Key Facts: Eritrea vs Jordan Wages
- Eritrea Minimum Wage
- Nfk600/mo ($40 USD)
- Jordan Minimum Wage
- JD1.67/hr ($2.36 USD)
- Eritrea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Nfk6,000 /mo ($400 USD)
- Jordan Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- JD613 /mo ($864.60 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / OHCHR Eritrea reports (2026-02-25), Ministry of Labour — Jordan (2026-02-25)
Eritrea
Jordan
Updated 2026-02-25
The minimum wage in Eritrea is roughly 17 times higher than in Jordan in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a low-income and a upper-middle-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $400/mo in Eritrea versus $865/mo in Jordan, a 2.2:1 ratio. Eritrea has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 6.0% compared to 16.5%.
Eritrea's unemployment rate is 6.0% compared to Jordan's 16.5%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Eritrea | Jordan |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | — | JD1.67 $2.36 |
| Minimum wage /mo | Nfk600 $40 | JD290 $409.03 |
| Minimum wage /yr | — | JD3,480 $4,908.32 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | Nfk6,000 /mo $400 | JD613 /mo $864.60 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | Nfk5,400 /mo $360 | JD525 /mo $740.48 |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | JD4,320 /yr $6,093.09 |
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.
- Jordan
-
48 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.25x pay
Labour Code sets maximum working hours at 48 per week. Overtime work must not exceed 4 hours per day and is compensated at 125% of normal wage. Friday is the normal rest day. Overtime on Fridays and public holidays is paid at 150%.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from Jordan to Eritrea would see a 1598% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Eritrea mandates 44 hours while Jordan mandates 48 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Eritrea are $1,760 vs $113 in Jordan.
See this comparison from Jordan's perspective: Jordan vs Eritrea
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Eritrea or Jordan?
In Eritrea, the minimum wage is Nfk600/mo ($40 USD). In Jordan, it is JD1.67/hr ($2.36 USD). Eritrea has the higher rate by 1598% 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 Jordan 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 Jordan?
The average gross salary in Eritrea is Nfk6,000/mo ($400 USD), compared to JD613/mo ($864.60 USD) in Jordan. In USD terms, workers in Eritrea earn approximately 116% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Eritrea and Jordan is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Jordan 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 Jordan?
Jordan 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.