Key Facts: Equatorial Guinea vs Sri Lanka Wages
- Equatorial Guinea Minimum Wage
- FCFA129,035/mo ($231.66 USD)
- Sri Lanka Minimum Wage
- Rs135/hr ($0.45 USD)
- Equatorial Guinea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- FCFA350,000 /mo ($628.37 USD)
- Sri Lanka Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Rs55,000 /mo ($183.95 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Ministerio de Trabajo de Guinea Ecuatorial (2026-02-25), Department of Labour — Sri Lanka; 2025 figure verified via Wikipedia List of countries by minimum wage (eff 2025-04-01) (2026-05-04)
Equatorial Guinea
Sri Lanka
Updated 2026-05-04
The minimum wage in Equatorial Guinea is roughly 513 times higher than in Sri Lanka in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a upper-middle-income and a lower-middle-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $628/mo in Equatorial Guinea versus $184/mo in Sri Lanka, a 3.4:1 ratio. Sri Lanka has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 4.0% compared to 8.3%.
Equatorial Guinea has higher GDP per capita ($17,567 vs $15,633). Equatorial Guinea's unemployment rate is 8.3% compared to Sri Lanka's 4.0%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Equatorial Guinea | Sri Lanka |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | — | Rs135 $0.45 |
| Minimum wage /day | FCFA5,161 $9.27 | Rs1,080 $3.61 |
| Minimum wage /mo | FCFA129,035 $231.66 | Rs27,000 $90.30 |
| Minimum wage /yr | — | Rs324,000 $1,083.61 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | FCFA350,000 /mo $628.37 | Rs55,000 /mo $183.95 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | N/A/mo | Rs49,500 /mo $165.55 |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | Rs420,000 /yr $1,404.68 |
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.
- Sri Lanka
-
45 hrs/wk standard
Max 45 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Shop and Office Employees Act limits hours to 8 per day and 45 per week for commercial establishments. Factories Ordinance limits factory workers to similar hours. Overtime is paid at 1.5x the ordinary rate. Different rules apply to plantation workers and domestic workers. Public holidays: approximately 25 per year (Sri Lanka has one of the highest numbers of public holidays globally).
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from Sri Lanka to Equatorial Guinea would see a 51209% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Equatorial Guinea mandates 40 hours while Sri Lanka mandates 45 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Equatorial Guinea are $9,266 vs $20 in Sri Lanka.
See this comparison from Sri Lanka's perspective: Sri Lanka vs Equatorial Guinea
Compare Equatorial Guinea with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Equatorial Guinea or Sri Lanka?
In Equatorial Guinea, the minimum wage is FCFA129,035/mo ($231.66 USD). In Sri Lanka, it is Rs135/hr ($0.45 USD). Equatorial Guinea has the higher rate by 51209% 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 Sri Lanka 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 Sri Lanka?
The average gross salary in Equatorial Guinea is FCFA350,000/mo ($628.37 USD), compared to Rs55,000/mo ($183.95 USD) in Sri Lanka. In USD terms, workers in Equatorial Guinea earn approximately 242% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Equatorial Guinea and Sri Lanka 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 Sri Lanka.
How do work hours compare between Equatorial Guinea and Sri Lanka?
Sri Lanka has a longer standard work week at 45 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.
What is the cost of living difference between Equatorial Guinea and Sri Lanka?
While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Equatorial Guinea has the higher GDP per capita at $17,567, which is 1.1x that of Sri Lanka at $15,633. From Equatorial Guinea's perspective, this means goods and services are priced at a higher 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.