Key Facts: Eritrea vs Pakistan Wages
- Eritrea Minimum Wage
- Nfk600/mo ($40 USD)
- Pakistan Minimum Wage
- ₨160/hr ($0.57 USD)
- Eritrea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Nfk6,000 /mo ($400 USD)
- Pakistan Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ₨39,042 /mo ($140.19 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / OHCHR Eritrea reports (2026-02-25), Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development; FY2025-26 federal budget confirmed minimum wage UNCHANGED at PKR 37,000/month (no increase despite high inflation; Federal Government Grade 1-16 employees received separate 10% pay rise that does not affect minimum wage). Verified via Brecorder (brecorder.com/news/minimum-wage-to-remain-unchanged-at-rs37000-in-fy26). (2026-05-04)
Eritrea 
Pakistan
Updated 2026-05-04
The minimum wage in Eritrea is roughly 70 times higher than in Pakistan in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a low-income and a lower-middle-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $400/mo in Eritrea versus $140/mo in Pakistan, a 2.9:1 ratio.
Eritrea's unemployment rate is 6.0% compared to Pakistan's 5.4%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Eritrea | Pakistan |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | — | ₨160 $0.57 |
| Minimum wage /mo | Nfk600 $40 | ₨37,000 $132.85 |
| Minimum wage /yr | — | ₨444,000 $1,594.25 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | Nfk6,000 /mo $400 | ₨39,042 /mo $140.19 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | Nfk5,400 /mo $360 | ₨35,138 /mo $126.17 |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | ₨403,200 /yr $1,447.76 |
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.
- Pakistan
-
48 hrs/wk standard
Max 56 hrs/wk
Overtime : 2x pay
Factories Act 1934 sets standard at 48 hours/week (9 hrs/day). Maximum 56 hours including overtime. Overtime paid at double the ordinary rate. Shops and Establishments ordinances vary by province.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from Pakistan to Eritrea would see a 6863% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Eritrea mandates 44 hours while Pakistan mandates 48 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Eritrea are $1,760 vs $28 in Pakistan.
See this comparison from Pakistan's perspective: Pakistan vs Eritrea
Compare Eritrea with...
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Eritrea vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo 
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Eritrea vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
Eritrea vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr 
Eritrea vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr 
Eritrea vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
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Eritrea vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr 
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Eritrea vs Singapore Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Eritrea or Pakistan?
In Eritrea, the minimum wage is Nfk600/mo ($40 USD). In Pakistan, it is ₨160/hr ($0.57 USD). Eritrea has the higher rate by 6863% 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 Pakistan 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 Pakistan?
The average gross salary in Eritrea is Nfk6,000/mo ($400 USD), compared to ₨39,042/mo ($140.19 USD) in Pakistan. In USD terms, workers in Eritrea earn approximately 185% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Eritrea and Pakistan 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 Pakistan.
How do work hours compare between Eritrea and Pakistan?
Pakistan 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.