Key Facts: Ghana vs Angola Wages
- Ghana Minimum Wage
- GH₵2.72/hr ($0.18 USD)
- Angola Minimum Wage
- Kz167.60/hr ($0.18 USD)
- Ghana Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- GH₵3,500 /mo ($235.69 USD)
- Angola Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Kz150,000 /mo ($162.16 USD)
- Data Sources
- Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) / Ministry of Finance (MOFEP) / National Tripartite Committee; 2025-2026 daily rates per official gazettements (2026-05-27), Angolan Ministry of Public Administration, Labour and Social Security (MAPTSS) / ILO (2026-02-25)
Ghana
Angola
Updated 2026-05-27
Both lower-middle-income economies, Ghana and Angola set comparable minimum wage floors in USD terms. Average salaries are higher in Ghana at $236/mo compared to $162/mo in Angola. Ghana has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 3.0% compared to 14.1%.
From Ghana's perspective: adjusting for purchasing power, Ghana's minimum wage buys about the same as Angola's. The PPP-adjusted hourly rate in Ghana is $1 international dollars, compared to $1 in Angola. Ghana has lower GDP per capita ($8,020 vs $10,119). Ghana's unemployment rate is 3.0% compared to Angola's 14.1%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Ghana | Angola |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | GH₵2.72 $0.18 | Kz167.60 $0.18 |
| Minimum wage /day | GH₵21.77 $1.47 | Kz1,342 $1.45 |
| Minimum wage /mo | GH₵565.02 $38.05 | Kz32,181 $34.79 |
| Minimum wage /yr | GH₵6,780.24 $456.58 | Kz386,172 $417.48 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | GH₵3,500 /mo $235.69 | Kz150,000 /mo $162.16 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | GH₵3,000 /mo $202.02 | N/A/mo |
| Median individual income /yr | GH₵12,000 /yr $808.08 | Kz432,000 /yr $467.03 |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Ghana is higher.
Work Week
- Ghana
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Labour Act 2003 (Act 651) sets standard working hours at 8 hours/day, 40 hours/week. Overtime must be paid at 1.5x the normal rate. Work on rest days or public holidays at 2x.
- Angola
-
44 hrs/wk standard
Max 54 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
General Labour Law (Lei Geral do Trabalho) sets standard hours at 44/week (8 hrs/day over 5.5 days). Maximum total (including overtime) is 54 hours/week. Overtime hours 1–2 are compensated at 150%; hours beyond 2 at 175%; Sunday/holiday at 200%. Night work (9pm–6am) carries a 25% premium. Workers receive a mandatory 13th-month salary bonus annually.
• WAGE TRAJECTORY (USD/hr)
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from Angola to Ghana would see a 1% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Ghana mandates 40 hours while Angola mandates 44 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Ghana are $7 vs $8 in Angola.
See this comparison from Angola's perspective: Angola vs Ghana
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Ghana or Angola?
In Ghana, the minimum wage is GH₵2.72/hr ($0.18 USD). In Angola, it is Kz167.60/hr ($0.18 USD). Ghana has the higher rate by 1% 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 Angola may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much more does the average worker earn in Ghana compared to Angola?
The average gross salary in Ghana is GH₵3,500/mo ($235.69 USD), compared to Kz150,000/mo ($162.16 USD) in Angola. In USD terms, workers in Ghana earn approximately 45% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Ghana and Angola is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Ghana earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Angola.
Which country has better purchasing power for minimum wage workers, Ghana or Angola?
After adjusting for local prices using purchasing power parity (PPP), minimum wage workers in Ghana can afford more than those in Angola. The PPP-adjusted rate is $1 in Ghana and $1 in Angola. PPP converts wages into equivalent US dollar buying power, accounting for what a unit of currency actually buys locally. The 2% purchasing power gap means that even if the nominal wage in Angola appears competitive, minimum wage workers there face greater constraints on day-to-day spending.
How do work hours compare between Ghana and Angola?
Angola has a longer standard work week at 44 hours, compared to 40 hours in Ghana. Workers in Ghana work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Ghana 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 Ghana and Angola?
While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Angola has the higher GDP per capita at $10,119, which is 1.3x that of Ghana at $8,020. From Ghana's perspective, this means goods and services are priced at a lower 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.