Key Facts: Eritrea vs Iran Wages
- Eritrea Minimum Wage
- Nfk600/mo ($40 USD)
- Iran Minimum Wage
- ﷼692,731/hr ($1.02 USD)
- Eritrea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Nfk6,000 /mo ($400 USD)
- Iran Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ﷼400,000,000 /mo ($588.24 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / OHCHR Eritrea reports (2026-02-25), Supreme Labour Council / ILO ILOSTAT. 2026 (Iranian year 1405) figure verified via WageIndicator (March 22, 2026 update) and Euronews coverage of 60% nominal increase amid sanctions pressure. (2026-05-04)
Eritrea 
Iran
Updated 2026-05-04
The minimum wage in Eritrea is roughly 39 times higher than in Iran in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a low-income and a lower-middle-income economy. Average salaries are lower in Eritrea at $400/mo compared to $588/mo in Iran. Eritrea has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 6.0% compared to 8.3%.
Eritrea's unemployment rate is 6.0% compared to Iran's 8.3%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Eritrea | Iran |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | — | ﷼692,731 $1.02 |
| Minimum wage /day | — | ﷼5,541,850 $8.15 |
| Minimum wage /mo | Nfk600 $40 | ﷼166,255,500 $244.49 |
| Minimum wage /yr | — | ﷼1,995,066,000 $2,933.92 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | Nfk6,000 /mo $400 | ﷼400,000,000 /mo $588.24 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | Nfk5,400 /mo $360 | N/A/mo |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | ﷼1,440,000,000 /yr $2,117.65 |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Eritrea is higher.
Work Week
- Eritrea
-
44 hrs/wk standard
Labour Law sets 44 hours/week for civilian workers (8 hours/day, 5.5 days). However, the national service program operates under military regulations outside normal labour law. No reliable enforcement or monitoring data is available.
- Iran
-
44 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.4x pay
Article 51 of the Labour Law sets ordinary working hours at 44 hours per week (8 hours/day, 6 days, with 4 hours on the sixth day — or equivalent arrangements). Maximum including overtime is 48 hours/week. Overtime is compensated at 140% of the ordinary hourly rate. Friday is the official weekly rest day. Workers in hazardous conditions have reduced hours.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from Iran to Eritrea would see a 3826% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings.
See this comparison from Iran's perspective: Iran vs Eritrea
Compare Eritrea with...
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Eritrea vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
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Eritrea vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr 
Eritrea vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
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Eritrea vs Singapore Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Eritrea or Iran?
In Eritrea, the minimum wage is Nfk600/mo ($40 USD). In Iran, it is ﷼692,731/hr ($1.02 USD). Eritrea has the higher rate by 3826% 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 Iran 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 Iran?
The average gross salary in Eritrea is Nfk6,000/mo ($400 USD), compared to ﷼400,000,000/mo ($588.24 USD) in Iran. In USD terms, workers in Eritrea earn approximately 47% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Eritrea and Iran is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Iran 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 Iran?
Both Eritrea and Iran mandate a similar standard work week of 44 hours. When work hours are equal, the country with the higher minimum wage delivers proportionally higher weekly earnings. Standard work week rules set the baseline; actual hours worked often differ based on industry norms and individual employment contracts.