Key Facts: Equatorial Guinea vs Eritrea Wages
- Equatorial Guinea Minimum Wage
- FCFA129,035/mo ($231.66 USD)
- Eritrea Minimum Wage
- Nfk600/mo ($40 USD)
- Equatorial Guinea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- FCFA350,000 /mo ($628.37 USD)
- Eritrea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Nfk6,000 /mo ($400 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Ministerio de Trabajo de Guinea Ecuatorial (2026-02-25), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / OHCHR Eritrea reports (2026-02-25)
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Updated 2026-02-25
The minimum wage in Equatorial Guinea is roughly 6 times higher than in Eritrea in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a upper-middle-income and a low-income economy. Average salaries are higher in Equatorial Guinea at $628/mo compared to $400/mo in Eritrea. Eritrea has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 6.0% compared to 8.3%.
From Equatorial Guinea's perspective: adjusting for purchasing power, Equatorial Guinea's minimum wage buys more than Eritrea's. The PPP-adjusted hourly rate in Equatorial Guinea is $554 international dollars, compared to $121 in Eritrea. Equatorial Guinea's unemployment rate is 8.3% compared to Eritrea's 6.0%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Equatorial Guinea | Eritrea |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /day | FCFA5,161 $9.27 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | FCFA129,035 $231.66 | Nfk600 $40 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | FCFA350,000 /mo $628.37 | 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 Equatorial Guinea is higher.
Work Week
- Equatorial Guinea
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Labour Code (Spanish-heritage) sets 40 hours/week standard, 48 hours maximum including overtime. Oil sector may have different contractual arrangements. Spanish and French are official languages.
- 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 Equatorial Guinea would see a 479% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Equatorial Guinea mandates 40 hours while Eritrea mandates 44 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Equatorial Guinea are $9,266 vs $1,760 in Eritrea.
See this comparison from Eritrea's perspective: Eritrea vs Equatorial Guinea
Compare Equatorial Guinea with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Equatorial Guinea or Eritrea?
In Equatorial Guinea, the minimum wage is FCFA129,035/mo ($231.66 USD). In Eritrea, it is Nfk600/mo ($40 USD). Equatorial Guinea has the higher rate by 479% 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 Equatorial Guinea compared to Eritrea?
The average gross salary in Equatorial Guinea is FCFA350,000/mo ($628.37 USD), compared to Nfk6,000/mo ($400 USD) in Eritrea. In USD terms, workers in Equatorial Guinea earn approximately 57% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Equatorial Guinea and Eritrea is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Equatorial Guinea 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, Equatorial Guinea or Eritrea?
After adjusting for local prices using purchasing power parity (PPP), minimum wage workers in Equatorial Guinea can afford more than those in Eritrea. The PPP-adjusted rate is $554 in Equatorial Guinea and $121 in Eritrea. PPP converts wages into equivalent US dollar buying power, accounting for what a unit of currency actually buys locally. The 356% 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 Equatorial Guinea and Eritrea?
Eritrea has a longer standard work week at 44 hours, compared to 40 hours in Equatorial Guinea. Workers in Equatorial Guinea work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Equatorial Guinea 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.