Key Facts: Eritrea vs Brunei Wages
- Eritrea Minimum Wage
- Nfk600/mo ($40 USD)
- Brunei Minimum Wage
- B$2.62/hr ($2.06 USD)
- Eritrea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Nfk6,000 /mo ($400 USD)
- Brunei Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- B$2,500 /mo ($1,968.50 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / OHCHR Eritrea reports (2026-02-25), Labour Department, Ministry of Home Affairs — Brunei Darussalam (2026-02-25)
Eritrea
Brunei
Updated 2026-02-25
The minimum wage in Eritrea is roughly 19 times higher than in Brunei in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a low-income and a high-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $400/mo in Eritrea versus $1,969/mo in Brunei, a 4.9:1 ratio.
Eritrea's unemployment rate is 6.0% compared to Brunei's 5.3%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Eritrea | Brunei |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | — | B$2.62 $2.06 |
| Minimum wage /mo | Nfk600 $40 | B$500 $393.70 |
| Minimum wage /yr | — | B$6,000 $4,724.41 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | Nfk6,000 /mo $400 | B$2,500 /mo $1,968.50 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | Nfk5,400 /mo $360 | B$2,500 /mo $1,968.50 |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | B$18,000 /yr $14,173.23 |
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.
- Brunei
-
44 hrs/wk standard
Max 44 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Standard working hours are 8 hours per day or 44 hours per week under the Employment Order, 2009. Overtime is paid at 1.5x the regular rate. During Ramadan, Muslim workers typically work 6 hours/day. The government sector generally works 37.5-40 hours/week.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from Brunei to Eritrea would see a 1839% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings.
See this comparison from Brunei's perspective: Brunei vs Eritrea
Compare Eritrea with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Eritrea or Brunei?
In Eritrea, the minimum wage is Nfk600/mo ($40 USD). In Brunei, it is B$2.62/hr ($2.06 USD). Eritrea has the higher rate by 1839% 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 Brunei may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much less does the average worker earn in Eritrea compared to Brunei?
The average gross salary in Eritrea is Nfk6,000/mo ($400 USD), compared to B$2,500/mo ($1,968.50 USD) in Brunei. In USD terms, workers in Eritrea earn approximately 392% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Eritrea and Brunei is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Brunei earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Eritrea.
How do work hours compare between Eritrea and Brunei?
Both Eritrea and Brunei mandate a similar standard work week of 44 hours. When work hours are equal, the country with the higher minimum wage delivers proportionally higher weekly earnings. Standard work week rules set the baseline; actual hours worked often differ based on industry norms and individual employment contracts.