Key Facts: Afghanistan vs Taiwan Wages
- Afghanistan Minimum Wage
- ؋5,500/mo ($87.05 USD)
- Taiwan Minimum Wage
- NT$190/hr ($6.11 USD)
- Afghanistan Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ؋30,000 /mo ($474.83 USD)
- Taiwan Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- NT$58,000 /mo ($1,864.95 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILOSTAT (DF_EAR_INEE_CUR_NB, 2024 reporting); confirmed via Wikipedia master list (2026-05-04), Ministry of Labor (MOL), Republic of China (Taiwan) (2026-02-24)
Afghanistan 
Taiwan
Updated 2026-05-04
The minimum wage in Afghanistan is roughly 14 times higher than in Taiwan in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a low-income and a high-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $475/mo in Afghanistan versus $1,865/mo in Taiwan, a 3.9:1 ratio.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Afghanistan | Taiwan |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | — | NT$190 $6.11 |
| Minimum wage /mo | ؋5,500 $87.05 | NT$28,590 $919.29 |
| Minimum wage /yr | — | NT$343,080 $11,031.51 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | ؋30,000 /mo $474.83 | NT$58,000 /mo $1,864.95 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | ؋26,000 /mo $411.52 | NT$50,500 /mo $1,623.79 |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | NT$546,000 /yr $17,556.27 |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Afghanistan is higher.
Work Week
- Afghanistan
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Labour Law (last version under previous government) set 40 hours/week. Friday is the weekly rest day. Under Taliban administration, Thursday is sometimes also observed as a rest day. Women's employment is severely restricted under Taliban policies.
- Taiwan
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 40 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.34x pay
Labour Standards Act sets 40 hours/week, 8 hours/day. Two mandatory rest days per week (one fixed, one flexible). Overtime: first 2 hrs at 1.34x, next 2 hrs at 1.67x. Monthly overtime cap of 46 hours (may be extended to 54 hours with union/labour-management agreement, max 138 hrs/3 months).
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from Taiwan to Afghanistan would see a 1325% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings.
See this comparison from Taiwan's perspective: Taiwan vs Afghanistan
Compare Afghanistan with...
Afghanistan vs United States $ 7.25 /hr 
Afghanistan vs China ¥ 25 /hr 
Afghanistan vs Germany € 13.9 /hr 
Afghanistan vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr 
Afghanistan vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo 
Afghanistan vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr 
Afghanistan vs France € 12.02 /hr 
Afghanistan vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
Afghanistan vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr 
Afghanistan vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr 
Afghanistan vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
Afghanistan vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr 
Afghanistan vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo 
Afghanistan vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr 
Afghanistan vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr 
Afghanistan vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr 
Afghanistan vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr 
Afghanistan vs Switzerland 
Afghanistan vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr 
Afghanistan vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo 
Afghanistan vs Sweden 
Afghanistan vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr 
Afghanistan vs Singapore 
Afghanistan vs Norway Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Afghanistan or Taiwan?
In Afghanistan, the minimum wage is ؋5,500/mo ($87.05 USD). In Taiwan, it is NT$190/hr ($6.11 USD). Afghanistan has the higher rate by 1325% 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 Taiwan may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much less does the average worker earn in Afghanistan compared to Taiwan?
The average gross salary in Afghanistan is ؋30,000/mo ($474.83 USD), compared to NT$58,000/mo ($1,864.95 USD) in Taiwan. In USD terms, workers in Afghanistan earn approximately 293% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Afghanistan and Taiwan is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Taiwan earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Afghanistan.
How do work hours compare between Afghanistan and Taiwan?
Both Afghanistan and Taiwan mandate a similar standard work week of 40 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.