Cuba Kuwait

Updated 2026-02-25

Cuba

Minimum Wage

$MN12.12 /hr

$0.03 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

$MN6,649 /mo

Kuwait

Minimum Wage

KWD0.39 /hr

$1.27 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

KWD1,200 /mo

Min wage: -98% Cuba vs Kuwait Avg. salary: -100% Cuba vs Kuwait

The minimum wage in Cuba is roughly 43 times lower than in Kuwait in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a upper-middle-income and a high-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $16/mo in Cuba versus $3,909/mo in Kuwait, a 241.0:1 ratio.

Cuba's unemployment rate is 1.8% compared to Kuwait's 2.2%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Cuba and Kuwait
Metric	Cuba	Kuwait	Diff
Minimum wage /hr	$MN12.12 $0.03	KWD0.39 $1.27	-97.7%
Minimum wage /mo	$MN2,100 $5.12	KWD75 $244.30	-97.9%
Minimum wage /yr	$MN25,200 $61.46	KWD900 $2,931.60	-97.9%
Avg. gross salary /mo	$MN6,649 /mo $16.22	KWD1,200 /mo $3,908.79	-99.6%
Avg. net salary /mo	$MN6,300 /mo $15.37	KWD1,200 /mo $3,908.79	-99.6%
Median individual income /yr	$MN48,000 /yr $117.07	KWD9,600 /yr $31,270.36	-99.6%

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.
Kuwait: 48 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.25x pay

Labour Law No. 6 of 2010 sets the standard workweek at 48 hours (8 hours/day). During Ramadan, working hours are reduced to 36 hours/week (6 hours/day). Overtime premium is 25% of regular pay, with work on rest days or public holidays at double pay. Government sector hours are typically 35 hours/week.

• WAGE TRAJECTORY (USD/hr)

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

Year	Cuba (USD)	Kuwait (USD)
2005	$0.55/hr	—
2017	—	$244/hr
2019	$0.98/hr	$244/hr
2020	$0.98/hr	$244/hr
2021	$5.12/hr	$244/hr
2022	—	$244/hr
2023	—	$244/hr
2024	—	$244/hr

What This Means for Workers

A minimum wage worker in Cuba earns 4197% less per hour in USD terms than one in Kuwait. Standard work weeks differ: Cuba mandates 44 hours while Kuwait mandates 48 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Cuba are $1 vs $61 in Kuwait.

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

Compare Cuba with...

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Cuba or Kuwait?

In Cuba, the minimum wage is $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD). In Kuwait, it is KWD0.39/hr ($1.27 USD). Kuwait has the higher rate by 4197% 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 Kuwait?

The average gross salary in Cuba is $MN6,649/mo ($16.22 USD), compared to KWD1,200/mo ($3,908.79 USD) in Kuwait. In USD terms, workers in Cuba earn approximately 24003% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Cuba and Kuwait is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Kuwait 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 Kuwait?

Kuwait 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.