Key Facts: Eswatini vs Taiwan Wages
- Eswatini Minimum Wage
- L2,500/mo ($156.15 USD)
- Taiwan Minimum Wage
- NT$190/hr ($6.11 USD)
- Eswatini Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- L6,000 /mo ($374.77 USD)
- Taiwan Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- NT$58,000 /mo ($1,864.95 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO / Ministry of Labour and Social Security (Eswatini) / Wages Regulation Order (2026-02-25), Ministry of Labor (MOL), Republic of China (Taiwan) (2026-02-24)
Eswatini
Taiwan
Updated 2026-02-25
The minimum wage in Eswatini is roughly 26 times higher than in Taiwan in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a lower-middle-income and a high-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $375/mo in Eswatini versus $1,865/mo in Taiwan, a 5.0:1 ratio.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Eswatini | Taiwan |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | — | NT$190 $6.11 |
| Minimum wage /mo | L2,500 $156.15 | NT$28,590 $919.29 |
| Minimum wage /yr | — | NT$343,080 $11,031.51 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | L6,000 /mo $374.77 | NT$58,000 /mo $1,864.95 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | L5,000 /mo $312.30 | NT$50,500 /mo $1,623.79 |
| Median individual income /yr | L24,000 /yr $1,499.06 | NT$546,000 /yr $17,556.27 |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Eswatini is higher.
Work Week
- Eswatini
-
48 hrs/wk standard
Max 54 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Employment Act sets standard at 48 hours/week (8 hrs/day, 6 days). Maximum 54 hours per week including overtime. Overtime paid at 1.5x the normal rate. Sunday and public holidays compensated at 2x. Employees are entitled to 14 days paid annual leave.
- Taiwan
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 40 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.34x pay
Labour Standards Act sets 40 hours/week, 8 hours/day. Two mandatory rest days per week (one fixed, one flexible). Overtime: first 2 hrs at 1.34x, next 2 hrs at 1.67x. Monthly overtime cap of 46 hours (may be extended to 54 hours with union/labour-management agreement, max 138 hrs/3 months).
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from Taiwan to Eswatini would see a 2456% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Eswatini mandates 48 hours while Taiwan mandates 40 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Eswatini are $7,495 vs $244 in Taiwan.
See this comparison from Taiwan's perspective: Taiwan vs Eswatini
Compare Eswatini with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Eswatini or Taiwan?
In Eswatini, the minimum wage is L2,500/mo ($156.15 USD). In Taiwan, it is NT$190/hr ($6.11 USD). Eswatini has the higher rate by 2456% 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 Taiwan may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much less does the average worker earn in Eswatini compared to Taiwan?
The average gross salary in Eswatini is L6,000/mo ($374.77 USD), compared to NT$58,000/mo ($1,864.95 USD) in Taiwan. In USD terms, workers in Eswatini earn approximately 398% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Eswatini and Taiwan is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Taiwan earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Eswatini.
How do work hours compare between Eswatini and Taiwan?
Eswatini has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in Taiwan. Workers in Eswatini work 48 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Taiwan 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.