Key Facts: Eritrea vs Philippines Wages
- Eritrea Minimum Wage
- Nfk600/mo ($40 USD)
- Philippines Minimum Wage
- ₱18,070/mo ($292.62 USD)
- Eritrea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Nfk6,000 /mo ($400 USD)
- Philippines Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ₱20,000 /mo ($323.88 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / OHCHR Eritrea reports (2026-02-25), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) / National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC); 2025 figures verified via Wikipedia List of countries by minimum wage (eff 18 July 2025) (2026-05-04)
Eritrea 
Philippines
Updated 2026-05-04
The minimum wage in Eritrea is roughly 7 times lower than in the Philippines in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a low-income and a lower-middle-income economy. Average salaries are higher in Eritrea at $400/mo compared to $324/mo in the Philippines. Philippines has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 2.2% compared to 6.0%.
From Eritrea's perspective: adjusting for purchasing power, Eritrea's minimum wage buys less than the Philippines'. The PPP-adjusted hourly rate in Eritrea is $121 international dollars, compared to $933 in the Philippines. Eritrea's unemployment rate is 6.0% compared to the Philippines' 2.2%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Eritrea | Philippines |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /day | — | ₱695 $11.25 |
| Minimum wage /mo | Nfk600 $40 | ₱18,070 $292.62 |
| Minimum wage /yr | — | ₱234,910 $3,804.09 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | Nfk6,000 /mo $400 | ₱20,000 /mo $323.88 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | Nfk5,400 /mo $360 | ₱17,600 /mo $285.01 |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | ₱156,000 /yr $2,526.23 |
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.
- Philippines
-
48 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.25x pay
Labor Code sets normal working hours at 8 hours/day, 48 hours/week (6-day week). Overtime: 25% premium on regular days, 30% on rest days/holidays. Night shift differential (10pm-6am): 10% additional. Special non-working holidays: 30% premium. Regular holidays: 100% premium.
• WAGE TRAJECTORY (USD/mo)
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker in Eritrea earns 632% less per hour in USD terms than one in the Philippines. Standard work weeks differ: Eritrea mandates 44 hours while the Philippines mandates 48 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Eritrea are $1,760 vs $14,046 in the Philippines.
See this comparison from Philippines's perspective: Philippines 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 Philippines?
In Eritrea, the minimum wage is Nfk600/mo ($40 USD). In the Philippines, it is ₱18,070/mo ($292.62 USD). Philippines has the higher rate by 632% 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 Philippines?
The average gross salary in Eritrea is Nfk6,000/mo ($400 USD), compared to ₱20,000/mo ($323.88 USD) in the Philippines. In USD terms, workers in Eritrea earn approximately 24% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Eritrea and Philippines 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 the Philippines.
Which country has better purchasing power for minimum wage workers, Eritrea or Philippines?
After adjusting for local prices using purchasing power parity (PPP), minimum wage workers in the Philippines can afford more than those in Eritrea. The PPP-adjusted rate is $121 in Eritrea and $933 in the Philippines. PPP converts wages into equivalent US dollar buying power, accounting for what a unit of currency actually buys locally. The 668% 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 Philippines?
Philippines 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.