Key Facts: Eritrea vs Oman Wages
- Eritrea Minimum Wage
- Nfk600/mo ($40 USD)
- Oman Minimum Wage
- OMR1.88/hr ($4.88 USD)
- Eritrea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Nfk6,000 /mo ($400 USD)
- Oman Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- OMR850 /mo ($2,207.79 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / OHCHR Eritrea reports (2026-02-25), Ministry of Labour — Sultanate of Oman (2026-02-25)
Eritrea
Oman
Updated 2026-02-25
The minimum wage in Eritrea is roughly 8 times higher than in Oman in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a low-income and a high-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $400/mo in Eritrea versus $2,208/mo in Oman, a 5.5:1 ratio. Oman has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 3.3% compared to 6.0%.
Eritrea's unemployment rate is 6.0% compared to Oman's 3.3%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Eritrea | Oman |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | — | OMR1.88 $4.88 |
| Minimum wage /mo | Nfk600 $40 | OMR325 $844.16 |
| Minimum wage /yr | — | OMR3,900 $10,129.87 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | Nfk6,000 /mo $400 | OMR850 /mo $2,207.79 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | Nfk5,400 /mo $360 | OMR820 /mo $2,129.87 |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | OMR5,400 /yr $14,025.97 |
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.
- Oman
-
45 hrs/wk standard
Max 45 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.25x pay
Labour Law sets maximum working hours at 9 hours/day or 45 hours/week. During Ramadan, Muslim workers' hours are reduced to 6 hours/day or 30 hours/week. Overtime paid at 125% for regular days and 150% for holidays/weekends.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from Oman to Eritrea would see a 719% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Eritrea mandates 44 hours while Oman mandates 45 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Eritrea are $1,760 vs $220 in Oman.
See this comparison from Oman's perspective: Oman vs Eritrea
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Eritrea or Oman?
In Eritrea, the minimum wage is Nfk600/mo ($40 USD). In Oman, it is OMR1.88/hr ($4.88 USD). Eritrea has the higher rate by 719% 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 Oman 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 Oman?
The average gross salary in Eritrea is Nfk6,000/mo ($400 USD), compared to OMR850/mo ($2,207.79 USD) in Oman. In USD terms, workers in Eritrea earn approximately 452% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Eritrea and Oman is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Oman 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 Oman?
Oman has a longer standard work week at 45 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.