Key Facts: Yemen vs Turkey Wages
- Yemen Minimum Wage
- ﷼21,000/mo ($88.07 USD)
- Turkey Minimum Wage
- ₺164.94/hr ($3.59 USD)
- Yemen Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ﷼85,000 /mo ($356.45 USD)
- Turkey Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ₺25,482 /mo ($555.24 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Yemen economic monitors (2026-02-25), Ministry of Labour and Social Security (Çalışma ve Sosyal Güvenlik Bakanlığı); 2026 figure announced by Minister Vedat Işıkhan, verified via Daily Sabah (dailysabah.com) (2026-05-04)
Yemen 
Turkey
Updated 2026-05-04
The minimum wage in Yemen is roughly 25 times higher than in Turkey in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a low-income and a upper-middle-income economy. Average salaries are lower in Yemen at $356/mo compared to $555/mo in Turkey. Turkey has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 8.5% compared to 17.3%.
Yemen's unemployment rate is 17.3% compared to Turkey's 8.5%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Yemen | Turkey |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | — | ₺164.94 $3.59 |
| Minimum wage /mo | ﷼21,000 $88.07 | ₺33,030 $719.70 |
| Minimum wage /yr | — | ₺396,360 $8,636.42 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | ﷼85,000 /mo $356.45 | ₺25,482 /mo $555.24 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | ﷼75,000 /mo $314.52 | ₺20,021 /mo $436.24 |
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.
- Turkey
-
45 hrs/wk standard
Max 45 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Standard workweek is 45 hours under the Labour Act (No. 4857). Can be distributed unevenly across days of the week, but no more than 11 hours/day. Overtime is limited to 270 hours/year. Overtime premium is 50%; weekend/holiday work is at 100% premium if the worker does not get a substitute rest day.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from Turkey to Yemen would see a 2350% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Yemen mandates 48 hours while Turkey mandates 45 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Yemen are $4,227 vs $162 in Turkey.
See this comparison from Turkey's perspective: Turkey 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 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 
Yemen vs Norway Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Yemen or Turkey?
In Yemen, the minimum wage is ﷼21,000/mo ($88.07 USD). In Turkey, it is ₺164.94/hr ($3.59 USD). Yemen has the higher rate by 2350% 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 Turkey 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 Turkey?
The average gross salary in Yemen is ﷼85,000/mo ($356.45 USD), compared to ₺25,482/mo ($555.24 USD) in Turkey. In USD terms, workers in Yemen earn approximately 56% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Yemen and Turkey is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Turkey 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 Turkey?
Yemen has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 45 hours in Turkey. Workers in Yemen work 48 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Turkey 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.