Key Facts: Benin vs Eritrea Wages
- Benin Minimum Wage
- CFA300/hr ($0.54 USD)
- Eritrea Minimum Wage
- Nfk600/mo ($40 USD)
- Benin Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- CFA120,000 /mo ($215.44 USD)
- Eritrea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Nfk6,000 /mo ($400 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministry of Labour and Public Service / ILO (2026-02-25), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / OHCHR Eritrea reports (2026-02-25)
Benin 
Eritrea
Updated 2026-02-25
The minimum wage in Benin is roughly 74 times lower than in Eritrea in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a lower-middle-income and a low-income economy. Average salaries are lower in Benin at $215/mo compared to $400/mo in Eritrea. Benin has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 1.6% compared to 6.0%.
Benin's unemployment rate is 1.6% compared to Eritrea's 6.0%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Benin | Eritrea |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | CFA300 $0.54 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | CFA52,000 $93.36 | Nfk600 $40 |
| Minimum wage /yr | CFA624,000 $1,120.29 | — |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | CFA120,000 /mo $215.44 | Nfk6,000 /mo $400 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | CFA100,000 /mo $179.53 | Nfk5,400 /mo $360 |
| Median individual income /yr | CFA480,000 /yr $861.76 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Benin is higher.
Work Week
- Benin
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.12x pay
Standard workweek is 40 hours for non-agricultural sectors (48 hours for agriculture). Overtime from 41-48 hours paid at 112% of normal rate; hours exceeding 48 paid at 135%. Night work and weekend overtime carry higher premiums.
- 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 Benin earns 7327% less per hour in USD terms than one in Eritrea. Standard work weeks differ: Benin mandates 40 hours while Eritrea mandates 44 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Benin are $22 vs $1,760 in Eritrea.
See this comparison from Eritrea's perspective: Eritrea vs Benin
Compare Benin with...
Benin vs United States $ 7.25 /hr 
Benin vs China ¥ 25 /hr 
Benin vs Germany € 13.9 /hr 
Benin vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr 
Benin vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo 
Benin vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr 
Benin vs France € 12.02 /hr 
Benin vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
Benin vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr 
Benin vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr 
Benin vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
Benin vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr 
Benin vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo 
Benin vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr 
Benin vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr 
Benin vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr 
Benin vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr 
Benin vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr 
Benin vs Switzerland 
Benin vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr 
Benin vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo 
Benin vs Sweden 
Benin vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr 
Benin vs Singapore Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Benin or Eritrea?
In Benin, the minimum wage is CFA300/hr ($0.54 USD). In Eritrea, it is Nfk600/mo ($40 USD). Eritrea has the higher rate by 7327% 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 Benin may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much less does the average worker earn in Benin compared to Eritrea?
The average gross salary in Benin is CFA120,000/mo ($215.44 USD), compared to Nfk6,000/mo ($400 USD) in Eritrea. In USD terms, workers in Benin earn approximately 86% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Benin 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 Benin.
How do work hours compare between Benin and Eritrea?
Eritrea has a longer standard work week at 44 hours, compared to 40 hours in Benin. Workers in Benin work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Benin 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.