Key Facts: Yemen vs Malaysia Wages
- Yemen Minimum Wage
- ﷼21,000/mo ($88.07 USD)
- Malaysia Minimum Wage
- RM8.72/hr ($2.20 USD)
- Yemen Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ﷼85,000 /mo ($356.45 USD)
- Malaysia Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- RM4,000 /mo ($1,008.83 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Yemen economic monitors (2026-02-25), Ministry of Human Resources (MOHR); Minimum Wages Order 2024 P.U.(A) 376 eff 2025-02-01; primary source gajiminimum.mohr.gov.my (2026-05-27)
Yemen 
Malaysia
Updated 2026-05-27
The minimum wage in Yemen is roughly 40 times higher than in Malaysia in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a low-income and a upper-middle-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $356/mo in Yemen versus $1,009/mo in Malaysia, a 2.8:1 ratio. Malaysia has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 3.8% compared to 17.3%.
Yemen's unemployment rate is 17.3% compared to Malaysia's 3.8%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Yemen | Malaysia |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | — | RM8.72 $2.20 |
| Minimum wage /mo | ﷼21,000 $88.07 | RM1,700 $428.75 |
| Minimum wage /yr | — | RM20,400 $5,145.02 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | ﷼85,000 /mo $356.45 | RM4,000 /mo $1,008.83 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | ﷼75,000 /mo $314.52 | RM3,520 /mo $887.77 |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | RM31,200 /yr $7,868.85 |
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.
- Malaysia
-
45 hrs/wk standard
Max 45 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Employment Act 1955 (amended 2022) reduced maximum working hours from 48 to 45 hours/week, effective 1 January 2023. Maximum 8 hours/day or 45 hours/week. Overtime at 1.5x on normal days, 2x on rest days, 3x on public holidays. Maximum overtime: 104 hours/month. Applies to employees earning up to MYR 4,000/mo (threshold raised from MYR 2,000 in 2023 amendments).
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from Malaysia to Yemen would see a 3904% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Yemen mandates 48 hours while Malaysia mandates 45 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Yemen are $4,227 vs $99 in Malaysia.
See this comparison from Malaysia's perspective: Malaysia 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 Malaysia?
In Yemen, the minimum wage is ﷼21,000/mo ($88.07 USD). In Malaysia, it is RM8.72/hr ($2.20 USD). Yemen has the higher rate by 3904% 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 Malaysia 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 Malaysia?
The average gross salary in Yemen is ﷼85,000/mo ($356.45 USD), compared to RM4,000/mo ($1,008.83 USD) in Malaysia. In USD terms, workers in Yemen earn approximately 183% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Yemen and Malaysia is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Malaysia 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 Malaysia?
Yemen has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 45 hours in Malaysia. Workers in Yemen work 48 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Malaysia 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.