Key Facts: Yemen vs Mauritania Wages
- Yemen Minimum Wage
- ﷼21,000/mo ($88.07 USD)
- Mauritania Minimum Wage
- UM30,000/mo ($750 USD)
- Yemen Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ﷼85,000 /mo ($356.45 USD)
- Mauritania Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- UM65,000 /mo ($1,625 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Yemen economic monitors (2026-02-25), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Ministère du Travail de Mauritanie (2026-02-25)
Yemen
Mauritania
Updated 2026-02-25
The minimum wage in Yemen is roughly 9 times lower than in Mauritania in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a low-income and a lower-middle-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $356/mo in Yemen versus $1,625/mo in Mauritania, a 4.6:1 ratio. Mauritania has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 10.3% compared to 17.3%.
Yemen's unemployment rate is 17.3% compared to Mauritania's 10.3%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Yemen | Mauritania |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /day | — | UM1,200 $30 |
| Minimum wage /mo | ﷼21,000 $88.07 | UM30,000 $750 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | ﷼85,000 /mo $356.45 | UM65,000 /mo $1,625 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | ﷼75,000 /mo $314.52 | N/A/mo |
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.
- Mauritania
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Labour Code sets 40 hours/week, with Friday as the rest day. Arabic is the official language; French widely used in business. Some sectors may observe Thursday–Friday weekends.
• WAGE TRAJECTORY (USD/mo)
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker in Yemen earns 752% less per hour in USD terms than one in Mauritania. Standard work weeks differ: Yemen mandates 48 hours while Mauritania mandates 40 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Yemen are $4,227 vs $30,000 in Mauritania.
See this comparison from Mauritania's perspective: Mauritania vs Yemen
Compare Yemen with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Yemen or Mauritania?
In Yemen, the minimum wage is ﷼21,000/mo ($88.07 USD). In Mauritania, it is UM30,000/mo ($750 USD). Mauritania has the higher rate by 752% 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 Yemen 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 Mauritania?
The average gross salary in Yemen is ﷼85,000/mo ($356.45 USD), compared to UM65,000/mo ($1,625 USD) in Mauritania. In USD terms, workers in Yemen earn approximately 356% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Yemen and Mauritania is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Mauritania 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 Mauritania?
Yemen has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in Mauritania. Workers in Yemen work 48 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Mauritania 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.