Key Facts: Guinea-Bissau vs Singapore Wages
- Guinea-Bissau Minimum Wage
- CFA19,030/mo ($34.17 USD)
- Singapore Minimum Wage
- No statutory minimum wage
- Guinea-Bissau Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- CFA95,000 /mo ($170.56 USD)
- Singapore Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- S$5,800 /mo ($4,539.05 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILOSTAT (DF_EAR_INEE_CUR_NB, 2024 reporting); confirmed via Wikipedia master list (citation [95]) (2026-05-04), Ministry of Manpower (MOM) (2026-06-01)
Guinea-Bissau
Singapore
Updated 2026-06-01
Unlike Singapore, 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 $4,539/mo in Singapore, a 26.6:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Singapore is 48.3x that of Guinea-Bissau, underscoring the structural economic divide.
Guinea-Bissau has lower GDP per capita ($3,119 vs $150,689). Guinea-Bissau's unemployment rate is 2.7% compared to Singapore's 2.8%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Guinea-Bissau | Singapore |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /day | CFA761 $1.37 | None |
| Minimum wage /mo | CFA19,030 $34.17 | None |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | CFA95,000 /mo $170.56 | S$5,800 /mo $4,539.05 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | N/A/mo | S$4,930 /mo $3,858.19 |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | S$66,000 /yr $51,651.28 |
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.
- Singapore
-
44 hrs/wk standard
Max 44 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Employment Act caps at 44 hours/week (8 hrs/day for 5-day week, or 9 hrs/day for fewer days). Overtime pay at 1.5x hourly basic rate, applies to non-workmen earning up to SGD 2,600/mo and workmen earning up to SGD 4,500/mo. Maximum overtime: 72 hours/month.
What This Means for Workers
Standard work weeks differ: Guinea-Bissau mandates 40 hours while Singapore mandates 44 hours.
See this comparison from Singapore's perspective: Singapore vs Guinea-Bissau
Compare Guinea-Bissau with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Guinea-Bissau or Singapore?
In Guinea-Bissau, the minimum wage is CFA19,030/mo ($34.17 USD). In Singapore, it is no statutory minimum wage.
How much less does the average worker earn in Guinea-Bissau compared to Singapore?
The average gross salary in Guinea-Bissau is CFA95,000/mo ($170.56 USD), compared to S$5,800/mo ($4,539.05 USD) in Singapore. In USD terms, workers in Guinea-Bissau earn approximately 2561% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Guinea-Bissau and Singapore is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Singapore 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 Singapore?
Singapore 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.
What is the cost of living difference between Guinea-Bissau and Singapore?
While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Singapore has the higher GDP per capita at $150,689, which is 48.3x 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.