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Key Facts: Guinea vs Ethiopia Wages

Guinea Minimum Wage
FG440,000/mo ($51.04 USD)
Ethiopia Minimum Wage
ETB7.50/hr ($0.06 USD)
Guinea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
FG1,500,000 /mo ($174.01 USD)
Ethiopia Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
ETB6,500 /mo ($50.78 USD)
Data Sources
ILO / Ministère du Travail et de la Fonction Publique (Guinea) (2026-02-25), Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs / ILO (2026-02-24)

Guinea flag Guinea Ethiopia flag Ethiopia

Updated 2026-02-25

Guinea flag Guinea

Minimum Wage

FG440,000 /mo

$51.04 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

FG1,500,000 /mo

Ethiopia flag Ethiopia

Minimum Wage

ETB7.50 /hr

$0.06 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

ETB6,500 /mo

Min wage: +87015% Guinea vs Ethiopia Avg. salary: +243% Guinea vs Ethiopia

The minimum wage in Guinea is roughly 871 times higher than in Ethiopia in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a low-income and a low-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $174/mo in Guinea versus $51/mo in Ethiopia, a 3.4:1 ratio.

Guinea has higher GDP per capita ($4,565 vs $3,288). Guinea's unemployment rate is 5.2% compared to Ethiopia's 3.3%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Guinea and Ethiopia
Metric Guinea Ethiopia
Minimum wage /hr ETB7.50 $0.06
Minimum wage /day ETB43.33 $0.34
Minimum wage /mo FG440,000 $51.04 ETB1,300 $10.16
Minimum wage /yr ETB15,600 $121.88
Avg. gross salary /mo FG1,500,000 /mo $174.01 ETB6,500 /mo $50.78
Avg. net salary /mo N/A/mo ETB5,600 /mo $43.75
Median individual income /yr FG3,000,000 /yr $348.03 N/A/yr

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

Work Week

Guinea

40 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.5x pay

Labour Code sets standard at 40 hours/week for formal-sector employees. Overtime compensated at 1.5x for weekday hours, 2x for work on rest days. These rules apply to the limited formal sector.

Ethiopia

48 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.25x pay

Labour Proclamation No. 1156/2019 sets maximum ordinary working hours at 8 hours/day, 48 hours/week. Overtime: 125% for first 2 hours, 150% for additional hours, 200% for weekends, 250% for public holidays. Night work (10pm-6am) carries a 50% premium. These regulations apply to formal employment relationships only.

What This Means for Workers

A minimum wage worker moving from Ethiopia to Guinea would see a 87015% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Guinea mandates 40 hours while Ethiopia mandates 48 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Guinea are $2,042 vs $3 in Ethiopia.

See this comparison from Ethiopia's perspective: Ethiopia vs Guinea

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Guinea or Ethiopia?

In Guinea, the minimum wage is FG440,000/mo ($51.04 USD). In Ethiopia, it is ETB7.50/hr ($0.06 USD). Guinea has the higher rate by 87015% 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 Ethiopia may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.

How much more does the average worker earn in Guinea compared to Ethiopia?

The average gross salary in Guinea is FG1,500,000/mo ($174.01 USD), compared to ETB6,500/mo ($50.78 USD) in Ethiopia. In USD terms, workers in Guinea earn approximately 243% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Guinea and Ethiopia is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Guinea earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Ethiopia.

How do work hours compare between Guinea and Ethiopia?

Ethiopia has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in Guinea. Workers in Guinea work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Guinea 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 and Ethiopia?

While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Guinea has the higher GDP per capita at $4,565, which is 1.4x that of Ethiopia at $3,288. From Guinea's perspective, this means goods and services are priced at a higher 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.