Yemen Saudi Arabia

Updated 2026-05-04

Yemen

Minimum Wage

﷼21,000 /mo

$88.07 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

﷼85,000 /mo

Saudi Arabia

Minimum Wage

﷼23.08 /hr

$6.15 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

﷼10,500 /mo

Min wage: +1331% Yemen vs Saudi Arabia Avg. salary: -87% Yemen vs Saudi Arabia

The minimum wage in Yemen is roughly 14 times higher than in Saudi Arabia 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 $2,800/mo in Saudi Arabia, a 7.9:1 ratio. Saudi Arabia has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 3.0% compared to 17.3%.

Yemen's unemployment rate is 17.3% compared to Saudi Arabia's 3.0%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Yemen and Saudi Arabia
Metric	Yemen	Saudi Arabia	Diff
Minimum wage /hr	—	﷼23.08 $6.15	—
Minimum wage /mo	﷼21,000 $88.07	﷼4,000 $1,066.67	-91.7%
Minimum wage /yr	—	﷼48,000 $12,800	—
Avg. gross salary /mo	﷼85,000 /mo $356.45	﷼10,500 /mo $2,800	-87.3%
Avg. net salary /mo	﷼75,000 /mo $314.52	﷼10,500 /mo $2,800	-88.8%

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.
Saudi Arabia: 48 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.5x pay

Saudi Labour Law sets 8 hrs/day, 48 hrs/week (6-day week). During Ramadan, reduced to 6 hrs/day, 36 hrs/week for Muslim employees. Overtime capped at 2 hrs/day. Overtime paid at base hourly rate + 50%. Friday is the standard weekly rest day. Government sector works 35 hrs/week (Sun-Thu).

What This Means for Workers

A minimum wage worker moving from Saudi Arabia to Yemen would see a 1331% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings.

See this comparison from Saudi Arabia's perspective: Saudi Arabia vs Yemen

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Yemen or Saudi Arabia?

In Yemen, the minimum wage is ﷼21,000/mo ($88.07 USD). In Saudi Arabia, it is ﷼23.08/hr ($6.15 USD). Yemen has the higher rate by 1331% 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 Saudi Arabia 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 Saudi Arabia?

The average gross salary in Yemen is ﷼85,000/mo ($356.45 USD), compared to ﷼10,500/mo ($2,800 USD) in Saudi Arabia. In USD terms, workers in Yemen earn approximately 686% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Yemen and Saudi Arabia is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Saudi Arabia 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 Saudi Arabia?

Both Yemen and Saudi Arabia 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.