Key Facts: Eritrea vs Bangladesh Wages
- Eritrea Minimum Wage
- Nfk600/mo ($40 USD)
- Bangladesh Minimum Wage
- ৳12,500/mo ($103.73 USD)
- Eritrea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Nfk6,000 /mo ($400 USD)
- Bangladesh Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ৳18,000 /mo ($149.38 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / OHCHR Eritrea reports (2026-02-25), Ministry of Labour and Employment / Minimum Wage Board; sectoral structure cross-referenced via Wikipedia List of countries by minimum wage (2026-05-04)
Eritrea
Bangladesh
Updated 2026-05-04
The minimum wage in Eritrea is 61% lower than in Bangladesh in USD terms, though average salaries tell a different story. Average gross salaries diverge further: $400/mo in Eritrea versus $149/mo in Bangladesh, a 2.7:1 ratio. Bangladesh has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 3.8% compared to 6.0%.
From Eritrea's perspective: adjusting for purchasing power, Eritrea's minimum wage buys less than Bangladesh's. The PPP-adjusted hourly rate in Eritrea is $121 international dollars, compared to $418 in Bangladesh. Eritrea's unemployment rate is 6.0% compared to Bangladesh's 3.8%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Eritrea | Bangladesh |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /mo | Nfk600 $40 | ৳12,500 $103.73 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | Nfk6,000 /mo $400 | ৳18,000 /mo $149.38 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | Nfk5,400 /mo $360 | ৳17,000 /mo $141.08 |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | ৳108,000 /yr $896.27 |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Eritrea is higher.
Work Week
- 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.
- Bangladesh
-
48 hrs/wk standard
Max 60 hrs/wk
Overtime : 2x pay
Bangladesh Labour Act sets standard at 48 hours/week (8 hrs/day, 6 days). Maximum with overtime is 60 hours/week. Overtime paid at double the basic wage. Factories must provide one day off per week.
• WAGE TRAJECTORY (USD/mo)
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker in Eritrea earns 159% less per hour in USD terms than one in Bangladesh. Standard work weeks differ: Eritrea mandates 44 hours while Bangladesh mandates 48 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Eritrea are $1,760 vs $4,979 in Bangladesh.
See this comparison from Bangladesh's perspective: Bangladesh vs Eritrea
Compare Eritrea with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Eritrea or Bangladesh?
In Eritrea, the minimum wage is Nfk600/mo ($40 USD). In Bangladesh, it is ৳12,500/mo ($103.73 USD). Bangladesh has the higher rate by 159% 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 Eritrea compared to Bangladesh?
The average gross salary in Eritrea is Nfk6,000/mo ($400 USD), compared to ৳18,000/mo ($149.38 USD) in Bangladesh. In USD terms, workers in Eritrea earn approximately 168% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Eritrea and Bangladesh is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Eritrea earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Bangladesh.
Which country has better purchasing power for minimum wage workers, Eritrea or Bangladesh?
After adjusting for local prices using purchasing power parity (PPP), minimum wage workers in Bangladesh can afford more than those in Eritrea. The PPP-adjusted rate is $121 in Eritrea and $418 in Bangladesh. PPP converts wages into equivalent US dollar buying power, accounting for what a unit of currency actually buys locally. The 244% 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 Eritrea and Bangladesh?
Bangladesh has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 44 hours in Eritrea. Workers in Eritrea work 44 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Eritrea 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.