Key Facts: Yemen vs South Africa Wages
- Yemen Minimum Wage
- ﷼21,000/mo ($88.07 USD)
- South Africa Minimum Wage
- R30.23/hr ($1.86 USD)
- Yemen Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ﷼85,000 /mo ($356.45 USD)
- South Africa Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- R26,500 /mo ($1,630.41 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Yemen economic monitors (2026-02-25), Department of Employment and Labour; 2026 figure cross-verified via Wikipedia List of countries by minimum wage (eff 2026-03-01) (2026-05-04)
Yemen 
South Africa
Updated 2026-05-04
The minimum wage in Yemen is roughly 47 times higher than in South Africa 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 $1,630/mo in South Africa, a 4.6:1 ratio. Yemen has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 17.3% compared to 32.4%.
Yemen's unemployment rate is 17.3% compared to South Africa's 32.4%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Yemen | South Africa |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | — | R30.23 $1.86 |
| Minimum wage /mo | ﷼21,000 $88.07 | R5,239.87 $322.38 |
| Minimum wage /yr | — | R62,878.40 $3,868.58 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | ﷼85,000 /mo $356.45 | R26,500 /mo $1,630.41 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | ﷼75,000 /mo $314.52 | R21,500 /mo $1,322.78 |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | R72,000 /yr $4,429.79 |
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.
- South Africa
-
45 hrs/wk standard
Max 45 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Basic Conditions of Employment Act sets maximum ordinary hours at 45 per week (9 hrs/day for 5-day week, or 8 hrs/day for 6-day week). Overtime maximum of 10 additional hours per week. Overtime rate is 1.5x; Sunday/public holiday work is 2x.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from South Africa to Yemen would see a 4635% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Yemen mandates 48 hours while South Africa mandates 45 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Yemen are $4,227 vs $84 in South Africa.
See this comparison from South Africa's perspective: South Africa 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 South Africa?
In Yemen, the minimum wage is ﷼21,000/mo ($88.07 USD). In South Africa, it is R30.23/hr ($1.86 USD). Yemen has the higher rate by 4635% 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 South Africa 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 South Africa?
The average gross salary in Yemen is ﷼85,000/mo ($356.45 USD), compared to R26,500/mo ($1,630.41 USD) in South Africa. In USD terms, workers in Yemen earn approximately 357% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Yemen and South Africa is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in South Africa 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 South Africa?
Yemen has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 45 hours in South Africa. Workers in Yemen work 48 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in South Africa 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.