Key Facts: Eritrea vs Guyana Wages
- Eritrea Minimum Wage
- Nfk600/mo ($40 USD)
- Guyana Minimum Wage
- G$347/hr ($1.66 USD)
- Eritrea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Nfk6,000 /mo ($400 USD)
- Guyana Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- G$100,000 /mo ($477.90 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / OHCHR Eritrea reports (2026-02-25), Ministry of Labour — Guyana (2026-02-25)
Eritrea
Guyana
Updated 2026-02-25
The minimum wage in Eritrea is roughly 24 times higher than in Guyana 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 $478/mo in Guyana. Eritrea has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 6.0% compared to 12.0%.
Eritrea's unemployment rate is 6.0% compared to Guyana's 12.0%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Eritrea | Guyana |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | — | G$347 $1.66 |
| Minimum wage /mo | Nfk600 $40 | G$60,147 $287.44 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | Nfk6,000 /mo $400 | G$100,000 /mo $477.90 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | Nfk5,400 /mo $360 | G$80,000 /mo $382.32 |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | G$600,000 /yr $2,867.38 |
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.
- Guyana
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 40 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Standard workweek is 40 hours (8 hours/day, 5 days/week). Overtime is paid at 1.5x the regular rate on weekdays and 2x on public holidays. Governed by the Labour Act. Some sectors (sugar, mining) may have different arrangements through collective agreements.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from Guyana to Eritrea would see a 2312% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Eritrea mandates 44 hours while Guyana mandates 40 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Eritrea are $1,760 vs $66 in Guyana.
See this comparison from Guyana's perspective: Guyana vs Eritrea
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Eritrea or Guyana?
In Eritrea, the minimum wage is Nfk600/mo ($40 USD). In Guyana, it is G$347/hr ($1.66 USD). Eritrea has the higher rate by 2312% 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 Guyana 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 Guyana?
The average gross salary in Eritrea is Nfk6,000/mo ($400 USD), compared to G$100,000/mo ($477.90 USD) in Guyana. In USD terms, workers in Eritrea earn approximately 19% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Eritrea and Guyana is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Guyana 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 Guyana?
Eritrea has a longer standard work week at 44 hours, compared to 40 hours in Guyana. Workers in Eritrea work 44 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Guyana 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.