Key Facts: Yemen vs Papua New Guinea Wages
- Yemen Minimum Wage
- ﷼21,000/mo ($88.07 USD)
- Papua New Guinea Minimum Wage
- K3.50/hr ($0.93 USD)
- Yemen Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ﷼85,000 /mo ($356.45 USD)
- Papua New Guinea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- K2,200 /mo ($585.11 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Yemen economic monitors (2026-02-25), Department of Labour and Industrial Relations — Papua New Guinea / ILO (2026-02-25)
Yemen
Papua New Guinea
Updated 2026-02-25
The minimum wage in Yemen is roughly 95 times higher than in Papua New Guinea in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a low-income and a lower-middle-income economy. Average salaries are lower in Yemen at $356/mo compared to $585/mo in Papua New Guinea. Papua New Guinea has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 2.6% compared to 17.3%.
Yemen's unemployment rate is 17.3% compared to Papua New Guinea's 2.6%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Yemen | Papua New Guinea |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | — | K3.50 $0.93 |
| Minimum wage /mo | ﷼21,000 $88.07 | K606.67 $161.35 |
| Minimum wage /yr | — | K7,280 $1,936.17 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | ﷼85,000 /mo $356.45 | K2,200 /mo $585.11 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | ﷼75,000 /mo $314.52 | K1,900 /mo $505.32 |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | K7,200 /yr $1,914.89 |
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.
- Papua New Guinea
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Papua New Guinea Employment Act sets a standard 40-hour week (8 hours/day, 5 days). Maximum is 48 hours including overtime. Overtime is paid at 1.5x the ordinary rate. Work on Sundays is at 2x. The extractive sector often operates on rotating shift schedules under enterprise agreements.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from Papua New Guinea to Yemen would see a 9361% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Yemen mandates 48 hours while Papua New Guinea mandates 40 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Yemen are $4,227 vs $37 in Papua New Guinea.
See this comparison from Papua New Guinea's perspective: Papua New Guinea vs Yemen
Compare Yemen with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Yemen or Papua New Guinea?
In Yemen, the minimum wage is ﷼21,000/mo ($88.07 USD). In Papua New Guinea, it is K3.50/hr ($0.93 USD). Yemen has the higher rate by 9361% 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 Papua New Guinea 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 Papua New Guinea?
The average gross salary in Yemen is ﷼85,000/mo ($356.45 USD), compared to K2,200/mo ($585.11 USD) in Papua New Guinea. In USD terms, workers in Yemen earn approximately 64% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Yemen and Papua New Guinea is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Papua New Guinea 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 Papua New Guinea?
Yemen has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in Papua New Guinea. Workers in Yemen work 48 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Papua New Guinea 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.