Key Facts: Equatorial Guinea vs Norway Wages
- Equatorial Guinea Minimum Wage
- FCFA129,035/mo ($231.66 USD)
- Norway Minimum Wage
- No statutory minimum wage
- Equatorial Guinea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- FCFA350,000 /mo ($628.37 USD)
- Norway Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- kr55,150 /mo ($5,953.34 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Ministerio de Trabajo de Guinea Ecuatorial (2026-02-25), Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority (Arbeidstilsynet) (2026-05-28)
Equatorial Guinea
Norway
Updated 2026-05-28
Unlike Norway, which has no statutory minimum wage, Equatorial Guinea mandates a wage floor of $232/mo. Average gross salaries diverge further: $628/mo in Equatorial Guinea versus $5,953/mo in Norway, a 9.5:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Norway is 5.8x that of Equatorial Guinea, underscoring the structural economic divide.
Equatorial Guinea has lower GDP per capita ($17,567 vs $102,038). Equatorial Guinea's unemployment rate is 8.3% compared to Norway's 4.6%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Equatorial Guinea | Norway |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /day | FCFA5,161 $9.27 | None |
| Minimum wage /mo | FCFA129,035 $231.66 | None |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | FCFA350,000 /mo $628.37 | kr55,150 /mo $5,953.34 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | N/A/mo | kr38,600 /mo $4,166.80 |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | kr570,000 /yr $61,530.49 |
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.
- Norway
-
37.5 hrs/wk standard
Max 40 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.4x pay
The Working Environment Act sets a maximum of 40 hours/week, but most collective agreements specify 37.5 hours. Overtime premium minimum 40% by law. Maximum overtime: 10 hrs/week, 25 hrs over 4 consecutive weeks, 200 hrs/year. Night and Sunday work requires additional premiums by agreement.
What This Means for Workers
Standard work weeks differ: Equatorial Guinea mandates 40 hours while Norway mandates 37.5 hours.
See this comparison from Norway's perspective: Norway vs Equatorial Guinea
Compare Equatorial Guinea with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Equatorial Guinea or Norway?
In Equatorial Guinea, the minimum wage is FCFA129,035/mo ($231.66 USD). In Norway, it is no statutory minimum wage.
How much less does the average worker earn in Equatorial Guinea compared to Norway?
The average gross salary in Equatorial Guinea is FCFA350,000/mo ($628.37 USD), compared to kr55,150/mo ($5,953.34 USD) in Norway. In USD terms, workers in Equatorial Guinea earn approximately 847% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Equatorial Guinea and Norway is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Norway earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Equatorial Guinea.
How do work hours compare between Equatorial Guinea and Norway?
Equatorial Guinea has a longer standard work week at 40 hours, compared to 37.5 hours in Norway. Workers in Equatorial Guinea work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Norway 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.
What is the cost of living difference between Equatorial Guinea and Norway?
While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Norway has the higher GDP per capita at $102,038, which is 5.8x that of Equatorial Guinea at $17,567. From Equatorial Guinea'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.