Key Facts: Ethiopia vs Cuba Wages
- Ethiopia Minimum Wage
- ETB7.50/hr ($0.06 USD)
- Cuba Minimum Wage
- $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD)
- Ethiopia Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ETB6,500 /mo ($50.78 USD)
- Cuba Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- $MN6,649 /mo ($16.22 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs / ILO (2026-02-24), Ministerio de Trabajo y Seguridad Social (MTSS) — Cuba (2026-02-25)
Ethiopia 
Cuba
Updated 2026-02-25
The minimum wage in Ethiopia is 98% higher than in Cuba when converted to USD. Average gross salaries diverge further: $51/mo in Ethiopia versus $16/mo in Cuba, a 3.1:1 ratio.
Ethiopia's unemployment rate is 3.3% compared to Cuba's 1.8%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Ethiopia | Cuba |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | ETB7.50 $0.06 | $MN12.12 $0.03 |
| Minimum wage /day | ETB43.33 $0.34 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | ETB1,300 $10.16 | $MN2,100 $5.12 |
| Minimum wage /yr | ETB15,600 $121.88 | $MN25,200 $61.46 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | ETB6,500 /mo $50.78 | $MN6,649 /mo $16.22 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | ETB5,600 /mo $43.75 | $MN6,300 /mo $15.37 |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | $MN48,000 /yr $117.07 |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Ethiopia is higher.
Work Week
- Ethiopia
-
48 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.25x pay
Labour Proclamation No. 1156/2019 sets maximum ordinary working hours at 8 hours/day, 48 hours/week. Overtime: 125% for first 2 hours, 150% for additional hours, 200% for weekends, 250% for public holidays. Night work (10pm-6am) carries a 50% premium. These regulations apply to formal employment relationships only.
- Cuba
-
44 hrs/wk standard
Max 44 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.25x pay
Labour Code sets standard working hours at 8 hours/day and 44 hours/week. Overtime is paid at 125% of normal rate. Some sectors work 40 hours/week.
• WAGE TRAJECTORY (USD/hr)
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from Cuba to Ethiopia would see a 98% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Ethiopia mandates 48 hours while Cuba mandates 44 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Ethiopia are $3 vs $1 in Cuba.
See this comparison from Cuba's perspective: Cuba vs Ethiopia
Compare Ethiopia with...
Ethiopia vs United States $ 7.25 /hr 
Ethiopia vs China ¥ 25 /hr 
Ethiopia vs Germany € 13.9 /hr 
Ethiopia vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr 
Ethiopia vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo 
Ethiopia vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr 
Ethiopia vs France € 12.02 /hr 
Ethiopia vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
Ethiopia vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr 
Ethiopia vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr 
Ethiopia vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
Ethiopia vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr 
Ethiopia vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo 
Ethiopia vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr 
Ethiopia vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr 
Ethiopia vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr 
Ethiopia vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr 
Ethiopia vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr 
Ethiopia vs Switzerland 
Ethiopia vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr 
Ethiopia vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo 
Ethiopia vs Sweden 
Ethiopia vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr 
Ethiopia vs Singapore Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Ethiopia or Cuba?
In Ethiopia, the minimum wage is ETB7.50/hr ($0.06 USD). In Cuba, it is $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD). Ethiopia has the higher rate by 98% 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 Cuba may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much more does the average worker earn in Ethiopia compared to Cuba?
The average gross salary in Ethiopia is ETB6,500/mo ($50.78 USD), compared to $MN6,649/mo ($16.22 USD) in Cuba. In USD terms, workers in Ethiopia earn approximately 213% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Ethiopia and Cuba is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Ethiopia earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Cuba.
How do work hours compare between Ethiopia and Cuba?
Ethiopia has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 44 hours in Cuba. Workers in Ethiopia work 48 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Cuba 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.