Key Facts: Guinea-Bissau vs Iraq Wages
- Guinea-Bissau Minimum Wage
- CFA19,030/mo ($34.17 USD)
- Iraq Minimum Wage
- ع.د1,823/hr ($1.40 USD)
- Guinea-Bissau Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- CFA95,000 /mo ($170.56 USD)
- Iraq Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ع.د700,000 /mo ($536.40 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILOSTAT (DF_EAR_INEE_CUR_NB, 2024 reporting); confirmed via Wikipedia master list (citation [95]) (2026-05-04), Iraqi Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs / ILO (2026-02-25)
Guinea-Bissau
Iraq
Updated 2026-05-04
The minimum wage in Guinea-Bissau is roughly 24 times higher than in Iraq 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 $536/mo in Iraq, a 3.1:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Iraq is 4.6x that of Guinea-Bissau, underscoring the structural economic divide.
Guinea-Bissau has lower GDP per capita ($3,119 vs $14,464). Guinea-Bissau's unemployment rate is 2.7% compared to Iraq's 15.5%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Guinea-Bissau | Iraq |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | — | ع.د1,823 $1.40 |
| Minimum wage /day | CFA761 $1.37 | ع.د14,583 $11.17 |
| Minimum wage /mo | CFA19,030 $34.17 | ع.د350,000 $268.20 |
| Minimum wage /yr | — | ع.د4,200,000 $3,218.39 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | CFA95,000 /mo $170.56 | ع.د700,000 /mo $536.40 |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | ع.د3,360,000 /yr $2,574.71 |
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.
- Iraq
-
48 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Labour Law No. 37 of 2015 sets maximum ordinary working hours at 8 per day / 48 per week. Friday is the weekly rest day. Overtime is compensated at 150% of normal hourly rate. Work on official holidays is paid at 200%. Ramadan working hours are reduced. Public sector employees typically work ~40 hours/week in practice.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from Iraq to Guinea-Bissau would see a 2346% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Guinea-Bissau mandates 40 hours while Iraq mandates 48 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Guinea-Bissau are $1,367 vs $67 in Iraq.
See this comparison from Iraq's perspective: Iraq vs Guinea-Bissau
Compare Guinea-Bissau with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Guinea-Bissau or Iraq?
In Guinea-Bissau, the minimum wage is CFA19,030/mo ($34.17 USD). In Iraq, it is ع.د1,823/hr ($1.40 USD). Guinea-Bissau has the higher rate by 2346% 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 Iraq 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 Iraq?
The average gross salary in Guinea-Bissau is CFA95,000/mo ($170.56 USD), compared to ع.د700,000/mo ($536.40 USD) in Iraq. In USD terms, workers in Guinea-Bissau earn approximately 214% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Guinea-Bissau and Iraq is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Iraq 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 Iraq?
Iraq has a longer standard work week at 48 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 Iraq?
While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Iraq has the higher GDP per capita at $14,464, 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.