Cuba Iraq

Updated 2026-02-25

Cuba

Minimum Wage

$MN12.12 /hr

$0.03 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

$MN6,649 /mo

Iraq

Minimum Wage

ع.د1,823 /hr

$1.40 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

ع.د700,000 /mo

Min wage: -98% Cuba vs Iraq Avg. salary: -97% Cuba vs Iraq

The minimum wage in Cuba is roughly 47 times lower than in Iraq 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 $536/mo in Iraq, a 33.1:1 ratio. Cuba has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 1.8% compared to 15.5%.

Cuba's unemployment rate is 1.8% compared to Iraq's 15.5%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Cuba and Iraq
Metric	Cuba	Iraq	Diff
Minimum wage /hr	$MN12.12 $0.03	ع.د1,823 $1.40	-97.9%
Minimum wage /day	—	ع.د14,583 $11.17	—
Minimum wage /mo	$MN2,100 $5.12	ع.د350,000 $268.20	-98.1%
Minimum wage /yr	$MN25,200 $61.46	ع.د4,200,000 $3,218.39	-98.1%
Avg. gross salary /mo	$MN6,649 /mo $16.22	ع.د700,000 /mo $536.40	-97.0%
Avg. net salary /mo	$MN6,300 /mo $15.37	N/A/mo	—
Median individual income /yr	$MN48,000 /yr $117.07	ع.د3,360,000 /yr $2,574.71	-95.5%

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.
Iraq: 48 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.5x pay

Labour Law No. 37 of 2015 sets maximum ordinary working hours at 8 per day / 48 per week. Friday is the weekly rest day. Overtime is compensated at 150% of normal hourly rate. Work on official holidays is paid at 200%. Ramadan working hours are reduced. Public sector employees typically work ~40 hours/week in practice.

• WAGE TRAJECTORY (USD/hr)

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

Year	Cuba (USD)	Iraq (USD)
2005	$0.55/hr	—
2015	—	$268/hr
2019	$0.98/hr	—
2020	$0.98/hr	$268/hr
2021	$5.12/hr	—
2022	—	$268/hr
2024	—	$268/hr

What This Means for Workers

A minimum wage worker in Cuba earns 4626% less per hour in USD terms than one in Iraq. Standard work weeks differ: Cuba mandates 44 hours while Iraq mandates 48 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Cuba are $1 vs $67 in Iraq.

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

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Cuba or Iraq?

In Cuba, the minimum wage is $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD). In Iraq, it is ع.د1,823/hr ($1.40 USD). Iraq has the higher rate by 4626% 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 Iraq?

The average gross salary in Cuba is $MN6,649/mo ($16.22 USD), compared to ع.د700,000/mo ($536.40 USD) in Iraq. In USD terms, workers in Cuba earn approximately 3208% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Cuba and Iraq is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Iraq 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 Iraq?

Iraq 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.