Key Facts: Yemen vs Somalia Wages
- Yemen Minimum Wage
- ﷼21,000/mo ($88.07 USD)
- Somalia Minimum Wage
- No statutory minimum wage
- Yemen Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ﷼85,000 /mo ($356.45 USD)
- Somalia Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Sh150,000 /mo ($262.70 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Yemen economic monitors (2026-02-25), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / UN OCHA Somalia (2026-02-25)
Yemen 
Somalia
Updated 2026-02-25
Unlike Somalia, which has no statutory minimum wage, Yemen mandates a wage floor of $88/mo. Average salaries are higher in Yemen at $356/mo compared to $263/mo in Somalia.
Yemen's unemployment rate is 17.3% compared to Somalia's 18.9%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Yemen | Somalia |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /mo | ﷼21,000 $88.07 | None |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | ﷼85,000 /mo $356.45 | Sh150,000 /mo $262.70 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | ﷼75,000 /mo $314.52 | Sh140,000 /mo $245.18 |
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.
- Somalia
-
48 hrs/wk standard
No reliable standardised workweek provisions are enforced. Friday is the weekly rest day. Labour conditions vary widely between sectors — from formal NGO employment with international standards to highly exploitative informal arrangements. Somaliland and Puntland have some locally administered labour rules.
See this comparison from Somalia's perspective: Somalia 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 Somalia?
In Yemen, the minimum wage is ﷼21,000/mo ($88.07 USD). In Somalia, it is no statutory minimum wage.
How much more does the average worker earn in Yemen compared to Somalia?
The average gross salary in Yemen is ﷼85,000/mo ($356.45 USD), compared to Sh150,000/mo ($262.70 USD) in Somalia. In USD terms, workers in Yemen earn approximately 36% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Yemen and Somalia is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Yemen earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Somalia.
How do work hours compare between Yemen and Somalia?
Both Yemen and Somalia 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.