Key Facts: Yemen vs Israel Wages
- Yemen Minimum Wage
- ﷼21,000/mo ($88.07 USD)
- Israel Minimum Wage
- ₪35.40/hr ($12.57 USD)
- Yemen Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ﷼85,000 /mo ($356.45 USD)
- Israel Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ₪12,000 /mo ($4,262.12 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Yemen economic monitors (2026-02-25), Ministry of Economy and Industry / National Insurance Institute; 2026 figure verified via Wikipedia List of countries by minimum wage (eff 2026-04-01) (2026-05-04)
Yemen 
Israel
Updated 2026-05-04
The minimum wage in Yemen is roughly 7 times higher than in Israel 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 $4,262/mo in Israel, a 12.0:1 ratio. Israel has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 3.5% compared to 17.3%.
Yemen's unemployment rate is 17.3% compared to Israel's 3.5%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Yemen | Israel |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | — | ₪35.40 $12.57 |
| Minimum wage /mo | ﷼21,000 $88.07 | ₪6,443.85 $2,288.71 |
| Minimum wage /yr | — | ₪77,326.20 $27,464.46 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | ﷼85,000 /mo $356.45 | ₪12,000 /mo $4,262.12 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | ﷼75,000 /mo $314.52 | ₪9,000 /mo $3,196.59 |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | ₪108,000 /yr $38,359.08 |
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.
- Israel
-
42 hrs/wk standard
Max 42 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.25x pay
Standard workweek reduced from 43 to 42 hours in April 2018. Typically 5-day work week (8.4 hrs/day) or 6-day week. First 2 overtime hours: 125% of regular rate; subsequent hours: 150%. Weekly rest day is typically Friday evening to Saturday evening (Shabbat). Maximum 12 hours in any workday.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from Israel to Yemen would see a 600% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Yemen mandates 48 hours while Israel mandates 42 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Yemen are $4,227 vs $528 in Israel.
See this comparison from Israel's perspective: Israel 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 Israel?
In Yemen, the minimum wage is ﷼21,000/mo ($88.07 USD). In Israel, it is ₪35.40/hr ($12.57 USD). Yemen has the higher rate by 600% 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 Israel 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 Israel?
The average gross salary in Yemen is ﷼85,000/mo ($356.45 USD), compared to ₪12,000/mo ($4,262.12 USD) in Israel. In USD terms, workers in Yemen earn approximately 1096% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Yemen and Israel is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Israel 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 Israel?
Yemen has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 42 hours in Israel. Workers in Yemen work 48 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Israel 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.