Key Facts: Eritrea vs Gambia Wages
- Eritrea Minimum Wage
- Nfk600/mo ($40 USD)
- Gambia Minimum Wage
- D1,300/mo ($17.53 USD)
- Eritrea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Nfk6,000 /mo ($400 USD)
- Gambia Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- D8,000 /mo ($107.90 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / OHCHR Eritrea reports (2026-02-25), ILO ILOSTAT / Gambia Bureau of Statistics / Department of Labour (2026-02-25)
Eritrea
Gambia
Updated 2026-02-25
The minimum wage in Eritrea is 128% higher than in the Gambia when converted to USD. Average gross salaries diverge further: $400/mo in Eritrea versus $108/mo in the Gambia, a 3.7:1 ratio.
From Eritrea's perspective: adjusting for purchasing power, Eritrea's minimum wage buys more than the Gambia's. The PPP-adjusted hourly rate in Eritrea is $121 international dollars, compared to $77 in the Gambia. Eritrea's unemployment rate is 6.0% compared to the Gambia's 6.5%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Eritrea | Gambia |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /day | — | D50 $0.67 |
| Minimum wage /mo | Nfk600 $40 | D1,300 $17.53 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | Nfk6,000 /mo $400 | D8,000 /mo $107.90 |
| 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.
- Gambia
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Labour Act 2007 sets a 40-hour standard working week (8 hours/day, 5 days). Overtime is payable at 1.5x for weekdays and 2x for Sundays and public holidays.
• WAGE TRAJECTORY (USD/mo)
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from the Gambia to Eritrea would see a 128% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Eritrea mandates 44 hours while the Gambia mandates 40 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Eritrea are $1,760 vs $701 in the Gambia.
See this comparison from Gambia's perspective: Gambia vs Eritrea
Compare Eritrea with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Eritrea or Gambia?
In Eritrea, the minimum wage is Nfk600/mo ($40 USD). In the Gambia, it is D1,300/mo ($17.53 USD). Eritrea has the higher rate by 128% 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 the Gambia 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 Gambia?
The average gross salary in Eritrea is Nfk6,000/mo ($400 USD), compared to D8,000/mo ($107.90 USD) in the Gambia. In USD terms, workers in Eritrea earn approximately 271% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Eritrea and Gambia 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 Gambia.
Which country has better purchasing power for minimum wage workers, Eritrea or Gambia?
After adjusting for local prices using purchasing power parity (PPP), minimum wage workers in Eritrea can afford more than those in the Gambia. The PPP-adjusted rate is $121 in Eritrea and $77 in the Gambia. PPP converts wages into equivalent US dollar buying power, accounting for what a unit of currency actually buys locally. The 59% purchasing power gap means that even if the nominal wage in the Gambia appears competitive, minimum wage workers there face greater constraints on day-to-day spending.
How do work hours compare between Eritrea and Gambia?
Eritrea has a longer standard work week at 44 hours, compared to 40 hours in the Gambia. Workers in Eritrea work 44 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in the Gambia 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.