Key Facts: Eritrea vs Israel Wages
- Eritrea Minimum Wage
- Nfk600/mo ($40 USD)
- Israel Minimum Wage
- ₪35.40/hr ($12.57 USD)
- Eritrea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Nfk6,000 /mo ($400 USD)
- Israel Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ₪12,000 /mo ($4,262.12 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / OHCHR Eritrea reports (2026-02-25), Ministry of Economy and Industry / National Insurance Institute; 2026 figure verified via Wikipedia List of countries by minimum wage (eff 2026-04-01) (2026-05-04)
Eritrea 
Israel
Updated 2026-05-04
The minimum wage in Eritrea is 218% higher than in Israel when converted to USD. Average gross salaries diverge further: $400/mo in Eritrea versus $4,262/mo in Israel, a 10.7:1 ratio. Israel has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 3.5% compared to 6.0%.
Eritrea's unemployment rate is 6.0% compared to Israel's 3.5%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Eritrea | Israel |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | — | ₪35.40 $12.57 |
| Minimum wage /mo | Nfk600 $40 | ₪6,443.85 $2,288.71 |
| Minimum wage /yr | — | ₪77,326.20 $27,464.46 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | Nfk6,000 /mo $400 | ₪12,000 /mo $4,262.12 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | Nfk5,400 /mo $360 | ₪9,000 /mo $3,196.59 |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | ₪108,000 /yr $38,359.08 |
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.
- Israel
-
42 hrs/wk standard
Max 42 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.25x pay
Standard workweek reduced from 43 to 42 hours in April 2018. Typically 5-day work week (8.4 hrs/day) or 6-day week. First 2 overtime hours: 125% of regular rate; subsequent hours: 150%. Weekly rest day is typically Friday evening to Saturday evening (Shabbat). Maximum 12 hours in any workday.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from Israel to Eritrea would see a 218% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Eritrea mandates 44 hours while Israel mandates 42 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Eritrea are $1,760 vs $528 in Israel.
See this comparison from Israel's perspective: Israel vs Eritrea
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Eritrea vs Singapore Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Eritrea or Israel?
In Eritrea, the minimum wage is Nfk600/mo ($40 USD). In Israel, it is ₪35.40/hr ($12.57 USD). Eritrea has the higher rate by 218% 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 Israel 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 Israel?
The average gross salary in Eritrea is Nfk6,000/mo ($400 USD), compared to ₪12,000/mo ($4,262.12 USD) in Israel. In USD terms, workers in Eritrea earn approximately 966% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Eritrea and Israel is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Israel 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 Israel?
Eritrea has a longer standard work week at 44 hours, compared to 42 hours in Israel. Workers in Eritrea work 44 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Israel 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.