Key Facts: Eritrea vs Republic of the Congo Wages
- Eritrea Minimum Wage
- Nfk600/mo ($40 USD)
- Republic of the Congo Minimum Wage
- FCFA90,000/mo ($161.58 USD)
- Eritrea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Nfk6,000 /mo ($400 USD)
- Republic of the Congo Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- FCFA280,000 /mo ($502.69 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / OHCHR Eritrea reports (2026-02-25), ILO / Ministère du Travail et de la Sécurité Sociale (Congo-Brazzaville) (2026-02-25)
Eritrea 
Republic of the Congo
Updated 2026-02-25
The minimum wage in Eritrea is 75% lower than in the Republic of the Congo in USD terms, though average salaries tell a different story. Average salaries are lower in Eritrea at $400/mo compared to $503/mo in the Republic of the Congo. Eritrea has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 6.0% compared to 19.9%.
From Eritrea's perspective: adjusting for purchasing power, Eritrea's minimum wage buys less than the Republic of the Congo's. The PPP-adjusted hourly rate in Eritrea is $121 international dollars, compared to $420 in the Republic of the Congo. Eritrea's unemployment rate is 6.0% compared to the Republic of the Congo's 19.9%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Eritrea | Republic of the Congo |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /mo | Nfk600 $40 | FCFA90,000 $161.58 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | Nfk6,000 /mo $400 | FCFA280,000 /mo $502.69 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | Nfk5,400 /mo $360 | N/A/mo |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | FCFA480,000 /yr $861.76 |
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.
- Republic of the Congo
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Labour Code sets standard at 40 hours/week in the formal sector. Maximum 48 hours with overtime. Overtime paid at 1.5x for the first 8 hours, 2x thereafter. Sunday is the statutory rest day.
• WAGE TRAJECTORY (USD/mo)
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker in Eritrea earns 304% less per hour in USD terms than one in the Republic of the Congo. Standard work weeks differ: Eritrea mandates 44 hours while the Republic of the Congo mandates 40 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Eritrea are $1,760 vs $6,463 in the Republic of the Congo.
See this comparison from Republic of the Congo's perspective: Republic of the Congo 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 Republic of the Congo?
In Eritrea, the minimum wage is Nfk600/mo ($40 USD). In the Republic of the Congo, it is FCFA90,000/mo ($161.58 USD). Republic of the Congo has the higher rate by 304% 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 less does the average worker earn in Eritrea compared to Republic of the Congo?
The average gross salary in Eritrea is Nfk6,000/mo ($400 USD), compared to FCFA280,000/mo ($502.69 USD) in the Republic of the Congo. In USD terms, workers in Eritrea earn approximately 26% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Eritrea and Republic of the Congo is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in the Republic of the Congo earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Eritrea.
Which country has better purchasing power for minimum wage workers, Eritrea or Republic of the Congo?
After adjusting for local prices using purchasing power parity (PPP), minimum wage workers in the Republic of the Congo can afford more than those in Eritrea. The PPP-adjusted rate is $121 in Eritrea and $420 in the Republic of the Congo. PPP converts wages into equivalent US dollar buying power, accounting for what a unit of currency actually buys locally. The 246% 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 Republic of the Congo?
Eritrea has a longer standard work week at 44 hours, compared to 40 hours in the Republic of the Congo. Workers in Eritrea work 44 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in the Republic of the Congo 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.