Key Facts: Gabon vs Eritrea Wages
- Gabon Minimum Wage
- FCFA865.38/hr ($1.55 USD)
- Eritrea Minimum Wage
- Nfk600/mo ($40 USD)
- Gabon Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- FCFA555,000 /mo ($996.41 USD)
- Eritrea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Nfk6,000 /mo ($400 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministry of Labour, Employment and Vocational Training / Labour Code of Gabon (2026-02-25), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / OHCHR Eritrea reports (2026-02-25)
Gabon
Eritrea
Updated 2026-02-25
The minimum wage in Gabon is roughly 26 times lower than in Eritrea in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a upper-middle-income and a low-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $996/mo in Gabon versus $400/mo in Eritrea, a 2.5:1 ratio. Eritrea has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 6.0% compared to 20.1%.
Gabon's unemployment rate is 20.1% compared to Eritrea's 6.0%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Gabon | Eritrea |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | FCFA865.38 $1.55 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | FCFA150,000 $269.30 | Nfk600 $40 |
| Minimum wage /yr | FCFA1,800,000 $3,231.60 | — |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | FCFA555,000 /mo $996.41 | Nfk6,000 /mo $400 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | FCFA430,000 /mo $771.99 | Nfk5,400 /mo $360 |
| 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).
- 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
A minimum wage worker in Gabon earns 2475% less per hour in USD terms than one in Eritrea. Standard work weeks differ: Gabon mandates 40 hours while Eritrea mandates 44 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Gabon are $62 vs $1,760 in Eritrea.
See this comparison from Eritrea's perspective: Eritrea vs Gabon
Compare Gabon with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Gabon or Eritrea?
In Gabon, the minimum wage is FCFA865.38/hr ($1.55 USD). In Eritrea, it is Nfk600/mo ($40 USD). Eritrea has the higher rate by 2475% 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 Gabon 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 Eritrea?
The average gross salary in Gabon is FCFA555,000/mo ($996.41 USD), compared to Nfk6,000/mo ($400 USD) in Eritrea. In USD terms, workers in Gabon earn approximately 149% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Gabon and Eritrea 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 Eritrea.
How do work hours compare between Gabon and Eritrea?
Eritrea has a longer standard work week at 44 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.