Key Facts: Eritrea vs Bhutan Wages
- Eritrea Minimum Wage
- Nfk600/mo ($40 USD)
- Bhutan Minimum Wage
- Nu3,250/mo ($35.75 USD)
- Eritrea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Nfk6,000 /mo ($400 USD)
- Bhutan Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Nu18,000 /mo ($198.02 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / OHCHR Eritrea reports (2026-02-25), Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Employment — Royal Government of Bhutan / ILO (2026-02-25)
Eritrea
Bhutan
Updated 2026-02-25
Eritrea, a low-income economy, and Bhutan, classified as lower-middle-income, take different approaches to wage policy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $400/mo in Eritrea versus $198/mo in Bhutan, a 2.0:1 ratio. Bhutan has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 3.2% compared to 6.0%.
From Eritrea's perspective: adjusting for purchasing power, Eritrea's minimum wage buys less than Bhutan's. The PPP-adjusted hourly rate in Eritrea is $121 international dollars, compared to $166 in Bhutan. Eritrea's unemployment rate is 6.0% compared to Bhutan's 3.2%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Eritrea | Bhutan |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /day | — | Nu125 $1.38 |
| Minimum wage /mo | Nfk600 $40 | Nu3,250 $35.75 |
| Minimum wage /yr | — | Nu39,000 $429.04 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | Nfk6,000 /mo $400 | Nu18,000 /mo $198.02 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | Nfk5,400 /mo $360 | Nu16,000 /mo $176.02 |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | Nu72,000 /yr $792.08 |
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.
- Bhutan
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Bhutan Labour and Employment Act 2007 sets a 40-hour standard workweek (8 hours/day, 5 days). Maximum including overtime is 48 hours. Overtime is paid at 1.5x the regular rate. The public sector follows a 5-day, 8-hour schedule.
• WAGE TRAJECTORY (USD/mo)
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from Bhutan to Eritrea would see a 12% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. However, after adjusting for cost of living, Bhutan's minimum wage provides more purchasing power. Standard work weeks differ: Eritrea mandates 44 hours while Bhutan mandates 40 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Eritrea are $1,760 vs $1,430 in Bhutan.
See this comparison from Bhutan's perspective: Bhutan vs Eritrea
Compare Eritrea with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Eritrea or Bhutan?
In Eritrea, the minimum wage is Nfk600/mo ($40 USD). In Bhutan, it is Nu3,250/mo ($35.75 USD). Eritrea has the higher rate by 12% 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 Bhutan 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 Bhutan?
The average gross salary in Eritrea is Nfk6,000/mo ($400 USD), compared to Nu18,000/mo ($198.02 USD) in Bhutan. In USD terms, workers in Eritrea earn approximately 102% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Eritrea and Bhutan 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 Bhutan.
Which country has better purchasing power for minimum wage workers, Eritrea or Bhutan?
After adjusting for local prices using purchasing power parity (PPP), minimum wage workers in Bhutan can afford more than those in Eritrea. The PPP-adjusted rate is $121 in Eritrea and $166 in Bhutan. PPP converts wages into equivalent US dollar buying power, accounting for what a unit of currency actually buys locally. The 37% 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 Bhutan?
Eritrea has a longer standard work week at 44 hours, compared to 40 hours in Bhutan. Workers in Eritrea work 44 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Bhutan 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.