Key Facts: Djibouti vs Eritrea Wages
- Djibouti Minimum Wage
- Fdj35,000/mo ($196.94 USD)
- Eritrea Minimum Wage
- Nfk600/mo ($40 USD)
- Djibouti Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Fdj120,000 /mo ($675.22 USD)
- Eritrea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Nfk6,000 /mo ($400 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Ministère du Travail de Djibouti (2026-02-25), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / OHCHR Eritrea reports (2026-02-25)
Djibouti
Eritrea
Updated 2026-02-25
The minimum wage in Djibouti is 392% higher than in Eritrea when converted to USD. Average salaries are higher in Djibouti at $675/mo compared to $400/mo in Eritrea. Eritrea has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 6.0% compared to 26.0%.
From Djibouti's perspective: adjusting for purchasing power, Djibouti's minimum wage buys more than Eritrea's. The PPP-adjusted hourly rate in Djibouti is $433 international dollars, compared to $121 in Eritrea. Djibouti's unemployment rate is 26.0% compared to Eritrea's 6.0%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Djibouti | Eritrea |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /day | Fdj1,400 $7.88 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | Fdj35,000 $196.94 | Nfk600 $40 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | Fdj120,000 /mo $675.22 | Nfk6,000 /mo $400 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | N/A/mo | Nfk5,400 /mo $360 |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Djibouti is higher.
Work Week
- Djibouti
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Labour Code sets 40 hours/week standard. Friday is the weekly rest day. Arabic and French are official languages. The labour force is supplemented by a large number of migrant workers from Ethiopia and Somalia.
- Eritrea
-
44 hrs/wk standard
Labour Law sets 44 hours/week for civilian workers (8 hours/day, 5.5 days). However, the national service program operates under military regulations outside normal labour law. No reliable enforcement or monitoring data is available.
• WAGE TRAJECTORY (USD/mo)
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from Eritrea to Djibouti would see a 392% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Djibouti mandates 40 hours while Eritrea mandates 44 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Djibouti are $7,878 vs $1,760 in Eritrea.
See this comparison from Eritrea's perspective: Eritrea vs Djibouti
Compare Djibouti with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Djibouti or Eritrea?
In Djibouti, the minimum wage is Fdj35,000/mo ($196.94 USD). In Eritrea, it is Nfk600/mo ($40 USD). Djibouti has the higher rate by 392% 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 Eritrea may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much more does the average worker earn in Djibouti compared to Eritrea?
The average gross salary in Djibouti is Fdj120,000/mo ($675.22 USD), compared to Nfk6,000/mo ($400 USD) in Eritrea. In USD terms, workers in Djibouti earn approximately 69% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Djibouti and Eritrea is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Djibouti earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Eritrea.
Which country has better purchasing power for minimum wage workers, Djibouti or Eritrea?
After adjusting for local prices using purchasing power parity (PPP), minimum wage workers in Djibouti can afford more than those in Eritrea. The PPP-adjusted rate is $433 in Djibouti and $121 in Eritrea. PPP converts wages into equivalent US dollar buying power, accounting for what a unit of currency actually buys locally. The 256% purchasing power gap means that even if the nominal wage in Eritrea appears competitive, minimum wage workers there face greater constraints on day-to-day spending.
How do work hours compare between Djibouti and Eritrea?
Eritrea has a longer standard work week at 44 hours, compared to 40 hours in Djibouti. Workers in Djibouti work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Djibouti 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.