Cuba Botswana

Updated 2026-02-25

Cuba

Minimum Wage

$MN12.12 /hr

$0.03 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

$MN6,649 /mo

Botswana

Minimum Wage

P9.06 /hr

$0.67 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

P7,500 /mo

Min wage: -96% Cuba vs Botswana Avg. salary: -97% Cuba vs Botswana

The minimum wage in Cuba is roughly 23 times lower than in Botswana in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a upper-middle-income and a upper-middle-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $16/mo in Cuba versus $555/mo in Botswana, a 34.2:1 ratio. Cuba has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 1.8% compared to 24.5%.

Cuba's unemployment rate is 1.8% compared to Botswana's 24.5%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Cuba and Botswana
Metric	Cuba	Botswana	Diff
Minimum wage /hr	$MN12.12 $0.03	P9.06 $0.67	-95.6%
Minimum wage /mo	$MN2,100 $5.12	P1,883 $139.38	-96.3%
Minimum wage /yr	$MN25,200 $61.46	P22,596 $1,672.54	-96.3%
Avg. gross salary /mo	$MN6,649 /mo $16.22	P7,500 /mo $555.14	-97.1%
Avg. net salary /mo	$MN6,300 /mo $15.37	P6,200 /mo $458.92	-96.7%
Median individual income /yr	$MN48,000 /yr $117.07	P36,000 /yr $2,664.69	-95.6%

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

Work Week

Cuba: 44 hrs/wk standard

Max 44 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.25x pay

Labour Code sets standard working hours at 8 hours/day and 44 hours/week. Overtime is paid at 125% of normal rate. Some sectors work 40 hours/week.
Botswana: 48 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.5x pay

Standard workweek is 48 hours (9 hours/day for 5-day week, or 8 hours/day for 6-day week). Overtime maximum of 14 additional hours per week. Overtime rate is 1.5x normal rate. Work on public holidays or rest days compensated at 2x.

• WAGE TRAJECTORY (USD/hr)

Cuba Botswana Source: wage.is · USD equivalent/hr

Year	Cuba (USD)	Botswana (USD)
2005	$0.55/hr	—
2014	—	$0.36/hr
2019	$0.98/hr	$0.44/hr
2020	$0.98/hr	—
2021	$5.12/hr	—
2022	—	$0.48/hr
2024	—	$0.54/hr
2025	—	$0.67/hr

What This Means for Workers

A minimum wage worker in Cuba earns 2169% less per hour in USD terms than one in Botswana. Standard work weeks differ: Cuba mandates 44 hours while Botswana mandates 48 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Cuba are $1 vs $32 in Botswana.

See this comparison from Botswana's perspective: Botswana vs Cuba

Compare Cuba with...

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Cuba or Botswana?

In Cuba, the minimum wage is $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD). In Botswana, it is P9.06/hr ($0.67 USD). Botswana has the higher rate by 2169% 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 Cuba may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.

How much less does the average worker earn in Cuba compared to Botswana?

The average gross salary in Cuba is $MN6,649/mo ($16.22 USD), compared to P7,500/mo ($555.14 USD) in Botswana. In USD terms, workers in Cuba earn approximately 3323% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Cuba and Botswana is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Botswana earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Cuba.

How do work hours compare between Cuba and Botswana?

Botswana has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 44 hours in Cuba. Workers in Cuba work 44 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Cuba 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.