Key Facts: Eritrea vs Benin Wages
- Eritrea Minimum Wage
- Nfk600/mo ($40 USD)
- Benin Minimum Wage
- CFA300/hr ($0.54 USD)
- Eritrea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Nfk6,000 /mo ($400 USD)
- Benin Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- CFA120,000 /mo ($215.44 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / OHCHR Eritrea reports (2026-02-25), Ministry of Labour and Public Service / ILO (2026-02-25)
Eritrea 
Benin
Updated 2026-02-25
The minimum wage in Eritrea is roughly 74 times higher than in Benin in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a low-income and a lower-middle-income economy. Average salaries are higher in Eritrea at $400/mo compared to $215/mo in Benin. Benin has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 1.6% compared to 6.0%.
Eritrea's unemployment rate is 6.0% compared to Benin's 1.6%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Eritrea | Benin |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | — | CFA300 $0.54 |
| Minimum wage /mo | Nfk600 $40 | CFA52,000 $93.36 |
| Minimum wage /yr | — | CFA624,000 $1,120.29 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | Nfk6,000 /mo $400 | CFA120,000 /mo $215.44 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | Nfk5,400 /mo $360 | CFA100,000 /mo $179.53 |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | CFA480,000 /yr $861.76 |
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.
- Benin
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.12x pay
Standard workweek is 40 hours for non-agricultural sectors (48 hours for agriculture). Overtime from 41-48 hours paid at 112% of normal rate; hours exceeding 48 paid at 135%. Night work and weekend overtime carry higher premiums.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from Benin to Eritrea would see a 7327% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Eritrea mandates 44 hours while Benin mandates 40 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Eritrea are $1,760 vs $22 in Benin.
See this comparison from Benin's perspective: Benin vs Eritrea
Compare Eritrea with...
Eritrea vs United States $ 7.25 /hr 
Eritrea vs China ¥ 25 /hr 
Eritrea vs Germany € 13.9 /hr 
Eritrea vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr 
Eritrea vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo 
Eritrea vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr 
Eritrea vs France € 12.02 /hr 
Eritrea vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
Eritrea vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr 
Eritrea vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr 
Eritrea vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
Eritrea vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr 
Eritrea vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo 
Eritrea vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr 
Eritrea vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr 
Eritrea vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr 
Eritrea vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr 
Eritrea vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr 
Eritrea vs Switzerland 
Eritrea vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr 
Eritrea vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo 
Eritrea vs Sweden 
Eritrea vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr 
Eritrea vs Singapore Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Eritrea or Benin?
In Eritrea, the minimum wage is Nfk600/mo ($40 USD). In Benin, it is CFA300/hr ($0.54 USD). Eritrea has the higher rate by 7327% 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 Benin 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 Benin?
The average gross salary in Eritrea is Nfk6,000/mo ($400 USD), compared to CFA120,000/mo ($215.44 USD) in Benin. In USD terms, workers in Eritrea earn approximately 86% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Eritrea and Benin 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 Benin.
How do work hours compare between Eritrea and Benin?
Eritrea has a longer standard work week at 44 hours, compared to 40 hours in Benin. Workers in Eritrea work 44 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Benin 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.