Key Facts: Eritrea vs Ghana Wages
- Eritrea Minimum Wage
- Nfk600/mo ($40 USD)
- Ghana Minimum Wage
- GH₵2.72/hr ($0.18 USD)
- Eritrea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Nfk6,000 /mo ($400 USD)
- Ghana Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- GH₵3,500 /mo ($235.69 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / OHCHR Eritrea reports (2026-02-25), Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) / Ministry of Finance (MOFEP) / National Tripartite Committee; 2025-2026 daily rates per official gazettements (2026-05-27)
Eritrea
Ghana
Updated 2026-05-27
The minimum wage in Eritrea is roughly 218 times higher than in Ghana in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a low-income and a lower-middle-income economy. Average salaries are higher in Eritrea at $400/mo compared to $236/mo in Ghana. Ghana has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 3.0% compared to 6.0%.
Eritrea's unemployment rate is 6.0% compared to Ghana's 3.0%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Eritrea | Ghana |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | — | GH₵2.72 $0.18 |
| Minimum wage /day | — | GH₵21.77 $1.47 |
| Minimum wage /mo | Nfk600 $40 | GH₵565.02 $38.05 |
| Minimum wage /yr | — | GH₵6,780.24 $456.58 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | Nfk6,000 /mo $400 | GH₵3,500 /mo $235.69 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | Nfk5,400 /mo $360 | GH₵3,000 /mo $202.02 |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | GH₵12,000 /yr $808.08 |
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.
- Ghana
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Labour Act 2003 (Act 651) sets standard working hours at 8 hours/day, 40 hours/week. Overtime must be paid at 1.5x the normal rate. Work on rest days or public holidays at 2x.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from Ghana to Eritrea would see a 21738% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Eritrea mandates 44 hours while Ghana mandates 40 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Eritrea are $1,760 vs $7 in Ghana.
See this comparison from Ghana's perspective: Ghana vs Eritrea
Compare Eritrea with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Eritrea or Ghana?
In Eritrea, the minimum wage is Nfk600/mo ($40 USD). In Ghana, it is GH₵2.72/hr ($0.18 USD). Eritrea has the higher rate by 21738% 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 Ghana 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 Ghana?
The average gross salary in Eritrea is Nfk6,000/mo ($400 USD), compared to GH₵3,500/mo ($235.69 USD) in Ghana. In USD terms, workers in Eritrea earn approximately 70% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Eritrea and Ghana 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 Ghana.
How do work hours compare between Eritrea and Ghana?
Eritrea has a longer standard work week at 44 hours, compared to 40 hours in Ghana. Workers in Eritrea work 44 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Ghana 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.