Key Facts: Iceland vs Haiti Wages
- Iceland Minimum Wage
- No statutory minimum wage
- Haiti Minimum Wage
- G17,125/mo ($128.76 USD)
- Iceland Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- kr800,000 /mo ($6,478.78 USD)
- Haiti Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- G25,000 /mo ($187.97 USD)
- Data Sources
- Directorate of Labour (Vinnumálastofnun) / Statistics Iceland (2026-02-24), Haitian Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour (MAST) / ILO (2026-02-25)
Iceland
Haiti
Updated 2026-02-25
Iceland has no statutory minimum wage, while Haiti sets a floor of $129/mo. Average gross salaries diverge further: $6,479/mo in Iceland versus $188/mo in Haiti, a 34.5:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Iceland is 26.4x that of Haiti, underscoring the structural economic divide.
Iceland has higher GDP per capita ($84,257 vs $3,194). Iceland's unemployment rate is 3.6% compared to Haiti's 14.9%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Iceland | Haiti |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /day | None | G685 $5.15 |
| Minimum wage /mo | None | G17,125 $128.76 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | kr800,000 /mo $6,478.78 | G25,000 /mo $187.97 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | kr560,000 /mo $4,535.15 | G23,000 /mo $172.93 |
| Median individual income /yr | kr7,800,000 /yr $63,168.12 | G72,000 /yr $541.35 |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Iceland is higher.
Work Week
- Iceland
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.8x pay
Standard working week is 40 hours (set by collective agreements). The Act on Working Environment and Health sets maximum average of 48 hours/week per EU Working Time Directive. Overtime premiums are set by collective agreements, typically 80% premium (1.8x) for daytime overtime, higher for evenings/weekends. A landmark 2021 agreement reduced standard hours from 40 to 36 for many public sector workers, with the private sector gradually following.
- Haiti
-
48 hrs/wk standard
Max 56 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Haiti Labour Code sets 48 hours as the standard workweek (8 hours/day, 6 days). Maximum with overtime is 56 hours. Overtime paid at 1.5x the regular rate. In practice, enforcement is very limited and informal workers have no effective protection.
What This Means for Workers
Standard work weeks differ: Iceland mandates 40 hours while Haiti mandates 48 hours.
See this comparison from Haiti's perspective: Haiti vs Iceland
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Iceland or Haiti?
In Iceland, the minimum wage is no statutory minimum wage. In Haiti, it is G17,125/mo ($128.76 USD).
How much more does the average worker earn in Iceland compared to Haiti?
The average gross salary in Iceland is kr800,000/mo ($6,478.78 USD), compared to G25,000/mo ($187.97 USD) in Haiti. In USD terms, workers in Iceland earn approximately 3347% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Iceland and Haiti is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Iceland earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Haiti.
How do work hours compare between Iceland and Haiti?
Haiti has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in Iceland. Workers in Iceland work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Iceland 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 Iceland and Haiti?
While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Iceland has the higher GDP per capita at $84,257, which is 26.4x that of Haiti at $3,194. From Iceland'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.