Key Facts: Yemen vs Kuwait Wages
- Yemen Minimum Wage
- ﷼21,000/mo ($88.07 USD)
- Kuwait Minimum Wage
- KWD0.39/hr ($1.27 USD)
- Yemen Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ﷼85,000 /mo ($356.45 USD)
- Kuwait Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- KWD1,200 /mo ($3,908.79 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Yemen economic monitors (2026-02-25), Public Authority for Manpower — State of Kuwait (2026-02-24)
Yemen 
Kuwait
Updated 2026-02-25
The minimum wage in Yemen is roughly 69 times higher than in Kuwait 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 $3,909/mo in Kuwait, a 11.0:1 ratio. Kuwait has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 2.2% compared to 17.3%.
Yemen's unemployment rate is 17.3% compared to Kuwait's 2.2%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Yemen | Kuwait |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | — | KWD0.39 $1.27 |
| Minimum wage /mo | ﷼21,000 $88.07 | KWD75 $244.30 |
| Minimum wage /yr | — | KWD900 $2,931.60 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | ﷼85,000 /mo $356.45 | KWD1,200 /mo $3,908.79 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | ﷼75,000 /mo $314.52 | KWD1,200 /mo $3,908.79 |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | KWD9,600 /yr $31,270.36 |
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.
- Kuwait
-
48 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.25x pay
Labour Law No. 6 of 2010 sets the standard workweek at 48 hours (8 hours/day). During Ramadan, working hours are reduced to 36 hours/week (6 hours/day). Overtime premium is 25% of regular pay, with work on rest days or public holidays at double pay. Government sector hours are typically 35 hours/week.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from Kuwait to Yemen would see a 6832% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings.
See this comparison from Kuwait's perspective: Kuwait 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 Kuwait?
In Yemen, the minimum wage is ﷼21,000/mo ($88.07 USD). In Kuwait, it is KWD0.39/hr ($1.27 USD). Yemen has the higher rate by 6832% 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 Kuwait 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 Kuwait?
The average gross salary in Yemen is ﷼85,000/mo ($356.45 USD), compared to KWD1,200/mo ($3,908.79 USD) in Kuwait. In USD terms, workers in Yemen earn approximately 997% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Yemen and Kuwait is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Kuwait 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 Kuwait?
Both Yemen and Kuwait 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.