Key Facts: Guinea-Bissau vs Eritrea Wages
- Guinea-Bissau Minimum Wage
- CFA19,030/mo ($34.17 USD)
- Eritrea Minimum Wage
- Nfk600/mo ($40 USD)
- Guinea-Bissau Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- CFA95,000 /mo ($170.56 USD)
- Eritrea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Nfk6,000 /mo ($400 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILOSTAT (DF_EAR_INEE_CUR_NB, 2024 reporting); confirmed via Wikipedia master list (citation [95]) (2026-05-04), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / OHCHR Eritrea reports (2026-02-25)
Guinea-Bissau
Eritrea
Updated 2026-05-04
Both low-income economies, Guinea-Bissau and Eritrea set comparable minimum wage floors in USD terms. Average gross salaries diverge further: $171/mo in Guinea-Bissau versus $400/mo in Eritrea, a 2.3:1 ratio. Guinea-Bissau has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 2.7% compared to 6.0%.
From Guinea-Bissau's perspective: adjusting for purchasing power, Guinea-Bissau's minimum wage buys less than Eritrea's. The PPP-adjusted hourly rate in Guinea-Bissau is $97 international dollars, compared to $121 in Eritrea. Guinea-Bissau's unemployment rate is 2.7% compared to Eritrea's 6.0%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Guinea-Bissau | Eritrea |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /day | CFA761 $1.37 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | CFA19,030 $34.17 | Nfk600 $40 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | CFA95,000 /mo $170.56 | Nfk6,000 /mo $400 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | N/A/mo | Nfk5,400 /mo $360 |
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.
- 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.
• WAGE TRAJECTORY (USD/mo)
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker in Guinea-Bissau earns 17% less per hour in USD terms than one in Eritrea. Standard work weeks differ: Guinea-Bissau mandates 40 hours while Eritrea mandates 44 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Guinea-Bissau are $1,367 vs $1,760 in Eritrea.
See this comparison from Eritrea's perspective: Eritrea vs Guinea-Bissau
Compare Guinea-Bissau with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Guinea-Bissau or Eritrea?
In Guinea-Bissau, the minimum wage is CFA19,030/mo ($34.17 USD). In Eritrea, it is Nfk600/mo ($40 USD). Eritrea has the higher rate by 17% 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 Guinea-Bissau 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 Eritrea?
The average gross salary in Guinea-Bissau is CFA95,000/mo ($170.56 USD), compared to Nfk6,000/mo ($400 USD) in Eritrea. In USD terms, workers in Guinea-Bissau earn approximately 135% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Guinea-Bissau 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 Guinea-Bissau.
Which country has better purchasing power for minimum wage workers, Guinea-Bissau or Eritrea?
After adjusting for local prices using purchasing power parity (PPP), minimum wage workers in Eritrea can afford more than those in Guinea-Bissau. The PPP-adjusted rate is $97 in Guinea-Bissau and $121 in Eritrea. PPP converts wages into equivalent US dollar buying power, accounting for what a unit of currency actually buys locally. The 25% purchasing power gap means that even if the nominal wage in Guinea-Bissau appears competitive, minimum wage workers there face greater constraints on day-to-day spending.
How do work hours compare between Guinea-Bissau and Eritrea?
Eritrea has a longer standard work week at 44 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.