Key Facts: Cameroon vs Afghanistan Wages
- Cameroon Minimum Wage
- FCFA254/hr ($0.46 USD)
- Afghanistan Minimum Wage
- ؋5,500/mo ($87.05 USD)
- Cameroon Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- FCFA200,000 /mo ($359.07 USD)
- Afghanistan Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ؋30,000 /mo ($474.83 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministère du Travail et de la Sécurité Sociale — Cameroon (2026-02-25), ILOSTAT (DF_EAR_INEE_CUR_NB, 2024 reporting); confirmed via Wikipedia master list (2026-05-04)
Cameroon
Afghanistan
Updated 2026-05-04
The minimum wage in Cameroon is roughly 191 times lower than in Afghanistan in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a lower-middle-income and a low-income economy. Average salaries are lower in Cameroon at $359/mo compared to $475/mo in Afghanistan. GDP per capita (PPP) in Cameroon is 2.5x that of Afghanistan, underscoring the structural economic divide.
Cameroon has higher GDP per capita ($5,589 vs $2,202). Cameroon's unemployment rate is 3.6% compared to Afghanistan's 13.3%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Cameroon | Afghanistan |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | FCFA254 $0.46 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | FCFA43,969 $78.94 | ؋5,500 $87.05 |
| Minimum wage /yr | FCFA527,628 $947.27 | — |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | FCFA200,000 /mo $359.07 | ؋30,000 /mo $474.83 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | FCFA170,000 /mo $305.21 | ؋26,000 /mo $411.52 |
| Median individual income /yr | FCFA600,000 /yr $1,077.20 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Cameroon is higher.
Work Week
- Cameroon
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.2x pay
Labour Code sets standard working hours at 40 per week for non-agricultural workers and 48 hours for agricultural workers. Overtime rates: 120% for first 8 hours of weekly overtime, 140% for subsequent hours. Night work and holiday work have higher multipliers.
- Afghanistan
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Labour Law (last version under previous government) set 40 hours/week. Friday is the weekly rest day. Under Taliban administration, Thursday is sometimes also observed as a rest day. Women's employment is severely restricted under Taliban policies.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker in Cameroon earns 18990% less per hour in USD terms than one in Afghanistan.
See this comparison from Afghanistan's perspective: Afghanistan vs Cameroon
Compare Cameroon with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Cameroon or Afghanistan?
In Cameroon, the minimum wage is FCFA254/hr ($0.46 USD). In Afghanistan, it is ؋5,500/mo ($87.05 USD). Afghanistan has the higher rate by 18990% 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 Cameroon may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much less does the average worker earn in Cameroon compared to Afghanistan?
The average gross salary in Cameroon is FCFA200,000/mo ($359.07 USD), compared to ؋30,000/mo ($474.83 USD) in Afghanistan. In USD terms, workers in Cameroon earn approximately 32% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Cameroon and Afghanistan is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Afghanistan earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Cameroon.
How do work hours compare between Cameroon and Afghanistan?
Both Cameroon and Afghanistan mandate a similar standard work week of 40 hours. When work hours are equal, the country with the higher minimum wage delivers proportionally higher weekly earnings. Standard work week rules set the baseline; actual hours worked often differ based on industry norms and individual employment contracts.
What is the cost of living difference between Cameroon and Afghanistan?
While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Cameroon has the higher GDP per capita at $5,589, which is 2.5x that of Afghanistan at $2,202. From Cameroon's perspective, this means goods and services are priced at a higher economic level. A higher GDP per capita generally correlates with higher wages, higher consumer prices, and greater availability of goods and services. Workers moving between these two countries should expect significant differences in rent, food, and transportation costs.