Key Facts: Hong Kong vs Mauritania Wages
- Hong Kong Minimum Wage
- HK$42.10/hr ($5.37 USD)
- Mauritania Minimum Wage
- UM30,000/mo ($750 USD)
- Hong Kong Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- HK$20,500 /mo ($2,615.76 USD)
- Mauritania Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- UM65,000 /mo ($1,625 USD)
- Data Sources
- Minimum Wage Commission / Census and Statistics Department, HKSAR; current rate verified via Wikipedia List of countries by minimum wage (eff 2025-05-01) (2026-05-04), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Ministère du Travail de Mauritanie (2026-02-25)
Hong Kong
Mauritania
Updated 2026-05-04
The minimum wage in Hong Kong is roughly 140 times lower than in Mauritania in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a high-income and a lower-middle-income economy. Average salaries are higher in Hong Kong at $2,616/mo compared to $1,625/mo in Mauritania. GDP per capita (PPP) in Hong Kong is 10.2x that of Mauritania, underscoring the structural economic divide.
Hong Kong has higher GDP per capita ($75,196 vs $7,369). Hong Kong's unemployment rate is 2.8% compared to Mauritania's 10.3%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Hong Kong | Mauritania |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | HK$42.10 $5.37 | — |
| Minimum wage /day | — | UM1,200 $30 |
| Minimum wage /mo | HK$7,297 $931.08 | UM30,000 $750 |
| Minimum wage /yr | HK$87,568 $11,173.52 | — |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | HK$20,500 /mo $2,615.76 | UM65,000 /mo $1,625 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | HK$19,475 /mo $2,484.98 | N/A/mo |
| Median individual income /yr | HK$246,000 /yr $31,389.16 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Hong Kong is higher.
Work Week
- Hong Kong
-
hrs/wk standard
Hong Kong has NO statutory standard working hours or maximum working hours for most employees (a rare situation globally). The government has considered legislation but has not enacted a standard hours law. Working hours are determined by individual employment contracts. Average actual working hours are ~40-44 hrs/week. Overtime pay is not legally mandated except for certain specific occupations.
- Mauritania
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Labour Code sets 40 hours/week, with Friday as the rest day. Arabic is the official language; French widely used in business. Some sectors may observe Thursday–Friday weekends.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker in Hong Kong earns 13862% less per hour in USD terms than one in Mauritania.
See this comparison from Mauritania's perspective: Mauritania vs Hong Kong
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Hong Kong or Mauritania?
In Hong Kong, the minimum wage is HK$42.10/hr ($5.37 USD). In Mauritania, it is UM30,000/mo ($750 USD). Mauritania has the higher rate by 13862% 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 Hong Kong may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much more does the average worker earn in Hong Kong compared to Mauritania?
The average gross salary in Hong Kong is HK$20,500/mo ($2,615.76 USD), compared to UM65,000/mo ($1,625 USD) in Mauritania. In USD terms, workers in Hong Kong earn approximately 61% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Hong Kong and Mauritania is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Hong Kong earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Mauritania.
What is the cost of living difference between Hong Kong and Mauritania?
While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Hong Kong has the higher GDP per capita at $75,196, which is 10.2x that of Mauritania at $7,369. From Hong Kong'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.