Key Facts: Eritrea vs Chad Wages
- Eritrea Minimum Wage
- Nfk600/mo ($40 USD)
- Chad Minimum Wage
- FCFA60,000/mo ($107.72 USD)
- Eritrea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Nfk6,000 /mo ($400 USD)
- Chad Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- FCFA180,000 /mo ($323.16 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / OHCHR Eritrea reports (2026-02-25), ILO / Ministère de la Fonction Publique, du Travail et du Dialogue Social (Chad) (2026-02-25)
Eritrea
Chad
Updated 2026-02-25
The minimum wage in Eritrea is 63% lower than in Chad in USD terms, though average salaries tell a different story. Average salaries are higher in Eritrea at $400/mo compared to $323/mo in Chad. Chad has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 1.1% compared to 6.0%.
From Eritrea's perspective: adjusting for purchasing power, Eritrea's minimum wage buys less than Chad's. The PPP-adjusted hourly rate in Eritrea is $121 international dollars, compared to $282 in Chad. Eritrea's unemployment rate is 6.0% compared to Chad's 1.1%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Eritrea | Chad |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /mo | Nfk600 $40 | FCFA60,000 $107.72 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | Nfk6,000 /mo $400 | FCFA180,000 /mo $323.16 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | Nfk5,400 /mo $360 | N/A/mo |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | FCFA180,000 /yr $323.16 |
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.
- Chad
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Labour Code sets standard at 40 hours/week in the formal sector. Overtime compensated at 1.5x. These provisions apply only to a narrow formal-sector workforce.
• WAGE TRAJECTORY (USD/mo)
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker in Eritrea earns 169% less per hour in USD terms than one in Chad. Standard work weeks differ: Eritrea mandates 44 hours while Chad mandates 40 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Eritrea are $1,760 vs $4,309 in Chad.
See this comparison from Chad's perspective: Chad vs Eritrea
Compare Eritrea with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Eritrea or Chad?
In Eritrea, the minimum wage is Nfk600/mo ($40 USD). In Chad, it is FCFA60,000/mo ($107.72 USD). Chad has the higher rate by 169% 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 Chad?
The average gross salary in Eritrea is Nfk6,000/mo ($400 USD), compared to FCFA180,000/mo ($323.16 USD) in Chad. In USD terms, workers in Eritrea earn approximately 24% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Eritrea and Chad 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 Chad.
Which country has better purchasing power for minimum wage workers, Eritrea or Chad?
After adjusting for local prices using purchasing power parity (PPP), minimum wage workers in Chad can afford more than those in Eritrea. The PPP-adjusted rate is $121 in Eritrea and $282 in Chad. PPP converts wages into equivalent US dollar buying power, accounting for what a unit of currency actually buys locally. The 132% 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 Chad?
Eritrea has a longer standard work week at 44 hours, compared to 40 hours in Chad. Workers in Eritrea work 44 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Chad 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.