Key Facts: Eritrea vs Ecuador Wages
- Eritrea Minimum Wage
- Nfk600/mo ($40 USD)
- Ecuador Minimum Wage
- $1.96/hr
- Eritrea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Nfk6,000 /mo ($400 USD)
- Ecuador Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- $650 /mo ($650 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / OHCHR Eritrea reports (2026-02-25), Ministerio del Trabajo — Ecuador; 2025 figure verified via Wikipedia List of countries by minimum wage (eff 2025-01-01) (2026-05-04)
Eritrea 
Ecuador
Updated 2026-05-04
The minimum wage in Eritrea is roughly 20 times higher than in Ecuador in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a low-income and a upper-middle-income economy. Average salaries are lower in Eritrea at $400/mo compared to $650/mo in Ecuador. Ecuador has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 3.3% compared to 6.0%.
Eritrea's unemployment rate is 6.0% compared to Ecuador's 3.3%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Eritrea | Ecuador |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | — | $1.96 |
| Minimum wage /mo | Nfk600 $40 | $470 |
| Minimum wage /yr | — | $6,580 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | Nfk6,000 /mo $400 | $650 /mo |
| Avg. net salary /mo | Nfk5,400 /mo $360 | $585 /mo |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | $4,800 /yr |
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.
- Ecuador
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 40 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Código del Trabajo sets the standard workweek at 40 hours (8 hours/day, 5 days). Overtime (horas suplementarias) is paid at 50% premium for day hours and 100% premium for night hours (7pm-6am) and weekends/holidays. Maximum 4 hours of overtime per day, 12 hours per week. Night work (7pm-6am) has a 25% surcharge even within regular hours.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from Ecuador to Eritrea would see a 1941% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Eritrea mandates 44 hours while Ecuador mandates 40 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Eritrea are $1,760 vs $78 in Ecuador.
See this comparison from Ecuador's perspective: Ecuador 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 Ecuador?
In Eritrea, the minimum wage is Nfk600/mo ($40 USD). In Ecuador, it is $1.96/hr. Eritrea has the higher rate by 1941% 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 Ecuador 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 Ecuador?
The average gross salary in Eritrea is Nfk6,000/mo ($400 USD), compared to $650/mo in Ecuador. In USD terms, workers in Eritrea earn approximately 63% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Eritrea and Ecuador is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Ecuador 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 Ecuador?
Eritrea has a longer standard work week at 44 hours, compared to 40 hours in Ecuador. Workers in Eritrea work 44 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Ecuador 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.