Key Facts: Eritrea vs Senegal Wages
- Eritrea Minimum Wage
- Nfk600/mo ($40 USD)
- Senegal Minimum Wage
- CFA433/hr ($0.78 USD)
- Eritrea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Nfk6,000 /mo ($400 USD)
- Senegal Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- CFA126,000 /mo ($226.21 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / OHCHR Eritrea reports (2026-02-25), Direction Générale du Travail et de la Sécurité Sociale (DGTSS) / Ministère du Travail; Décret n° 2023-1710 du 7 août 2023 (dgtss.gouv.sn + travail.gouv.sn) (2026-05-27)
Eritrea
Senegal
Updated 2026-05-27
The minimum wage in Eritrea is roughly 51 times higher than in Senegal 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 $226/mo in Senegal. Senegal has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 2.7% compared to 6.0%.
Eritrea's unemployment rate is 6.0% compared to Senegal's 2.7%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Eritrea | Senegal |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | — | CFA433 $0.78 |
| Minimum wage /mo | Nfk600 $40 | CFA75,052 $134.74 |
| Minimum wage /yr | — | CFA900,624 $1,616.92 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | Nfk6,000 /mo $400 | CFA126,000 /mo $226.21 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | Nfk5,400 /mo $360 | CFA108,000 /mo $193.90 |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | CFA480,000 /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.
- Senegal
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.1x pay
Labour Code sets standard working hours at 40 per week. Overtime rates: 110% for first 8 hours of weekly overtime, 135% for subsequent hours. Night work (10pm-5am) and holiday work are compensated at higher rates.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from Senegal to Eritrea would see a 5045% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Eritrea mandates 44 hours while Senegal mandates 40 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Eritrea are $1,760 vs $31 in Senegal.
See this comparison from Senegal's perspective: Senegal vs Eritrea
Compare Eritrea with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Eritrea or Senegal?
In Eritrea, the minimum wage is Nfk600/mo ($40 USD). In Senegal, it is CFA433/hr ($0.78 USD). Eritrea has the higher rate by 5045% 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 Senegal 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 Senegal?
The average gross salary in Eritrea is Nfk6,000/mo ($400 USD), compared to CFA126,000/mo ($226.21 USD) in Senegal. In USD terms, workers in Eritrea earn approximately 77% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Eritrea and Senegal 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 Senegal.
How do work hours compare between Eritrea and Senegal?
Eritrea has a longer standard work week at 44 hours, compared to 40 hours in Senegal. Workers in Eritrea work 44 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Senegal 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.