Key Facts: Guinea-Bissau vs Norway Wages
- Guinea-Bissau Minimum Wage
- CFA19,030/mo ($34.17 USD)
- Norway Minimum Wage
- No statutory minimum wage
- Guinea-Bissau Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- CFA95,000 /mo ($170.56 USD)
- Norway Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- kr55,150 /mo ($5,953.34 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILOSTAT (DF_EAR_INEE_CUR_NB, 2024 reporting); confirmed via Wikipedia master list (citation [95]) (2026-05-04), Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority (Arbeidstilsynet) (2026-05-28)
Guinea-Bissau
Norway
Updated 2026-05-28
Unlike Norway, which has no statutory minimum wage, Guinea-Bissau mandates a wage floor of $34/mo. Average gross salaries diverge further: $171/mo in Guinea-Bissau versus $5,953/mo in Norway, a 34.9:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Norway is 32.7x that of Guinea-Bissau, underscoring the structural economic divide.
Guinea-Bissau has lower GDP per capita ($3,119 vs $102,038). Guinea-Bissau's unemployment rate is 2.7% compared to Norway's 4.6%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Guinea-Bissau | Norway |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /day | CFA761 $1.37 | None |
| Minimum wage /mo | CFA19,030 $34.17 | None |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | CFA95,000 /mo $170.56 | kr55,150 /mo $5,953.34 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | N/A/mo | kr38,600 /mo $4,166.80 |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | kr570,000 /yr $61,530.49 |
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.
- Norway
-
37.5 hrs/wk standard
Max 40 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.4x pay
The Working Environment Act sets a maximum of 40 hours/week, but most collective agreements specify 37.5 hours. Overtime premium minimum 40% by law. Maximum overtime: 10 hrs/week, 25 hrs over 4 consecutive weeks, 200 hrs/year. Night and Sunday work requires additional premiums by agreement.
What This Means for Workers
Standard work weeks differ: Guinea-Bissau mandates 40 hours while Norway mandates 37.5 hours.
See this comparison from Norway's perspective: Norway vs Guinea-Bissau
Compare Guinea-Bissau with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Guinea-Bissau or Norway?
In Guinea-Bissau, the minimum wage is CFA19,030/mo ($34.17 USD). In Norway, it is no statutory minimum wage.
How much less does the average worker earn in Guinea-Bissau compared to Norway?
The average gross salary in Guinea-Bissau is CFA95,000/mo ($170.56 USD), compared to kr55,150/mo ($5,953.34 USD) in Norway. In USD terms, workers in Guinea-Bissau earn approximately 3391% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Guinea-Bissau and Norway is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Norway 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 Norway?
Guinea-Bissau has a longer standard work week at 40 hours, compared to 37.5 hours in Norway. Workers in Guinea-Bissau work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Norway 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 Norway?
While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Norway has the higher GDP per capita at $102,038, which is 32.7x 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.