Key Facts: Eritrea vs Kyrgyzstan Wages
- Eritrea Minimum Wage
- Nfk600/mo ($40 USD)
- Kyrgyzstan Minimum Wage
- сом17.16/hr ($0.20 USD)
- Eritrea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Nfk6,000 /mo ($400 USD)
- Kyrgyzstan Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- сом37,361 /mo ($427.28 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / OHCHR Eritrea reports (2026-02-25), Ministry of Finance of the Kyrgyz Republic / National Statistical Committee (2026-02-25)
Eritrea
Kyrgyzstan
Updated 2026-02-25
The minimum wage in Eritrea is roughly 204 times higher than in Kyrgyzstan 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 $427/mo in Kyrgyzstan. Kyrgyzstan has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 3.5% compared to 6.0%.
Eritrea's unemployment rate is 6.0% compared to Kyrgyzstan's 3.5%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Eritrea | Kyrgyzstan |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | — | сом17.16 $0.20 |
| Minimum wage /mo | Nfk600 $40 | сом2,863 $32.74 |
| Minimum wage /yr | — | сом34,356 $392.91 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | Nfk6,000 /mo $400 | сом37,361 /mo $427.28 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | Nfk5,400 /mo $360 | сом33,625 /mo $384.55 |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | сом180,000 /yr $2,058.55 |
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.
- Kyrgyzstan
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 40 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Labour Code sets standard workweek at 40 hours (8 hrs/day). Reduced hours (36 hrs) for workers aged 16-18 and hazardous conditions. Overtime limited to 120 hours per year. Overtime premium at least 50%. Night work (22:00-06:00) premium at least 50%. Holiday work at double rate.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from Kyrgyzstan to Eritrea would see a 20282% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Eritrea mandates 44 hours while Kyrgyzstan mandates 40 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Eritrea are $1,760 vs $8 in Kyrgyzstan.
See this comparison from Kyrgyzstan's perspective: Kyrgyzstan vs Eritrea
Compare Eritrea with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Eritrea or Kyrgyzstan?
In Eritrea, the minimum wage is Nfk600/mo ($40 USD). In Kyrgyzstan, it is сом17.16/hr ($0.20 USD). Eritrea has the higher rate by 20282% 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 Kyrgyzstan 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 Kyrgyzstan?
The average gross salary in Eritrea is Nfk6,000/mo ($400 USD), compared to сом37,361/mo ($427.28 USD) in Kyrgyzstan. In USD terms, workers in Eritrea earn approximately 7% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Eritrea and Kyrgyzstan is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Kyrgyzstan 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 Kyrgyzstan?
Eritrea has a longer standard work week at 44 hours, compared to 40 hours in Kyrgyzstan. Workers in Eritrea work 44 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Kyrgyzstan 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.