Key Facts: Cuba vs Sierra Leone Wages
- Cuba Minimum Wage
- $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD)
- Sierra Leone Minimum Wage
- Le600/mo ($25.97 USD)
- Cuba Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- $MN6,649 /mo ($16.22 USD)
- Sierra Leone Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Le2,500 /mo ($108.23 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministerio de Trabajo y Seguridad Social (MTSS) — Cuba (2026-02-25), ILO / Ministry of Labour and Social Security (Sierra Leone). Note: snapshot diff flags 'currency mismatch' against Wikipedia (which still uses old SLL 500,000) — our SLE 600 reflects the post-2022 redenomination (1 SLE = 1,000 SLL) and is the correct current notation (2026-05-04)
Cuba 
Sierra Leone
Updated 2026-05-04
The minimum wage in Cuba is roughly 879 times lower than in Sierra Leone in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a upper-middle-income and a low-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $16/mo in Cuba versus $108/mo in Sierra Leone, a 6.7:1 ratio.
Cuba's unemployment rate is 1.8% compared to Sierra Leone's 3.1%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Cuba | Sierra Leone |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | $MN12.12 $0.03 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | $MN2,100 $5.12 | Le600 $25.97 |
| Minimum wage /yr | $MN25,200 $61.46 | — |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | $MN6,649 /mo $16.22 | Le2,500 /mo $108.23 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | $MN6,300 /mo $15.37 | N/A/mo |
| Median individual income /yr | $MN48,000 /yr $117.07 | Le4,200 /yr $181.82 |
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.
- Sierra Leone
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
The Regulation of Wages and Industrial Relations Act sets standard hours at 40 per week for office workers and 48 for industrial workers. Overtime compensated at 1.5x for the first additional 8 hours. These rules apply to the limited formal sector.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker in Cuba earns 87766% less per hour in USD terms than one in Sierra Leone. Standard work weeks differ: Cuba mandates 44 hours while Sierra Leone mandates 40 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Cuba are $1 vs $1,039 in Sierra Leone.
See this comparison from Sierra Leone's perspective: Sierra Leone vs Cuba
Compare Cuba with...
Cuba vs United States $ 7.25 /hr 
Cuba vs China ¥ 25 /hr 
Cuba vs Germany € 13.9 /hr 
Cuba vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr 
Cuba vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo 
Cuba vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr 
Cuba vs France € 12.02 /hr 
Cuba vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
Cuba vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr 
Cuba vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr 
Cuba vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
Cuba vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr 
Cuba vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo 
Cuba vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr 
Cuba vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr 
Cuba vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr 
Cuba vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr 
Cuba vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr 
Cuba vs Switzerland 
Cuba vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr 
Cuba vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo 
Cuba vs Sweden 
Cuba vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr 
Cuba vs Singapore Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Cuba or Sierra Leone?
In Cuba, the minimum wage is $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD). In Sierra Leone, it is Le600/mo ($25.97 USD). Sierra Leone has the higher rate by 87766% 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 Sierra Leone?
The average gross salary in Cuba is $MN6,649/mo ($16.22 USD), compared to Le2,500/mo ($108.23 USD) in Sierra Leone. In USD terms, workers in Cuba earn approximately 567% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Cuba and Sierra Leone is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Sierra Leone 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 Sierra Leone?
Cuba has a longer standard work week at 44 hours, compared to 40 hours in Sierra Leone. Workers in Cuba work 44 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Sierra Leone 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.