Key Facts: Gabon vs Egypt Wages
- Gabon Minimum Wage
- FCFA865.38/hr ($1.55 USD)
- Egypt Minimum Wage
- E£29.17/hr ($0.57 USD)
- Gabon Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- FCFA555,000 /mo ($996.41 USD)
- Egypt Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- E£6,833 /mo ($134.51 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministry of Labour, Employment and Vocational Training / Labour Code of Gabon (2026-02-25), Ministry of Manpower / National Wages Council; 2025 and 2026 announcements verified via JETRO citing Egyptian government sources (2026-05-27)
Gabon
Egypt
Updated 2026-05-27
The minimum wage in Gabon is 171% higher than in Egypt when converted to USD. Average gross salaries diverge further: $996/mo in Gabon versus $135/mo in Egypt, a 7.4:1 ratio. Egypt has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 6.8% compared to 20.1%.
From Gabon's perspective: adjusting for purchasing power, Gabon's minimum wage buys less than Egypt's. The PPP-adjusted hourly rate in Gabon is $4 international dollars, compared to $5 in Egypt. Gabon has higher GDP per capita ($21,510 vs $19,094). Gabon's unemployment rate is 20.1% compared to Egypt's 6.8%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Gabon | Egypt |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | FCFA865.38 $1.55 | E£29.17 $0.57 |
| Minimum wage /mo | FCFA150,000 $269.30 | E£7,000 $137.80 |
| Minimum wage /yr | FCFA1,800,000 $3,231.60 | E£84,000 $1,653.54 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | FCFA555,000 /mo $996.41 | E£6,833 /mo $134.51 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | FCFA430,000 /mo $771.99 | E£6,150 /mo $121.06 |
| Median individual income /yr | FCFA2,400,000 /yr $4,308.80 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Gabon is higher.
Work Week
- Gabon
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 60 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.25x pay
Standard workweek is 40 hours (8 hours/day, 5 days). Overtime capped at 20 hours/week, permitted only for exceptional, urgent, or seasonal work. Weekday overtime at 125% of normal rate; Sundays/public holidays at 150-200%. Employees entitled to 10 consecutive hours of daily rest and one full day of weekly rest (usually Sunday). Governed by the Labour Code (Code du Travail).
- Egypt
-
48 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.35x pay
Labour Law No. 12 of 2003 sets maximum working hours at 8 hours/day or 48 hours/week (excluding meal breaks). Overtime premium: 35% during the day, 70% at night. Maximum 2 overtime hours/day. Friday is the default weekly rest day. During Ramadan, working hours are commonly reduced in practice.
• WAGE TRAJECTORY (USD/hr)
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from Egypt to Gabon would see a 171% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. However, after adjusting for cost of living, Egypt's minimum wage provides more purchasing power. Standard work weeks differ: Gabon mandates 40 hours while Egypt mandates 48 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Gabon are $62 vs $28 in Egypt.
See this comparison from Egypt's perspective: Egypt vs Gabon
Compare Gabon with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Gabon or Egypt?
In Gabon, the minimum wage is FCFA865.38/hr ($1.55 USD). In Egypt, it is E£29.17/hr ($0.57 USD). Gabon has the higher rate by 171% 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 Egypt may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much more does the average worker earn in Gabon compared to Egypt?
The average gross salary in Gabon is FCFA555,000/mo ($996.41 USD), compared to E£6,833/mo ($134.51 USD) in Egypt. In USD terms, workers in Gabon earn approximately 641% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Gabon and Egypt is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Gabon earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Egypt.
Which country has better purchasing power for minimum wage workers, Gabon or Egypt?
After adjusting for local prices using purchasing power parity (PPP), minimum wage workers in Egypt can afford more than those in Gabon. The PPP-adjusted rate is $4 in Gabon and $5 in Egypt. PPP converts wages into equivalent US dollar buying power, accounting for what a unit of currency actually buys locally. The 25% purchasing power gap means that even if the nominal wage in Gabon appears competitive, minimum wage workers there face greater constraints on day-to-day spending.
How do work hours compare between Gabon and Egypt?
Egypt has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in Gabon. Workers in Gabon work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Gabon 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.
What is the cost of living difference between Gabon and Egypt?
While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Gabon has the higher GDP per capita at $21,510, which is 1.1x that of Egypt at $19,094. From Gabon's perspective, this means goods and services are priced at a higher economic level. A higher GDP per capita generally correlates with higher wages, higher consumer prices, and greater availability of goods and services. Workers moving between these two countries should expect significant differences in rent, food, and transportation costs.