Key Facts: Cameroon vs Eritrea Wages
- Cameroon Minimum Wage
- FCFA254/hr ($0.46 USD)
- Eritrea Minimum Wage
- Nfk600/mo ($40 USD)
- Cameroon Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- FCFA200,000 /mo ($359.07 USD)
- Eritrea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Nfk6,000 /mo ($400 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministère du Travail et de la Sécurité Sociale — Cameroon (2026-02-25), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / OHCHR Eritrea reports (2026-02-25)
Cameroon 
Eritrea
Updated 2026-02-25
The minimum wage in Cameroon is roughly 88 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 Cameroon at $359/mo compared to $400/mo in Eritrea. Cameroon has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 3.6% compared to 6.0%.
Cameroon's unemployment rate is 3.6% compared to Eritrea's 6.0%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Cameroon | Eritrea |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | FCFA254 $0.46 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | FCFA43,969 $78.94 | Nfk600 $40 |
| Minimum wage /yr | FCFA527,628 $947.27 | — |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | FCFA200,000 /mo $359.07 | Nfk6,000 /mo $400 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | FCFA170,000 /mo $305.21 | Nfk5,400 /mo $360 |
| 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.
- 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 Cameroon earns 8672% less per hour in USD terms than one in Eritrea. Standard work weeks differ: Cameroon mandates 40 hours while Eritrea mandates 44 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Cameroon are $18 vs $1,760 in Eritrea.
See this comparison from Eritrea's perspective: Eritrea vs Cameroon
Compare Cameroon with...
Cameroon vs United States $ 7.25 /hr 
Cameroon vs China ¥ 25 /hr 
Cameroon vs Germany € 13.9 /hr 
Cameroon vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr 
Cameroon vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo 
Cameroon vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr 
Cameroon vs France € 12.02 /hr 
Cameroon vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
Cameroon vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr 
Cameroon vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr 
Cameroon vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
Cameroon vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr 
Cameroon vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo 
Cameroon vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr 
Cameroon vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr 
Cameroon vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr 
Cameroon vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr 
Cameroon vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr 
Cameroon vs Switzerland 
Cameroon vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr 
Cameroon vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo 
Cameroon vs Sweden 
Cameroon vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr 
Cameroon vs Singapore Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Cameroon or Eritrea?
In Cameroon, the minimum wage is FCFA254/hr ($0.46 USD). In Eritrea, it is Nfk600/mo ($40 USD). Eritrea has the higher rate by 8672% 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 Eritrea?
The average gross salary in Cameroon is FCFA200,000/mo ($359.07 USD), compared to Nfk6,000/mo ($400 USD) in Eritrea. In USD terms, workers in Cameroon earn approximately 11% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Cameroon 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 Cameroon.
How do work hours compare between Cameroon and Eritrea?
Eritrea has a longer standard work week at 44 hours, compared to 40 hours in Cameroon. Workers in Cameroon work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Cameroon 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.