Key Facts: Cuba vs Nigeria Wages
- Cuba Minimum Wage
- $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD)
- Nigeria Minimum Wage
- ₦404/hr ($0.26 USD)
- Cuba Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- $MN6,649 /mo ($16.22 USD)
- Nigeria Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ₦339,000 /mo ($220.42 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministerio de Trabajo y Seguridad Social (MTSS) — Cuba (2026-02-25), National Minimum Wage Amendment Act 2024 (2026-02-24)
Cuba
Nigeria
Updated 2026-02-25
The minimum wage in Cuba is roughly 9 times lower than in Nigeria in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a upper-middle-income and a lower-middle-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $16/mo in Cuba versus $220/mo in Nigeria, a 13.6:1 ratio.
Cuba's unemployment rate is 1.8% compared to Nigeria's 3.1%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Cuba | Nigeria |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | $MN12.12 $0.03 | ₦404 $0.26 |
| Minimum wage /mo | $MN2,100 $5.12 | ₦70,000 $45.51 |
| Minimum wage /yr | $MN25,200 $61.46 | ₦840,000 $546.16 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | $MN6,649 /mo $16.22 | ₦339,000 /mo $220.42 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | $MN6,300 /mo $15.37 | ₦290,000 /mo $188.56 |
| Median individual income /yr | $MN48,000 /yr $117.07 | ₦1,200,000 /yr $780.23 |
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.
- Nigeria
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Labour Act sets standard at 40 hours/week. Overtime rates set by individual employment contracts. No statutory overtime multiplier.
• WAGE TRAJECTORY (USD/hr)
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker in Cuba earns 789% less per hour in USD terms than one in Nigeria. Standard work weeks differ: Cuba mandates 44 hours while Nigeria mandates 40 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Cuba are $1 vs $11 in Nigeria.
See this comparison from Nigeria's perspective: Nigeria vs Cuba
Compare Cuba with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Cuba or Nigeria?
In Cuba, the minimum wage is $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD). In Nigeria, it is ₦404/hr ($0.26 USD). Nigeria has the higher rate by 789% 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 Nigeria?
The average gross salary in Cuba is $MN6,649/mo ($16.22 USD), compared to ₦339,000/mo ($220.42 USD) in Nigeria. In USD terms, workers in Cuba earn approximately 1259% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Cuba and Nigeria is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Nigeria 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 Nigeria?
Cuba has a longer standard work week at 44 hours, compared to 40 hours in Nigeria. Workers in Cuba work 44 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Nigeria 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.