Key Facts: Yemen vs Sweden Wages
- Yemen Minimum Wage
- ﷼21,000/mo ($88.07 USD)
- Sweden Minimum Wage
- No statutory minimum wage
- Yemen Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ﷼85,000 /mo ($356.45 USD)
- Sweden Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- kr40,000 /mo ($4,317.74 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Yemen economic monitors (2026-02-25), Medlingsinstitutet (Swedish National Mediation Office) (2026-02-24)
Yemen
Sweden
Updated 2026-02-25
Unlike Sweden, which has no statutory minimum wage, Yemen mandates a wage floor of $88/mo. Average gross salaries diverge further: $356/mo in Yemen versus $4,318/mo in Sweden, a 12.1:1 ratio. Sweden has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 8.7% compared to 17.3%.
Yemen's unemployment rate is 17.3% compared to Sweden's 8.7%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Yemen | Sweden |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /mo | ﷼21,000 $88.07 | None |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | ﷼85,000 /mo $356.45 | kr40,000 /mo $4,317.74 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | ﷼75,000 /mo $314.52 | kr30,000 /mo $3,238.31 |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | kr367,000 /yr $39,615.29 |
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.
- Sweden
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Standard workweek is 40 hours (Working Hours Act / Arbetstidslagen). Maximum overtime is 48 hours over 4 weeks or 200 hours per calendar year. Overtime compensation is determined by collective agreements, not statute. Many agreements provide overtime at 150-200% of normal pay. EU Working Time Directive limits average to 48 hrs/week.
What This Means for Workers
Standard work weeks differ: Yemen mandates 48 hours while Sweden mandates 40 hours.
See this comparison from Sweden's perspective: Sweden vs Yemen
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Yemen or Sweden?
In Yemen, the minimum wage is ﷼21,000/mo ($88.07 USD). In Sweden, it is no statutory minimum wage.
How much less does the average worker earn in Yemen compared to Sweden?
The average gross salary in Yemen is ﷼85,000/mo ($356.45 USD), compared to kr40,000/mo ($4,317.74 USD) in Sweden. In USD terms, workers in Yemen earn approximately 1111% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Yemen and Sweden is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Sweden 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 Sweden?
Yemen has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in Sweden. Workers in Yemen work 48 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Sweden 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.