Key Facts: Finland vs Eritrea Wages
- Finland Minimum Wage
- No statutory minimum wage
- Eritrea Minimum Wage
- Nfk600/mo ($40 USD)
- Finland Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- €3,900 /mo ($4,541.75 USD)
- Eritrea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Nfk6,000 /mo ($400 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment (Työ- ja elinkeinoministeriö) (2026-02-24), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / OHCHR Eritrea reports (2026-02-25)
Finland
Eritrea
Updated 2026-02-25
Finland has no statutory minimum wage, while Eritrea sets a floor of $40/mo. Average gross salaries diverge further: $4,542/mo in Finland versus $400/mo in Eritrea, a 11.4:1 ratio. Eritrea has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 6.0% compared to 9.5%.
Finland's unemployment rate is 9.5% compared to Eritrea's 6.0%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Finland | Eritrea |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /mo | None | Nfk600 $40 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | €3,900 /mo $4,541.75 | Nfk6,000 /mo $400 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | €2,700 /mo $3,144.29 | Nfk5,400 /mo $360 |
| Median individual income /yr | €35,000 /yr $40,759.29 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Finland is higher.
Work Week
- Finland
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Standard workweek is 40 hours (Working Hours Act / Työaikalaki). Regular daily working hours are 8 hours. Overtime for the first 2 hours is compensated at 150% and subsequent hours at 200%. Maximum overtime is 250 hours per calendar year. EU Working Time Directive limits average to 48 hrs/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.
What This Means for Workers
Standard work weeks differ: Finland mandates 40 hours while Eritrea mandates 44 hours.
See this comparison from Eritrea's perspective: Eritrea vs Finland
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Finland or Eritrea?
In Finland, the minimum wage is no statutory minimum wage. In Eritrea, it is Nfk600/mo ($40 USD).
How much more does the average worker earn in Finland compared to Eritrea?
The average gross salary in Finland is €3,900/mo ($4,541.75 USD), compared to Nfk6,000/mo ($400 USD) in Eritrea. In USD terms, workers in Finland earn approximately 1035% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Finland and Eritrea is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Finland earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Eritrea.
How do work hours compare between Finland and Eritrea?
Eritrea has a longer standard work week at 44 hours, compared to 40 hours in Finland. Workers in Finland work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Finland 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.