Key Facts: Eritrea vs Madagascar Wages
- Eritrea Minimum Wage
- Nfk600/mo ($40 USD)
- Madagascar Minimum Wage
- Ar1,202/hr ($0.27 USD)
- Eritrea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Nfk6,000 /mo ($400 USD)
- Madagascar Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Ar500,000 /mo ($112.36 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / OHCHR Eritrea reports (2026-02-25), Malagasy Ministry of Labour and Social Laws / ILO (2026-02-25)
Eritrea 
Madagascar
Updated 2026-02-25
The minimum wage in Eritrea is roughly 148 times higher than in Madagascar in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a low-income and a low-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $400/mo in Eritrea versus $112/mo in Madagascar, a 3.6:1 ratio. Madagascar has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 3.0% compared to 6.0%.
Eritrea's unemployment rate is 6.0% compared to Madagascar's 3.0%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Eritrea | Madagascar |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | — | Ar1,202 $0.27 |
| Minimum wage /day | — | Ar9,615 $2.16 |
| Minimum wage /mo | Nfk600 $40 | Ar250,000 $56.18 |
| Minimum wage /yr | — | Ar3,000,000 $674.16 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | Nfk6,000 /mo $400 | Ar500,000 /mo $112.36 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | Nfk5,400 /mo $360 | N/A/mo |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | Ar1,200,000 /yr $269.66 |
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.
- Madagascar
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.3x pay
Labour Code (Law No. 2003-044) sets standard hours at 40 per week (8 hrs/day, 5 days). Maximum including overtime is 48 hours/week. Overtime is compensated at 130% of normal rate (for the first 8 hours of overtime per week), then 160% (for subsequent hours), and 200% on Sundays and public holidays. Night work premium applies. EPZ workers may have different arrangements under zone-specific regulations.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from Madagascar to Eritrea would see a 14709% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Eritrea mandates 44 hours while Madagascar mandates 40 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Eritrea are $1,760 vs $11 in Madagascar.
See this comparison from Madagascar's perspective: Madagascar vs Eritrea
Compare Eritrea with...
Eritrea vs United States $ 7.25 /hr 
Eritrea vs China ¥ 25 /hr 
Eritrea vs Germany € 13.9 /hr 
Eritrea vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr 
Eritrea vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo 
Eritrea vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr 
Eritrea vs France € 12.02 /hr 
Eritrea vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
Eritrea vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr 
Eritrea vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr 
Eritrea vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
Eritrea vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr 
Eritrea vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo 
Eritrea vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr 
Eritrea vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr 
Eritrea vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr 
Eritrea vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr 
Eritrea vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr 
Eritrea vs Switzerland 
Eritrea vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr 
Eritrea vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo 
Eritrea vs Sweden 
Eritrea vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr 
Eritrea vs Singapore Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Eritrea or Madagascar?
In Eritrea, the minimum wage is Nfk600/mo ($40 USD). In Madagascar, it is Ar1,202/hr ($0.27 USD). Eritrea has the higher rate by 14709% 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 Madagascar 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 Madagascar?
The average gross salary in Eritrea is Nfk6,000/mo ($400 USD), compared to Ar500,000/mo ($112.36 USD) in Madagascar. In USD terms, workers in Eritrea earn approximately 256% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Eritrea and Madagascar 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 Madagascar.
How do work hours compare between Eritrea and Madagascar?
Eritrea has a longer standard work week at 44 hours, compared to 40 hours in Madagascar. Workers in Eritrea work 44 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Madagascar 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.