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Key Facts: Djibouti vs Hong Kong Wages

Djibouti Minimum Wage
Fdj35,000/mo ($196.94 USD)
Hong Kong Minimum Wage
HK$42.10/hr ($5.37 USD)
Djibouti Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
Fdj120,000 /mo ($675.22 USD)
Hong Kong Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
HK$20,500 /mo ($2,615.76 USD)
Data Sources
ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Ministère du Travail de Djibouti (2026-02-25), Minimum Wage Commission / Census and Statistics Department, HKSAR; current rate verified via Wikipedia List of countries by minimum wage (eff 2025-05-01) (2026-05-04)

Djibouti flag Djibouti Hong Kong flag Hong Kong

Updated 2026-05-04

Djibouti flag Djibouti

Minimum Wage

Fdj35,000 /mo

$196.94 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

Fdj120,000 /mo

Hong Kong flag Hong Kong

Minimum Wage

HK$42.10 /hr

$5.37 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

HK$20,500 /mo

Min wage: +3566% Djibouti vs Hong Kong Avg. salary: -74% Djibouti vs Hong Kong

The minimum wage in Djibouti is roughly 37 times higher than in Hong Kong in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a lower-middle-income and a high-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $675/mo in Djibouti versus $2,616/mo in Hong Kong, a 3.9:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Hong Kong is 9.6x that of Djibouti, underscoring the structural economic divide.

Djibouti has lower GDP per capita ($7,810 vs $75,196). Djibouti's unemployment rate is 26.0% compared to Hong Kong's 2.8%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Djibouti and Hong Kong
Metric Djibouti Hong Kong
Minimum wage /hr HK$42.10 $5.37
Minimum wage /day Fdj1,400 $7.88
Minimum wage /mo Fdj35,000 $196.94 HK$7,297 $931.08
Minimum wage /yr HK$87,568 $11,173.52
Avg. gross salary /mo Fdj120,000 /mo $675.22 HK$20,500 /mo $2,615.76
Avg. net salary /mo N/A/mo HK$19,475 /mo $2,484.98
Median individual income /yr N/A/yr HK$246,000 /yr $31,389.16

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.

Hong Kong

hrs/wk standard

Hong Kong has NO statutory standard working hours or maximum working hours for most employees (a rare situation globally). The government has considered legislation but has not enacted a standard hours law. Working hours are determined by individual employment contracts. Average actual working hours are ~40-44 hrs/week. Overtime pay is not legally mandated except for certain specific occupations.

What This Means for Workers

A minimum wage worker moving from Hong Kong to Djibouti would see a 3566% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings.

See this comparison from Hong Kong's perspective: Hong Kong vs Djibouti

Compare Djibouti with...

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Djibouti or Hong Kong?

In Djibouti, the minimum wage is Fdj35,000/mo ($196.94 USD). In Hong Kong, it is HK$42.10/hr ($5.37 USD). Djibouti has the higher rate by 3566% 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 Hong Kong may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.

How much less does the average worker earn in Djibouti compared to Hong Kong?

The average gross salary in Djibouti is Fdj120,000/mo ($675.22 USD), compared to HK$20,500/mo ($2,615.76 USD) in Hong Kong. In USD terms, workers in Djibouti earn approximately 287% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Djibouti and Hong Kong is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Hong Kong earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Djibouti.

What is the cost of living difference between Djibouti and Hong Kong?

While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Hong Kong has the higher GDP per capita at $75,196, which is 9.6x that of Djibouti at $7,810. From Djibouti's perspective, this means goods and services are priced at a lower economic level. A higher GDP per capita generally correlates with higher wages, higher consumer prices, and greater availability of goods and services. Workers moving between these two countries should expect significant differences in rent, food, and transportation costs.