Key Facts: Eritrea vs Uruguay Wages
- Eritrea Minimum Wage
- Nfk600/mo ($40 USD)
- Uruguay Minimum Wage
- $U92.80/hr ($2.15 USD)
- Eritrea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Nfk6,000 /mo ($400 USD)
- Uruguay Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- $U55,000 /mo ($1,273.15 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / OHCHR Eritrea reports (2026-02-25), Ministerio de Trabajo y Seguridad Social (MTSS) (2026-02-24)
Eritrea
Uruguay
Updated 2026-02-25
The minimum wage in Eritrea is roughly 19 times higher than in Uruguay in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a low-income and a high-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $400/mo in Eritrea versus $1,273/mo in Uruguay, a 3.2:1 ratio.
Eritrea's unemployment rate is 6.0% compared to Uruguay's 7.5%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Eritrea | Uruguay |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | — | $U92.80 $2.15 |
| Minimum wage /mo | Nfk600 $40 | $U22,268 $515.46 |
| Minimum wage /yr | — | $U290,484 $6,724.17 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | Nfk6,000 /mo $400 | $U55,000 /mo $1,273.15 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | Nfk5,400 /mo $360 | $U42,350 /mo $980.32 |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | $U468,000 /yr $10,833.33 |
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.
- Uruguay
-
44 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 2x pay
Standard workweek is 44 hours for commerce and 48 hours for industry (Law 5,350 of 1915 and Law 7,318 of 1920). In practice, most workers work 40-44 hours. Overtime is paid at double the normal rate (100% premium). Night work (after 10pm) also attracts premium pay.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from Uruguay to Eritrea would see a 1762% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings.
See this comparison from Uruguay's perspective: Uruguay vs Eritrea
Compare Eritrea with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Eritrea or Uruguay?
In Eritrea, the minimum wage is Nfk600/mo ($40 USD). In Uruguay, it is $U92.80/hr ($2.15 USD). Eritrea has the higher rate by 1762% 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 Uruguay 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 Uruguay?
The average gross salary in Eritrea is Nfk6,000/mo ($400 USD), compared to $U55,000/mo ($1,273.15 USD) in Uruguay. In USD terms, workers in Eritrea earn approximately 218% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Eritrea and Uruguay is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Uruguay earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Eritrea.
How do work hours compare between Eritrea and Uruguay?
Both Eritrea and Uruguay mandate a similar standard work week of 44 hours. When work hours are equal, the country with the higher minimum wage delivers proportionally higher weekly earnings. Standard work week rules set the baseline; actual hours worked often differ based on industry norms and individual employment contracts.