Key Facts: Ghana vs Libya Wages
- Ghana Minimum Wage
- GH₵2.72/hr ($0.18 USD)
- Libya Minimum Wage
- LD450/mo ($92.59 USD)
- Ghana Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- GH₵3,500 /mo ($235.69 USD)
- Libya Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- LD1,800 /mo ($370.37 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 / Ministry of Labour and Rehabilitation (Libya) (2026-02-25)
Ghana
Libya
Updated 2026-05-27
The minimum wage in Ghana is roughly 506 times lower than in Libya in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a lower-middle-income and a upper-middle-income economy. Average salaries are lower in Ghana at $236/mo compared to $370/mo in Libya. GDP per capita (PPP) in Libya is 1.8x that of Ghana, underscoring the structural economic divide.
Ghana has lower GDP per capita ($8,020 vs $14,304). Ghana's unemployment rate is 3.0% compared to Libya's 18.8%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Ghana | Libya |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | GH₵2.72 $0.18 | — |
| Minimum wage /day | GH₵21.77 $1.47 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | GH₵565.02 $38.05 | LD450 $92.59 |
| Minimum wage /yr | GH₵6,780.24 $456.58 | — |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | GH₵3,500 /mo $235.69 | LD1,800 /mo $370.37 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | GH₵3,000 /mo $202.02 | N/A/mo |
| Median individual income /yr | GH₵12,000 /yr $808.08 | LD7,200 /yr $1,481.48 |
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.
- Libya
-
48 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Labour Law No. 12 (2010) sets standard at 48 hours/week (8 hrs/day, 6 days). Friday is the statutory rest day. During Ramadan, hours are reduced. Overtime paid at 1.5x. These regulations are inconsistently enforced given the political situation.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker in Ghana earns 50451% less per hour in USD terms than one in Libya. Standard work weeks differ: Ghana mandates 40 hours while Libya mandates 48 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Ghana are $7 vs $4,444 in Libya.
See this comparison from Libya's perspective: Libya vs Ghana
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Ghana or Libya?
In Ghana, the minimum wage is GH₵2.72/hr ($0.18 USD). In Libya, it is LD450/mo ($92.59 USD). Libya has the higher rate by 50451% 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 Libya?
The average gross salary in Ghana is GH₵3,500/mo ($235.69 USD), compared to LD1,800/mo ($370.37 USD) in Libya. In USD terms, workers in Ghana earn approximately 57% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Ghana and Libya is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Libya 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 Libya?
Libya 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 Libya?
While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Libya has the higher GDP per capita at $14,304, which is 1.8x 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.