Key Facts: Ghana vs Bahrain Wages
- Ghana Minimum Wage
- GH₵2.72/hr ($0.18 USD)
- Bahrain Minimum Wage
- BD1.73/hr ($4.60 USD)
- Ghana Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- GH₵3,500 /mo ($235.69 USD)
- Bahrain Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- BD850 /mo ($2,260.64 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), Ministry of Labour — Kingdom of Bahrain (2026-02-25)
Ghana
Bahrain
Updated 2026-05-27
The minimum wage in Ghana is roughly 25 times lower than in Bahrain in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a lower-middle-income and a high-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $236/mo in Ghana versus $2,261/mo in Bahrain, a 9.6:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Bahrain is 8.3x that of Ghana, underscoring the structural economic divide.
From Ghana's perspective: adjusting for purchasing power, Ghana's minimum wage buys less than Bahrain's. The PPP-adjusted hourly rate in Ghana is $1 international dollars, compared to $10 in Bahrain. Ghana has lower GDP per capita ($8,020 vs $66,941). Ghana's unemployment rate is 3.0% compared to Bahrain's 1.1%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Ghana | Bahrain |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | GH₵2.72 $0.18 | BD1.73 $4.60 |
| Minimum wage /day | GH₵21.77 $1.47 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | GH₵565.02 $38.05 | BD300 $797.87 |
| Minimum wage /yr | GH₵6,780.24 $456.58 | BD3,600 $9,574.47 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | GH₵3,500 /mo $235.69 | BD850 /mo $2,260.64 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | GH₵3,000 /mo $202.02 | BD840 /mo $2,234.04 |
| Median individual income /yr | GH₵12,000 /yr $808.08 | BD4,800 /yr $12,765.96 |
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.
- Bahrain
-
48 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.25x pay
Labour Law sets maximum working hours at 48 per week (8 hours/day). During Ramadan, Muslim workers' hours are reduced to 6 hours/day (36 hours/week). Overtime paid at 125% of normal rate; Friday work at 150%.
• WAGE TRAJECTORY (USD/hr)
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker in Ghana earns 2412% less per hour in USD terms than one in Bahrain. Standard work weeks differ: Ghana mandates 40 hours while Bahrain mandates 48 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Ghana are $7 vs $221 in Bahrain.
See this comparison from Bahrain's perspective: Bahrain vs Ghana
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Ghana or Bahrain?
In Ghana, the minimum wage is GH₵2.72/hr ($0.18 USD). In Bahrain, it is BD1.73/hr ($4.60 USD). Bahrain has the higher rate by 2412% 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 Ghana may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much less does the average worker earn in Ghana compared to Bahrain?
The average gross salary in Ghana is GH₵3,500/mo ($235.69 USD), compared to BD850/mo ($2,260.64 USD) in Bahrain. In USD terms, workers in Ghana earn approximately 859% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Ghana and Bahrain is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Bahrain earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Ghana.
Which country has better purchasing power for minimum wage workers, Ghana or Bahrain?
After adjusting for local prices using purchasing power parity (PPP), minimum wage workers in Bahrain can afford more than those in Ghana. The PPP-adjusted rate is $1 in Ghana and $10 in Bahrain. PPP converts wages into equivalent US dollar buying power, accounting for what a unit of currency actually buys locally. The 1483% purchasing power gap means that even if the nominal wage in Ghana appears competitive, minimum wage workers there face greater constraints on day-to-day spending.
How do work hours compare between Ghana and Bahrain?
Bahrain has a longer standard work week at 48 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 Bahrain?
While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Bahrain has the higher GDP per capita at $66,941, which is 8.3x 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.