Key Facts: Eritrea vs Suriname Wages
- Eritrea Minimum Wage
- Nfk600/mo ($40 USD)
- Suriname Minimum Wage
- Sr$2,166/mo ($59.02 USD)
- Eritrea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Nfk6,000 /mo ($400 USD)
- Suriname Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Sr$5,500 /mo ($149.86 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / OHCHR Eritrea reports (2026-02-25), Ministry of Labour, Technological Development and Environment — Suriname / ILO (2026-02-25)
Eritrea
Suriname
Updated 2026-02-25
Eritrea, a low-income economy, and Suriname, classified as upper-middle-income, take different approaches to wage policy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $400/mo in Eritrea versus $150/mo in Suriname, a 2.7:1 ratio.
From Eritrea's perspective: adjusting for purchasing power, Eritrea's minimum wage buys less than Suriname's. The PPP-adjusted hourly rate in Eritrea is $121 international dollars, compared to $204 in Suriname. Eritrea's unemployment rate is 6.0% compared to Suriname's 7.8%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Eritrea | Suriname |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /mo | Nfk600 $40 | Sr$2,166 $59.02 |
| Minimum wage /yr | — | Sr$25,992 $708.23 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | Nfk6,000 /mo $400 | Sr$5,500 /mo $149.86 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | Nfk5,400 /mo $360 | Sr$4,700 /mo $128.07 |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | Sr$28,000 /yr $762.94 |
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.
- Suriname
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Suriname Labour Act sets the standard workweek at 40 hours (8 hours/day, 5 days). Maximum including overtime is 48 hours. Overtime is compensated at a minimum of 1.5x the regular wage. Sunday and public holiday work is typically at 2x.
• WAGE TRAJECTORY (USD/mo)
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker in Eritrea earns 48% less per hour in USD terms than one in Suriname. Standard work weeks differ: Eritrea mandates 44 hours while Suriname mandates 40 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Eritrea are $1,760 vs $2,361 in Suriname.
See this comparison from Suriname's perspective: Suriname vs Eritrea
Compare Eritrea with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Eritrea or Suriname?
In Eritrea, the minimum wage is Nfk600/mo ($40 USD). In Suriname, it is Sr$2,166/mo ($59.02 USD). Suriname has the higher rate by 48% 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 Suriname?
The average gross salary in Eritrea is Nfk6,000/mo ($400 USD), compared to Sr$5,500/mo ($149.86 USD) in Suriname. In USD terms, workers in Eritrea earn approximately 167% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Eritrea and Suriname 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 Suriname.
Which country has better purchasing power for minimum wage workers, Eritrea or Suriname?
After adjusting for local prices using purchasing power parity (PPP), minimum wage workers in Suriname can afford more than those in Eritrea. The PPP-adjusted rate is $121 in Eritrea and $204 in Suriname. PPP converts wages into equivalent US dollar buying power, accounting for what a unit of currency actually buys locally. The 68% 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 Suriname?
Eritrea has a longer standard work week at 44 hours, compared to 40 hours in Suriname. Workers in Eritrea work 44 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Suriname 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.