Key Facts: Eritrea vs Central African Republic Wages
- Eritrea Minimum Wage
- Nfk600/mo ($40 USD)
- Central African Republic Minimum Wage
- FCFA35,000/mo ($62.84 USD)
- Eritrea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Nfk6,000 /mo ($400 USD)
- Central African Republic Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- FCFA75,000 /mo ($134.65 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / OHCHR Eritrea reports (2026-02-25), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / OHADA Labour Code (2026-02-25)
Eritrea 
Central African Republic
Updated 2026-02-25
The minimum wage in Eritrea is 36% lower than in the Central African Republic in USD terms, though average salaries tell a different story. Average gross salaries diverge further: $400/mo in Eritrea versus $135/mo in the Central African Republic, a 3.0:1 ratio.
From Eritrea's perspective: adjusting for purchasing power, Eritrea's minimum wage buys less than the Central African Republic's. The PPP-adjusted hourly rate in Eritrea is $121 international dollars, compared to $141 in the Central African Republic. Eritrea's unemployment rate is 6.0% compared to the Central African Republic's 6.3%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Eritrea | Central African Republic |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /day | — | FCFA1,400 $2.51 |
| Minimum wage /mo | Nfk600 $40 | FCFA35,000 $62.84 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | Nfk6,000 /mo $400 | FCFA75,000 /mo $134.65 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | Nfk5,400 /mo $360 | N/A/mo |
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.
- Central African Republic
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
The Labour Code sets a standard 40-hour workweek, with maximum 48 hours including overtime. These provisions apply to formal employment only, which represents a small fraction of total employment. Enforcement capacity is severely constrained by institutional fragility.
• WAGE TRAJECTORY (USD/mo)
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker in Eritrea earns 57% less per hour in USD terms than one in the Central African Republic. Standard work weeks differ: Eritrea mandates 44 hours while the Central African Republic mandates 40 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Eritrea are $1,760 vs $2,513 in the Central African Republic.
See this comparison from Central African Republic's perspective: Central African Republic 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 Central African Republic?
In Eritrea, the minimum wage is Nfk600/mo ($40 USD). In the Central African Republic, it is FCFA35,000/mo ($62.84 USD). Central African Republic has the higher rate by 57% 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 Central African Republic?
The average gross salary in Eritrea is Nfk6,000/mo ($400 USD), compared to FCFA75,000/mo ($134.65 USD) in the Central African Republic. In USD terms, workers in Eritrea earn approximately 197% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Eritrea and Central African Republic 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 the Central African Republic.
Which country has better purchasing power for minimum wage workers, Eritrea or Central African Republic?
After adjusting for local prices using purchasing power parity (PPP), minimum wage workers in the Central African Republic can afford more than those in Eritrea. The PPP-adjusted rate is $121 in Eritrea and $141 in the Central African Republic. PPP converts wages into equivalent US dollar buying power, accounting for what a unit of currency actually buys locally. The 16% 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 Central African Republic?
Eritrea has a longer standard work week at 44 hours, compared to 40 hours in the Central African Republic. Workers in Eritrea work 44 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in the Central African Republic 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.