimum Wage
- ﷼21,000/mo ($88.07 USD)
- Iraq Minimum Wage
- ع.د1,823/hr ($1.40 USD)
- Yemen Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ﷼85,000 /mo ($356.45 USD)
- Iraq Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ع.د700,000 /mo ($536.40 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Yemen economic monitors (2026-02-25), Iraqi Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs / ILO (2026-02-25)
Yemen 
Iraq
Updated 2026-02-25
The minimum wage in Yemen is roughly 63 times higher than in Iraq 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 $536/mo in Iraq.
Yemen's unemployment rate is 17.3% compared to Iraq's 15.5%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Yemen | Iraq |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | — | ع.د1,823 $1.40 |
| Minimum wage /day | — | ع.د14,583 $11.17 |
| Minimum wage /mo | ﷼21,000 $88.07 | ع.د350,000 $268.20 |
| Minimum wage /yr | — | ع.د4,200,000 $3,218.39 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | ﷼85,000 /mo $356.45 | ع.د700,000 /mo $536.40 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | ﷼75,000 /mo $314.52 | N/A/mo |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | ع.د3,360,000 /yr $2,574.71 |
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.
- Iraq
-
48 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Labour Law No. 37 of 2015 sets maximum ordinary working hours at 8 per day / 48 per week. Friday is the weekly rest day. Overtime is compensated at 150% of normal hourly rate. Work on official holidays is paid at 200%. Ramadan working hours are reduced. Public sector employees typically work ~40 hours/week in practice.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from Iraq to Yemen would see a 6204% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings.
See this comparison from Iraq's perspective: Iraq 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 Iraq?
In Yemen, the minimum wage is ﷼21,000/mo ($88.07 USD). In Iraq, it is ع.د1,823/hr ($1.40 USD). Yemen has the higher rate by 6204% 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 Iraq 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 Iraq?
The average gross salary in Yemen is ﷼85,000/mo ($356.45 USD), compared to ع.د700,000/mo ($536.40 USD) in Iraq. In USD terms, workers in Yemen earn approximately 50% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Yemen and Iraq is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Iraq 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 Iraq?
Both Yemen and Iraq mandate a similar standard work week of 48 hours. When work hours are equal, the country with the higher minimum wage delivers proportionally higher weekly earnings. Standard work week rules set the baseline; actual hours worked often differ based on industry norms and individual employment contracts.