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Key Facts: Guinea-Bissau vs Belize Wages

Guinea-Bissau Minimum Wage
CFA19,030/mo ($34.17 USD)
Belize Minimum Wage
BZ$5/hr ($2.50 USD)
Guinea-Bissau Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
CFA95,000 /mo ($170.56 USD)
Belize Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
BZ$1,800 /mo ($900 USD)
Data Sources
ILOSTAT (DF_EAR_INEE_CUR_NB, 2024 reporting); confirmed via Wikipedia master list (citation [95]) (2026-05-04), Ministry of Labour, Local Government and Rural Development — Belize (2026-02-25)

Guinea-Bissau flag Guinea-Bissau Belize flag Belize

Updated 2026-05-04

Guinea-Bissau flag Guinea-Bissau

Minimum Wage

CFA19,030 /mo

$34.17 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

CFA95,000 /mo

Belize flag Belize

Minimum Wage

BZ$5 /hr

$2.50 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

BZ$1,800 /mo

Min wage: +1267% Guinea-Bissau vs Belize Avg. salary: -81% Guinea-Bissau vs Belize

The minimum wage in Guinea-Bissau is roughly 14 times higher than in Belize in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a low-income and a upper-middle-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $171/mo in Guinea-Bissau versus $900/mo in Belize, a 5.3:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Belize is 4.6x that of Guinea-Bissau, underscoring the structural economic divide.

Guinea-Bissau has lower GDP per capita ($3,119 vs $14,347). Guinea-Bissau's unemployment rate is 2.7% compared to Belize's 8.9%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Guinea-Bissau and Belize
Metric Guinea-Bissau Belize
Minimum wage /hr BZ$5 $2.50
Minimum wage /day CFA761 $1.37
Minimum wage /mo CFA19,030 $34.17 BZ$975 $487.50
Minimum wage /yr BZ$11,700 $5,850
Avg. gross salary /mo CFA95,000 /mo $170.56 BZ$1,800 /mo $900
Avg. net salary /mo N/A/mo BZ$1,530 /mo $765
Median individual income /yr N/A/yr BZ$12,000 /yr $6,000

Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Guinea-Bissau is higher.

Work Week

Guinea-Bissau

40 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.5x pay

Labour Code sets 40 hours/week as the standard. Overtime provisions apply to formal employment. Portuguese is the official language; labour law reflects Lusophone and OHADA traditions.

Belize

45 hrs/wk standard

Max 45 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.5x pay

Standard workweek is 45 hours (9 hours/day, 5 days). All workers are entitled to at least 1 day of rest per week. Overtime is paid at 1.5x the regular rate for hours beyond 45/week. Work on Sundays and public holidays is typically paid at double the normal rate. Governed by the Labour Act.

What This Means for Workers

A minimum wage worker moving from Belize to Guinea-Bissau would see a 1267% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Guinea-Bissau mandates 40 hours while Belize mandates 45 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Guinea-Bissau are $1,367 vs $113 in Belize.

See this comparison from Belize's perspective: Belize vs Guinea-Bissau

Compare Guinea-Bissau with...

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Guinea-Bissau or Belize?

In Guinea-Bissau, the minimum wage is CFA19,030/mo ($34.17 USD). In Belize, it is BZ$5/hr ($2.50 USD). Guinea-Bissau has the higher rate by 1267% 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 Belize may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.

How much less does the average worker earn in Guinea-Bissau compared to Belize?

The average gross salary in Guinea-Bissau is CFA95,000/mo ($170.56 USD), compared to BZ$1,800/mo ($900 USD) in Belize. In USD terms, workers in Guinea-Bissau earn approximately 428% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Guinea-Bissau and Belize is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Belize earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Guinea-Bissau.

How do work hours compare between Guinea-Bissau and Belize?

Belize has a longer standard work week at 45 hours, compared to 40 hours in Guinea-Bissau. Workers in Guinea-Bissau work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Guinea-Bissau 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 Guinea-Bissau and Belize?

While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Belize has the higher GDP per capita at $14,347, which is 4.6x that of Guinea-Bissau at $3,119. From Guinea-Bissau'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.