Key Facts: Yemen vs Kenya Wages
- Yemen Minimum Wage
- ﷼21,000/mo ($88.07 USD)
- Kenya Minimum Wage
- KSh93/hr ($0.61 USD)
- Yemen Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ﷼85,000 /mo ($356.45 USD)
- Kenya Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- KSh50,000 /mo ($325.73 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Yemen economic monitors (2026-02-25), Ministry of Labour and Social Protection; Legal Notice No. 164 of 2024 (eff 2024-11-01) per labour.go.ke gazette PDF (2026-05-27)
Yemen 
Kenya
Updated 2026-05-27
The minimum wage in Yemen is roughly 145 times higher than in Kenya in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a low-income and a lower-middle-income economy. Average salaries are higher in Yemen at $356/mo compared to $326/mo in Kenya. Kenya has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 5.5% compared to 17.3%.
Yemen's unemployment rate is 17.3% compared to Kenya's 5.5%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Yemen | Kenya |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | — | KSh93 $0.61 |
| Minimum wage /mo | ﷼21,000 $88.07 | KSh16,113.75 $104.98 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | ﷼85,000 /mo $356.45 | KSh50,000 /mo $325.73 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | ﷼75,000 /mo $314.52 | KSh38,500 /mo $250.81 |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | KSh180,000 /yr $1,172.64 |
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.
- Kenya
-
52 hrs/wk standard
Max 52 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Employment Act sets maximum normal working hours at 52 per week. Most formal sector employees work 40-45 hours by contract. Overtime paid at 1.5x normal rate. Work on rest days paid at 2x. Public holidays at 2x.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from Kenya to Yemen would see a 14435% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Yemen mandates 48 hours while Kenya mandates 52 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Yemen are $4,227 vs $32 in Kenya.
See this comparison from Kenya's perspective: Kenya 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 Kenya?
In Yemen, the minimum wage is ﷼21,000/mo ($88.07 USD). In Kenya, it is KSh93/hr ($0.61 USD). Yemen has the higher rate by 14435% 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 Kenya may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much more does the average worker earn in Yemen compared to Kenya?
The average gross salary in Yemen is ﷼85,000/mo ($356.45 USD), compared to KSh50,000/mo ($325.73 USD) in Kenya. In USD terms, workers in Yemen earn approximately 9% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Yemen and Kenya is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Yemen earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Kenya.
How do work hours compare between Yemen and Kenya?
Kenya has a longer standard work week at 52 hours, compared to 48 hours in Yemen. Workers in Yemen work 48 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Yemen 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.