Key Facts: Eritrea vs Liberia Wages
- Eritrea Minimum Wage
- Nfk600/mo ($40 USD)
- Liberia Minimum Wage
- $156/mo
- Eritrea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Nfk6,000 /mo ($400 USD)
- Liberia Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- $350 /mo ($350 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / OHCHR Eritrea reports (2026-02-25), ILO / Ministry of Labour (Liberia) (2026-02-25)
Eritrea
Liberia
Updated 2026-02-25
The minimum wage in Eritrea is 74% lower than in Liberia in USD terms, though average salaries tell a different story. Average salaries are higher in Eritrea at $400/mo compared to $350/mo in Liberia. Liberia has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 2.9% compared to 6.0%.
From Eritrea's perspective: adjusting for purchasing power, Eritrea's minimum wage buys less than Liberia's. The PPP-adjusted hourly rate in Eritrea is $121 international dollars, compared to $339 in Liberia. Eritrea's unemployment rate is 6.0% compared to Liberia's 2.9%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Eritrea | Liberia |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /day | — | $6 |
| Minimum wage /mo | Nfk600 $40 | $156 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | Nfk6,000 /mo $400 | $350 /mo |
| Avg. net salary /mo | Nfk5,400 /mo $360 | N/A/mo |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | $900 /yr |
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.
- Liberia
-
48 hrs/wk standard
Max 56 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
The Decent Work Act 2015 sets a standard workweek of 8 hours/day, 6 days/week (48 hours). Maximum 56 hours including overtime. Overtime paid at 1.5x. These rules apply to formal-sector employers.
• WAGE TRAJECTORY (USD/mo)
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker in Eritrea earns 290% less per hour in USD terms than one in Liberia. Standard work weeks differ: Eritrea mandates 44 hours while Liberia mandates 48 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Eritrea are $1,760 vs $7,488 in Liberia.
See this comparison from Liberia's perspective: Liberia vs Eritrea
Compare Eritrea with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Eritrea or Liberia?
In Eritrea, the minimum wage is Nfk600/mo ($40 USD). In Liberia, it is $156/mo. Liberia has the higher rate by 290% 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 Eritrea may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much more does the average worker earn in Eritrea compared to Liberia?
The average gross salary in Eritrea is Nfk6,000/mo ($400 USD), compared to $350/mo in Liberia. In USD terms, workers in Eritrea earn approximately 14% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Eritrea and Liberia is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Eritrea earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Liberia.
Which country has better purchasing power for minimum wage workers, Eritrea or Liberia?
After adjusting for local prices using purchasing power parity (PPP), minimum wage workers in Liberia can afford more than those in Eritrea. The PPP-adjusted rate is $121 in Eritrea and $339 in Liberia. PPP converts wages into equivalent US dollar buying power, accounting for what a unit of currency actually buys locally. The 179% purchasing power gap means that even if the nominal wage in Eritrea appears competitive, minimum wage workers there face greater constraints on day-to-day spending.
How do work hours compare between Eritrea and Liberia?
Liberia 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.