Key Facts: Eritrea vs Tunisia Wages
- Eritrea Minimum Wage
- Nfk600/mo ($40 USD)
- Tunisia Minimum Wage
- TND2.31/hr ($0.74 USD)
- Eritrea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Nfk6,000 /mo ($400 USD)
- Tunisia Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- TND1,200 /mo ($383.39 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / OHCHR Eritrea reports (2026-02-25), Ministère des Affaires Sociales / SMIG/SMAG decrees (2026-02-24)
Eritrea
Tunisia
Updated 2026-02-25
The minimum wage in Eritrea is roughly 54 times higher than in Tunisia 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 $383/mo in Tunisia. Eritrea has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 6.0% compared to 15.1%.
Eritrea's unemployment rate is 6.0% compared to Tunisia's 15.1%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Eritrea | Tunisia |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | — | TND2.31 $0.74 |
| Minimum wage /day | — | TND16 $5.11 |
| Minimum wage /mo | Nfk600 $40 | TND480 $153.35 |
| Minimum wage /yr | — | TND5,760 $1,840.26 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | Nfk6,000 /mo $400 | TND1,200 /mo $383.39 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | Nfk5,400 /mo $360 | TND1,020 /mo $325.88 |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | TND7,200 /yr $2,300.32 |
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.
- Tunisia
-
48 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.75x pay
Labour Code allows both 48-hour and 40-hour regimes depending on sector and collective agreements. Most industrial/services workers are on 48 hours. Overtime surcharge: 75% for daytime hours beyond standard. Night and holiday overtime receive higher premiums. The 40-hour regime is increasingly common in services and offices.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from Tunisia to Eritrea would see a 5322% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Eritrea mandates 44 hours while Tunisia mandates 48 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Eritrea are $1,760 vs $35 in Tunisia.
See this comparison from Tunisia's perspective: Tunisia vs Eritrea
Compare Eritrea with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Eritrea or Tunisia?
In Eritrea, the minimum wage is Nfk600/mo ($40 USD). In Tunisia, it is TND2.31/hr ($0.74 USD). Eritrea has the higher rate by 5322% 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 Tunisia 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 Tunisia?
The average gross salary in Eritrea is Nfk6,000/mo ($400 USD), compared to TND1,200/mo ($383.39 USD) in Tunisia. In USD terms, workers in Eritrea earn approximately 4% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Eritrea and Tunisia 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 Tunisia.
How do work hours compare between Eritrea and Tunisia?
Tunisia 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.