Key Facts: Barbados vs Eritrea Wages
- Barbados Minimum Wage
- Bds$10.71/hr ($5.36 USD)
- Eritrea Minimum Wage
- Nfk600/mo ($40 USD)
- Barbados Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Bds$3,900 /mo ($1,950 USD)
- Eritrea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Nfk6,000 /mo ($400 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministry of Labour, Social Security and Third Sector — Barbados (2026-02-25), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / OHCHR Eritrea reports (2026-02-25)
Barbados 
Eritrea
Updated 2026-02-25
The minimum wage in Barbados is roughly 7 times lower than in Eritrea in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a high-income and a low-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $1,950/mo in Barbados versus $400/mo in Eritrea, a 4.9:1 ratio.
Barbados' unemployment rate is 6.5% compared to Eritrea's 6.0%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Barbados | Eritrea |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | Bds$10.71 $5.36 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | Bds$1,855.07 $927.54 | Nfk600 $40 |
| Minimum wage /yr | Bds$22,260.80 $11,130.40 | — |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | Bds$3,900 /mo $1,950 | Nfk6,000 /mo $400 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | Bds$3,120 /mo $1,560 | Nfk5,400 /mo $360 |
| Median individual income /yr | Bds$28,000 /yr $14,000 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Barbados is higher.
Work Week
- Barbados
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Standard workweek is 40 hours (8 hours/day, 5 days/week). The Shops Act allows up to 48 hours in some retail sectors. Overtime is paid at 1.5x the regular rate. Work on Sundays and public holidays typically paid at 2x the regular rate.
- 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 Barbados earns 647% less per hour in USD terms than one in Eritrea. Standard work weeks differ: Barbados mandates 40 hours while Eritrea mandates 44 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Barbados are $214 vs $1,760 in Eritrea.
See this comparison from Eritrea's perspective: Eritrea vs Barbados
Compare Barbados with...
Barbados vs United States $ 7.25 /hr 
Barbados vs China ¥ 25 /hr 
Barbados vs Germany € 13.9 /hr 
Barbados vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr 
Barbados vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo 
Barbados vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr 
Barbados vs France € 12.02 /hr 
Barbados vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
Barbados vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr 
Barbados vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr 
Barbados vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
Barbados vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr 
Barbados vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo 
Barbados vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr 
Barbados vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr 
Barbados vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr 
Barbados vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr 
Barbados vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr 
Barbados vs Switzerland 
Barbados vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr 
Barbados vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo 
Barbados vs Sweden 
Barbados vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr 
Barbados vs Singapore Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Barbados or Eritrea?
In Barbados, the minimum wage is Bds$10.71/hr ($5.36 USD). In Eritrea, it is Nfk600/mo ($40 USD). Eritrea has the higher rate by 647% 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 Barbados may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much more does the average worker earn in Barbados compared to Eritrea?
The average gross salary in Barbados is Bds$3,900/mo ($1,950 USD), compared to Nfk6,000/mo ($400 USD) in Eritrea. In USD terms, workers in Barbados earn approximately 388% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Barbados and Eritrea is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Barbados earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Eritrea.
How do work hours compare between Barbados and Eritrea?
Eritrea has a longer standard work week at 44 hours, compared to 40 hours in Barbados. Workers in Barbados work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Barbados 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.