Key Facts: Eritrea vs Iraq Wages
- Eritrea Minimum Wage
- Nfk600/mo ($40 USD)
- Iraq Minimum Wage
- ع.د1,823/hr ($1.40 USD)
- Eritrea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Nfk6,000 /mo ($400 USD)
- Iraq Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ع.د700,000 /mo ($536.40 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / OHCHR Eritrea reports (2026-02-25), Iraqi Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs / ILO (2026-02-25)
Eritrea 
Iraq
Updated 2026-02-25
The minimum wage in Eritrea is roughly 29 times higher than in Iraq 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 $536/mo in Iraq. Eritrea has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 6.0% compared to 15.5%.
Eritrea's unemployment rate is 6.0% compared to Iraq's 15.5%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Eritrea | Iraq |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | — | ع.د1,823 $1.40 |
| Minimum wage /day | — | ع.د14,583 $11.17 |
| Minimum wage /mo | Nfk600 $40 | ع.د350,000 $268.20 |
| Minimum wage /yr | — | ع.د4,200,000 $3,218.39 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | Nfk6,000 /mo $400 | ع.د700,000 /mo $536.40 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | Nfk5,400 /mo $360 | N/A/mo |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | ع.د3,360,000 /yr $2,574.71 |
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.
- Iraq
-
48 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Labour Law No. 37 of 2015 sets maximum ordinary working hours at 8 per day / 48 per week. Friday is the weekly rest day. Overtime is compensated at 150% of normal hourly rate. Work on official holidays is paid at 200%. Ramadan working hours are reduced. Public sector employees typically work ~40 hours/week in practice.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from Iraq to Eritrea would see a 2763% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Eritrea mandates 44 hours while Iraq mandates 48 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Eritrea are $1,760 vs $67 in Iraq.
See this comparison from Iraq's perspective: Iraq vs Eritrea
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Eritrea vs Singapore Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Eritrea or Iraq?
In Eritrea, the minimum wage is Nfk600/mo ($40 USD). In Iraq, it is ع.د1,823/hr ($1.40 USD). Eritrea has the higher rate by 2763% 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 Iraq 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 Iraq?
The average gross salary in Eritrea is Nfk6,000/mo ($400 USD), compared to ع.د700,000/mo ($536.40 USD) in Iraq. In USD terms, workers in Eritrea earn approximately 34% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Eritrea and Iraq is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Iraq 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 Iraq?
Iraq has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 44 hours in Eritrea. Workers in Eritrea work 44 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Eritrea 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.