Key Facts: Bangladesh vs Eritrea Wages
- Bangladesh Minimum Wage
- ৳12,500/mo ($103.73 USD)
- Eritrea Minimum Wage
- Nfk600/mo ($40 USD)
- Bangladesh Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ৳18,000 /mo ($149.38 USD)
- Eritrea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Nfk6,000 /mo ($400 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministry of Labour and Employment / Minimum Wage Board; sectoral structure cross-referenced via Wikipedia List of countries by minimum wage (2026-05-04), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / OHCHR Eritrea reports (2026-02-25)
Bangladesh
Eritrea
Updated 2026-05-04
The minimum wage in Bangladesh is 159% higher than in Eritrea when converted to USD. Average gross salaries diverge further: $149/mo in Bangladesh versus $400/mo in Eritrea, a 2.7:1 ratio. Bangladesh has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 3.8% compared to 6.0%.
From Bangladesh's perspective: adjusting for purchasing power, Bangladesh's minimum wage buys more than Eritrea's. The PPP-adjusted hourly rate in Bangladesh is $418 international dollars, compared to $121 in Eritrea. Bangladesh's unemployment rate is 3.8% compared to Eritrea's 6.0%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Bangladesh | Eritrea |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /mo | ৳12,500 $103.73 | Nfk600 $40 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | ৳18,000 /mo $149.38 | Nfk6,000 /mo $400 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | ৳17,000 /mo $141.08 | Nfk5,400 /mo $360 |
| Median individual income /yr | ৳108,000 /yr $896.27 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Bangladesh is higher.
Work Week
- Bangladesh
-
48 hrs/wk standard
Max 60 hrs/wk
Overtime : 2x pay
Bangladesh Labour Act sets standard at 48 hours/week (8 hrs/day, 6 days). Maximum with overtime is 60 hours/week. Overtime paid at double the basic wage. Factories must provide one day off per week.
- 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.
• WAGE TRAJECTORY (USD/mo)
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from Eritrea to Bangladesh would see a 159% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Bangladesh mandates 48 hours while Eritrea mandates 44 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Bangladesh are $4,979 vs $1,760 in Eritrea.
See this comparison from Eritrea's perspective: Eritrea vs Bangladesh
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Bangladesh or Eritrea?
In Bangladesh, the minimum wage is ৳12,500/mo ($103.73 USD). In Eritrea, it is Nfk600/mo ($40 USD). Bangladesh has the higher rate by 159% 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 Eritrea may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much less does the average worker earn in Bangladesh compared to Eritrea?
The average gross salary in Bangladesh is ৳18,000/mo ($149.38 USD), compared to Nfk6,000/mo ($400 USD) in Eritrea. In USD terms, workers in Bangladesh earn approximately 168% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Bangladesh and Eritrea is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Eritrea earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Bangladesh.
Which country has better purchasing power for minimum wage workers, Bangladesh or Eritrea?
After adjusting for local prices using purchasing power parity (PPP), minimum wage workers in Bangladesh can afford more than those in Eritrea. The PPP-adjusted rate is $418 in Bangladesh and $121 in Eritrea. PPP converts wages into equivalent US dollar buying power, accounting for what a unit of currency actually buys locally. The 244% purchasing power gap means that even if the nominal wage in Eritrea appears competitive, minimum wage workers there face greater constraints on day-to-day spending.
How do work hours compare between Bangladesh and Eritrea?
Bangladesh has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 44 hours in Eritrea. Workers in Bangladesh work 48 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Eritrea 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.