Key Facts: Yemen vs Spain Wages
- Yemen Minimum Wage
- ﷼21,000/mo ($88.07 USD)
- Spain Minimum Wage
- €7.96/hr ($9.27 USD)
- Yemen Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ﷼85,000 /mo ($356.45 USD)
- Spain Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- €2,450 /mo ($2,853.15 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Yemen economic monitors (2026-02-25), Ministerio de Trabajo y Economía Social (2026-03-02)
Yemen
Spain
Updated 2026-03-02
The minimum wage in Yemen is roughly 10 times higher than in Spain 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 $2,853/mo in Spain, a 8.0:1 ratio. Spain has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 10.4% compared to 17.3%.
Yemen's unemployment rate is 17.3% compared to Spain's 10.4%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Yemen | Spain |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | — | €7.96 $9.27 |
| Minimum wage /mo | ﷼21,000 $88.07 | €1,221 $1,421.92 |
| Minimum wage /yr | — | €17,094 $19,906.84 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | ﷼85,000 /mo $356.45 | €2,450 /mo $2,853.15 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | ﷼75,000 /mo $314.52 | €1,900 /mo $2,212.65 |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | €22,000 /yr $25,620.12 |
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.
- Spain
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Standard workweek is 40 hours (Workers' Statute, Article 34). Maximum 80 hours of overtime per year. Overtime compensation is set by collective agreement or individual contract, with a minimum of regular hourly rate or equivalent time off. EU Working Time Directive caps average weekly hours at 48.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from Spain to Yemen would see a 850% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Yemen mandates 48 hours while Spain mandates 40 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Yemen are $4,227 vs $371 in Spain.
See this comparison from Spain's perspective: Spain vs Yemen
Compare Yemen with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Yemen or Spain?
In Yemen, the minimum wage is ﷼21,000/mo ($88.07 USD). In Spain, it is €7.96/hr ($9.27 USD). Yemen has the higher rate by 850% 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 Spain 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 Spain?
The average gross salary in Yemen is ﷼85,000/mo ($356.45 USD), compared to €2,450/mo ($2,853.15 USD) in Spain. In USD terms, workers in Yemen earn approximately 700% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Yemen and Spain is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Spain 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 Spain?
Yemen has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in Spain. Workers in Yemen work 48 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Spain 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.