Key Facts: Guinea vs Libya Wages
- Guinea Minimum Wage
- FG440,000/mo ($51.04 USD)
- Libya Minimum Wage
- LD450/mo ($92.59 USD)
- Guinea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- FG1,500,000 /mo ($174.01 USD)
- Libya Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- LD1,800 /mo ($370.37 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO / Ministère du Travail et de la Fonction Publique (Guinea) (2026-02-25), ILO / Ministry of Labour and Rehabilitation (Libya) (2026-02-25)
Guinea
Libya
Updated 2026-02-25
The minimum wage in Guinea is 45% lower than in Libya in USD terms, though average salaries tell a different story. Average gross salaries diverge further: $174/mo in Guinea versus $370/mo in Libya, a 2.1:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Libya is 3.1x that of Guinea, underscoring the structural economic divide.
From Guinea's perspective: adjusting for purchasing power, Guinea's minimum wage buys less than Libya's. The PPP-adjusted hourly rate in Guinea is $138 international dollars, compared to $203 in Libya. Guinea has lower GDP per capita ($4,565 vs $14,304). Guinea's unemployment rate is 5.2% compared to Libya's 18.8%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Guinea | Libya |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /mo | FG440,000 $51.04 | LD450 $92.59 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | FG1,500,000 /mo $174.01 | LD1,800 /mo $370.37 |
| Median individual income /yr | FG3,000,000 /yr $348.03 | LD7,200 /yr $1,481.48 |
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.
- Libya
-
48 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Labour Law No. 12 (2010) sets standard at 48 hours/week (8 hrs/day, 6 days). Friday is the statutory rest day. During Ramadan, hours are reduced. Overtime paid at 1.5x. These regulations are inconsistently enforced given the political situation.
• WAGE TRAJECTORY (USD/mo)
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker in Guinea earns 81% less per hour in USD terms than one in Libya. Standard work weeks differ: Guinea mandates 40 hours while Libya mandates 48 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Guinea are $2,042 vs $4,444 in Libya.
See this comparison from Libya's perspective: Libya vs Guinea
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Guinea or Libya?
In Guinea, the minimum wage is FG440,000/mo ($51.04 USD). In Libya, it is LD450/mo ($92.59 USD). Libya has the higher rate by 81% 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 may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much less does the average worker earn in Guinea compared to Libya?
The average gross salary in Guinea is FG1,500,000/mo ($174.01 USD), compared to LD1,800/mo ($370.37 USD) in Libya. In USD terms, workers in Guinea earn approximately 113% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Guinea and Libya is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Libya earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Guinea.
Which country has better purchasing power for minimum wage workers, Guinea or Libya?
After adjusting for local prices using purchasing power parity (PPP), minimum wage workers in Libya can afford more than those in Guinea. The PPP-adjusted rate is $138 in Guinea and $203 in Libya. PPP converts wages into equivalent US dollar buying power, accounting for what a unit of currency actually buys locally. The 47% purchasing power gap means that even if the nominal wage in Guinea appears competitive, minimum wage workers there face greater constraints on day-to-day spending.
How do work hours compare between Guinea and Libya?
Libya 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 Libya?
While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Libya has the higher GDP per capita at $14,304, which is 3.1x that of Guinea at $4,565. From Guinea'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.