Key Facts: Eritrea vs Gabon Wages
- Eritrea Minimum Wage
- Nfk600/mo ($40 USD)
- Gabon Minimum Wage
- FCFA865.38/hr ($1.55 USD)
- Eritrea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Nfk6,000 /mo ($400 USD)
- Gabon Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- FCFA555,000 /mo ($996.41 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / OHCHR Eritrea reports (2026-02-25), Ministry of Labour, Employment and Vocational Training / Labour Code of Gabon (2026-02-25)
Eritrea
Gabon
Updated 2026-02-25
The minimum wage in Eritrea is roughly 26 times higher than in Gabon in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a low-income and a upper-middle-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $400/mo in Eritrea versus $996/mo in Gabon, a 2.5:1 ratio. Eritrea has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 6.0% compared to 20.1%.
Eritrea's unemployment rate is 6.0% compared to Gabon's 20.1%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Eritrea | Gabon |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | — | FCFA865.38 $1.55 |
| Minimum wage /mo | Nfk600 $40 | FCFA150,000 $269.30 |
| Minimum wage /yr | — | FCFA1,800,000 $3,231.60 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | Nfk6,000 /mo $400 | FCFA555,000 /mo $996.41 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | Nfk5,400 /mo $360 | FCFA430,000 /mo $771.99 |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | FCFA2,400,000 /yr $4,308.80 |
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.
- Gabon
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 60 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.25x pay
Standard workweek is 40 hours (8 hours/day, 5 days). Overtime capped at 20 hours/week, permitted only for exceptional, urgent, or seasonal work. Weekday overtime at 125% of normal rate; Sundays/public holidays at 150-200%. Employees entitled to 10 consecutive hours of daily rest and one full day of weekly rest (usually Sunday). Governed by the Labour Code (Code du Travail).
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from Gabon to Eritrea would see a 2475% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Eritrea mandates 44 hours while Gabon mandates 40 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Eritrea are $1,760 vs $62 in Gabon.
See this comparison from Gabon's perspective: Gabon vs Eritrea
Compare Eritrea with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Eritrea or Gabon?
In Eritrea, the minimum wage is Nfk600/mo ($40 USD). In Gabon, it is FCFA865.38/hr ($1.55 USD). Eritrea has the higher rate by 2475% 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 Gabon 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 Gabon?
The average gross salary in Eritrea is Nfk6,000/mo ($400 USD), compared to FCFA555,000/mo ($996.41 USD) in Gabon. In USD terms, workers in Eritrea earn approximately 149% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Eritrea and Gabon is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Gabon 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 Gabon?
Eritrea has a longer standard work week at 44 hours, compared to 40 hours in Gabon. Workers in Eritrea work 44 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Gabon 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.