Key Facts: Australia vs Eritrea Wages
- Australia Minimum Wage
- A$24.95/hr ($17.90 USD)
- Eritrea Minimum Wage
- Nfk600/mo ($40 USD)
- Australia Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- A$7,833 /mo ($5,619.08 USD)
- Eritrea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Nfk6,000 /mo ($400 USD)
- Data Sources
- Fair Work Commission / Fair Work Ombudsman (2026-05-27), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / OHCHR Eritrea reports (2026-02-25)
Australia 
Eritrea
Updated 2026-05-27
The minimum wage in Australia is 55% lower than in Eritrea in USD terms, though average salaries tell a different story. Average gross salaries diverge further: $5,619/mo in Australia versus $400/mo in Eritrea, a 14.0:1 ratio.
Australia's unemployment rate is 4.1% compared to Eritrea's 6.0%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Australia | Eritrea |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | A$24.95 $17.90 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | A$4,108 $2,946.92 | Nfk600 $40 |
| Minimum wage /yr | A$49,296 $35,362.98 | — |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | A$7,833 /mo $5,619.08 | Nfk6,000 /mo $400 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | A$5,875 /mo $4,214.49 | Nfk5,400 /mo $360 |
| Median individual income /yr | A$67,600 /yr $48,493.54 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Australia is higher.
Work Week
- Australia
-
38 hrs/wk standard
Max 38 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Standard full-time workweek is 38 hours. Employers can request reasonable additional hours. Overtime and penalty rates vary by Modern Award.
- Eritrea
-
44 hrs/wk standard
Labour Law sets 44 hours/week for civilian workers (8 hours/day, 5.5 days). However, the national service program operates under military regulations outside normal labour law. No reliable enforcement or monitoring data is available.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker in Australia earns 123% less per hour in USD terms than one in Eritrea. Standard work weeks differ: Australia mandates 38 hours while Eritrea mandates 44 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Australia are $680 vs $1,760 in Eritrea.
See this comparison from Eritrea's perspective: Eritrea vs Australia
Compare Australia with...
Australia vs United States $ 7.25 /hr 
Australia vs China ¥ 25 /hr 
Australia vs Germany € 13.9 /hr 
Australia vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr 
Australia vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo 
Australia vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr 
Australia vs France € 12.02 /hr 
Australia vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
Australia vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr 
Australia vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
Australia vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr 
Australia vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo 
Australia vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr 
Australia vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr 
Australia vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr 
Australia vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr 
Australia vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr 
Australia vs Switzerland 
Australia vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr 
Australia vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo 
Australia vs Sweden 
Australia vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr 
Australia vs Singapore 
Australia vs Norway Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Australia or Eritrea?
In Australia, the minimum wage is A$24.95/hr ($17.90 USD). In Eritrea, it is Nfk600/mo ($40 USD). Eritrea has the higher rate by 123% 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 Australia may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much more does the average worker earn in Australia compared to Eritrea?
The average gross salary in Australia is A$7,833/mo ($5,619.08 USD), compared to Nfk6,000/mo ($400 USD) in Eritrea. In USD terms, workers in Australia earn approximately 1305% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Australia and Eritrea is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Australia earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Eritrea.
How do work hours compare between Australia and Eritrea?
Eritrea has a longer standard work week at 44 hours, compared to 38 hours in Australia. Workers in Australia work 38 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Australia 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.