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Key Facts: Burkina Faso vs Eritrea Wages

Burkina Faso Minimum Wage
CFA259.62/hr ($0.47 USD)
Eritrea Minimum Wage
Nfk600/mo ($40 USD)
Burkina Faso Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
CFA89,000 /mo ($159.78 USD)
Eritrea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
Nfk6,000 /mo ($400 USD)
Data Sources
Ministere du Travail (Ministry of Labour) / Decree No. 2023-1450 (2026-02-25), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / OHCHR Eritrea reports (2026-02-25)

Burkina Faso flag Burkina Faso Eritrea flag Eritrea

Updated 2026-02-25

Burkina Faso flag Burkina Faso

Minimum Wage

CFA259.62 /hr

$0.47 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

CFA89,000 /mo

Eritrea flag Eritrea

Minimum Wage

Nfk600 /mo

$40 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

Nfk6,000 /mo

Min wage: -99% Burkina Faso vs Eritrea Avg. salary: -60% Burkina Faso vs Eritrea

The minimum wage in Burkina Faso is roughly 86 times lower than in Eritrea in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a low-income and a low-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $160/mo in Burkina Faso versus $400/mo in Eritrea, a 2.5:1 ratio. Burkina Faso has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 3.5% compared to 6.0%.

Burkina Faso's unemployment rate is 3.5% compared to Eritrea's 6.0%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Burkina Faso and Eritrea
Metric Burkina Faso Eritrea
Minimum wage /hr CFA259.62 $0.47
Minimum wage /mo CFA45,000 $80.79 Nfk600 $40
Minimum wage /yr CFA540,000 $969.48
Avg. gross salary /mo CFA89,000 /mo $159.78 Nfk6,000 /mo $400
Avg. net salary /mo CFA75,000 /mo $134.65 Nfk5,400 /mo $360
Median individual income /yr CFA360,000 /yr $646.32 N/A/yr

Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Burkina Faso is higher.

Work Week

Burkina Faso

40 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.15x pay

Standard workweek is 40 hours (8 hours/day, Monday-Friday). First 8 overtime hours paid at 115% of normal rate; subsequent hours at 135%. Nighttime overtime earns 150% premium. Work on Sundays/public holidays at 160% (nighttime: 220%).

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 Burkina Faso earns 8482% less per hour in USD terms than one in Eritrea. Standard work weeks differ: Burkina Faso mandates 40 hours while Eritrea mandates 44 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Burkina Faso are $19 vs $1,760 in Eritrea.

See this comparison from Eritrea's perspective: Eritrea vs Burkina Faso

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Burkina Faso or Eritrea?

In Burkina Faso, the minimum wage is CFA259.62/hr ($0.47 USD). In Eritrea, it is Nfk600/mo ($40 USD). Eritrea has the higher rate by 8482% 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 Burkina Faso may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.

How much less does the average worker earn in Burkina Faso compared to Eritrea?

The average gross salary in Burkina Faso is CFA89,000/mo ($159.78 USD), compared to Nfk6,000/mo ($400 USD) in Eritrea. In USD terms, workers in Burkina Faso earn approximately 150% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Burkina Faso 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 Burkina Faso.

How do work hours compare between Burkina Faso and Eritrea?

Eritrea has a longer standard work week at 44 hours, compared to 40 hours in Burkina Faso. Workers in Burkina Faso work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Burkina Faso 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.