Key Facts: Eritrea vs Vietnam Wages
- Eritrea Minimum Wage
- Nfk600/mo ($40 USD)
- Vietnam Minimum Wage
- ₫25,500/hr ($1.00 USD)
- Eritrea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Nfk6,000 /mo ($400 USD)
- Vietnam Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ₫8,000,000 /mo ($314.96 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / OHCHR Eritrea reports (2026-02-25), Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA); 2026 regional rates per Nghị định 293/2025/NĐ-CP (eff 2026-01-01) (2026-05-27)
Eritrea 
Vietnam
Updated 2026-05-27
The minimum wage in Eritrea is roughly 40 times higher than in Vietnam 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 $315/mo in Vietnam. Vietnam has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 1.5% compared to 6.0%.
Eritrea's unemployment rate is 6.0% compared to Vietnam's 1.5%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Eritrea | Vietnam |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | — | ₫25,500 $1.00 |
| Minimum wage /mo | Nfk600 $40 | ₫5,310,000 $209.06 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | Nfk6,000 /mo $400 | ₫8,000,000 /mo $314.96 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | Nfk5,400 /mo $360 | ₫7,200,000 /mo $283.46 |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | ₫48,000,000 /yr $1,889.76 |
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.
- Vietnam
-
48 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Labour Code 2019 sets standard at 48 hours/week (8 hrs/day, 6 days). Many office/white-collar workers work 40 hrs/week. Overtime capped at 40 hrs/month and 200 hrs/year (300 hrs in special cases). Overtime rates: 150% weekdays, 200% weekends, 300% holidays.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from Vietnam to Eritrea would see a 3884% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Eritrea mandates 44 hours while Vietnam mandates 48 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Eritrea are $1,760 vs $48 in Vietnam.
See this comparison from Vietnam's perspective: Vietnam 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 
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Eritrea vs Singapore Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Eritrea or Vietnam?
In Eritrea, the minimum wage is Nfk600/mo ($40 USD). In Vietnam, it is ₫25,500/hr ($1.00 USD). Eritrea has the higher rate by 3884% 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 Vietnam 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 Vietnam?
The average gross salary in Eritrea is Nfk6,000/mo ($400 USD), compared to ₫8,000,000/mo ($314.96 USD) in Vietnam. In USD terms, workers in Eritrea earn approximately 27% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Eritrea and Vietnam 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 Vietnam.
How do work hours compare between Eritrea and Vietnam?
Vietnam 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.