Cuba Ethiopia

Updated 2026-02-25

Cuba

Minimum Wage

$MN12.12 /hr

$0.03 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

$MN6,649 /mo

Ethiopia

Minimum Wage

ETB7.50 /hr

$0.06 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

ETB6,500 /mo

Min wage: -50% Cuba vs Ethiopia Avg. salary: -68% Cuba vs Ethiopia

The minimum wage in Cuba is 50% lower than in Ethiopia in USD terms, though average salaries tell a different story. Average gross salaries diverge further: $16/mo in Cuba versus $51/mo in Ethiopia, a 3.1:1 ratio.

Cuba's unemployment rate is 1.8% compared to Ethiopia's 3.3%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Cuba and Ethiopia
Metric	Cuba	Ethiopia	Diff
Minimum wage /hr	$MN12.12 $0.03	ETB7.50 $0.06	-49.5%
Minimum wage /day	—	ETB43.33 $0.34	—
Minimum wage /mo	$MN2,100 $5.12	ETB1,300 $10.16	-49.6%
Minimum wage /yr	$MN25,200 $61.46	ETB15,600 $121.88	-49.6%
Avg. gross salary /mo	$MN6,649 /mo $16.22	ETB6,500 /mo $50.78	-68.1%
Avg. net salary /mo	$MN6,300 /mo $15.37	ETB5,600 /mo $43.75	-64.9%
Median individual income /yr	$MN48,000 /yr $117.07	N/A/yr	—

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.
Ethiopia: 48 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.25x pay

Labour Proclamation No. 1156/2019 sets maximum ordinary working hours at 8 hours/day, 48 hours/week. Overtime: 125% for first 2 hours, 150% for additional hours, 200% for weekends, 250% for public holidays. Night work (10pm-6am) carries a 50% premium. These regulations apply to formal employment relationships only.

• WAGE TRAJECTORY (USD/hr)

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

Year	Cuba (USD)	Ethiopia (USD)
2005	$0.55/hr	—
2019	$0.98/hr	$7.62/hr
2020	$0.98/hr	$7.62/hr
2021	$5.12/hr	$10/hr
2022	—	$10/hr
2023	—	$10/hr
2024	—	$10/hr

What This Means for Workers

A minimum wage worker in Cuba earns 98% less per hour in USD terms than one in Ethiopia. Standard work weeks differ: Cuba mandates 44 hours while Ethiopia mandates 48 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Cuba are $1 vs $3 in Ethiopia.

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

Compare Cuba with...

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Cuba or Ethiopia?

In Cuba, the minimum wage is $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD). In Ethiopia, it is ETB7.50/hr ($0.06 USD). Ethiopia has the higher rate by 98% 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 Ethiopia?

The average gross salary in Cuba is $MN6,649/mo ($16.22 USD), compared to ETB6,500/mo ($50.78 USD) in Ethiopia. In USD terms, workers in Cuba earn approximately 213% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Cuba and Ethiopia is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Ethiopia 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 Ethiopia?

Ethiopia 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.