Key Facts: Yemen vs Japan Wages
- Yemen Minimum Wage
- ﷼21,000/mo ($88.07 USD)
- Japan Minimum Wage
- ¥1,121/hr ($7.03 USD)
- Yemen Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ﷼85,000 /mo ($356.45 USD)
- Japan Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ¥398,333 /mo ($2,497.54 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Yemen economic monitors (2026-02-25), Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (2026-05-23)
Yemen 
Japan
Updated 2026-05-23
The minimum wage in Yemen is roughly 13 times higher than in Japan 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 $2,498/mo in Japan, a 7.0:1 ratio. Japan has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 2.5% compared to 17.3%.
Yemen's unemployment rate is 17.3% compared to Japan's 2.5%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Yemen | Japan |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | — | ¥1,121 $7.03 |
| Minimum wage /mo | ﷼21,000 $88.07 | ¥194,303 $1,218.28 |
| Minimum wage /yr | — | ¥2,331,680 $14,619.60 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | ﷼85,000 /mo $356.45 | ¥398,333 /mo $2,497.54 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | ﷼75,000 /mo $314.52 | ¥290,833 /mo $1,823.52 |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | ¥3,620,000 /yr $22,697.35 |
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.
- Japan
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Overtime : 1.25x pay
Labour Standards Act sets 40 hrs/week base. Overtime premium 25% (50% over 60 hrs/month). Late night (10pm-5am) adds 25%. Holiday work adds 35%.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from Japan to Yemen would see a 1153% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Yemen mandates 48 hours while Japan mandates 40 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Yemen are $4,227 vs $281 in Japan.
See this comparison from Japan's perspective: Japan 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 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 Japan?
In Yemen, the minimum wage is ﷼21,000/mo ($88.07 USD). In Japan, it is ¥1,121/hr ($7.03 USD). Yemen has the higher rate by 1153% 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 Japan 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 Japan?
The average gross salary in Yemen is ﷼85,000/mo ($356.45 USD), compared to ¥398,333/mo ($2,497.54 USD) in Japan. In USD terms, workers in Yemen earn approximately 601% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Yemen and Japan is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Japan 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 Japan?
Yemen has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in Japan. Workers in Yemen work 48 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Japan 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.