Key Facts: Ghana vs Eritrea Wages
- Ghana Minimum Wage
- GH₵2.72/hr ($0.18 USD)
- Eritrea Minimum Wage
- Nfk600/mo ($40 USD)
- Ghana Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- GH₵3,500 /mo ($235.69 USD)
- Eritrea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Nfk6,000 /mo ($400 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), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / OHCHR Eritrea reports (2026-02-25)
Ghana
Eritrea
Updated 2026-05-27
The minimum wage in Ghana is roughly 218 times lower than in Eritrea in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a lower-middle-income and a low-income economy. Average salaries are lower in Ghana at $236/mo compared to $400/mo in Eritrea. Ghana has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 3.0% compared to 6.0%.
Ghana's unemployment rate is 3.0% compared to Eritrea's 6.0%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Ghana | Eritrea |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | GH₵2.72 $0.18 | — |
| Minimum wage /day | GH₵21.77 $1.47 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | GH₵565.02 $38.05 | Nfk600 $40 |
| Minimum wage /yr | GH₵6,780.24 $456.58 | — |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | GH₵3,500 /mo $235.69 | Nfk6,000 /mo $400 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | GH₵3,000 /mo $202.02 | Nfk5,400 /mo $360 |
| Median individual income /yr | GH₵12,000 /yr $808.08 | N/A/yr |
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.
- 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 Ghana earns 21738% less per hour in USD terms than one in Eritrea. Standard work weeks differ: Ghana mandates 40 hours while Eritrea mandates 44 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Ghana are $7 vs $1,760 in Eritrea.
See this comparison from Eritrea's perspective: Eritrea vs Ghana
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Ghana or Eritrea?
In Ghana, the minimum wage is GH₵2.72/hr ($0.18 USD). In Eritrea, it is Nfk600/mo ($40 USD). Eritrea has the higher rate by 21738% 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 Eritrea?
The average gross salary in Ghana is GH₵3,500/mo ($235.69 USD), compared to Nfk6,000/mo ($400 USD) in Eritrea. In USD terms, workers in Ghana earn approximately 70% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Ghana and Eritrea is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Eritrea earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Ghana.
How do work hours compare between Ghana and Eritrea?
Eritrea 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.