Iran Namibia

Updated 2026-05-04

Iran

Minimum Wage

﷼692,731 /hr

$1.02 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

﷼400,000,000 /mo

Namibia

Minimum Wage

N$18 /hr

$1.13 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

N$13,500 /mo

Min wage: -10% Iran vs Namibia Avg. salary: -30% Iran vs Namibia

Iran, a lower-middle-income economy, and Namibia, classified as upper-middle-income, take different approaches to wage policy. Average salaries are lower in Iran at $588/mo compared to $845/mo in Namibia. GDP per capita (PPP) in Iran is 1.7x that of Namibia, underscoring the structural economic divide.

From Iran's perspective: adjusting for purchasing power, Iran's minimum wage buys more than Namibia's. The PPP-adjusted hourly rate in Iran is $6 international dollars, compared to $3 in Namibia. Iran has higher GDP per capita ($19,874 vs $11,687). Iran's unemployment rate is 8.3% compared to Namibia's 19.3%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Iran and Namibia
Metric	Iran	Namibia	Diff
Minimum wage /hr	﷼692,731 $1.02	N$18 $1.13	-9.6%
Minimum wage /day	﷼5,541,850 $8.15	—	—
Minimum wage /mo	﷼166,255,500 $244.49	N$3,510 $219.79	+11.2%
Minimum wage /yr	﷼1,995,066,000 $2,933.92	N$42,120 $2,637.45	+11.2%
Avg. gross salary /mo	﷼400,000,000 /mo $588.24	N$13,500 /mo $845.34	-30.4%
Avg. net salary /mo	N/A/mo	N$11,000 /mo $688.79	—
Median individual income /yr	﷼1,440,000,000 /yr $2,117.65	N$48,000 /yr $3,005.64	-29.5%

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

Work Week

Iran: 44 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.4x pay

Article 51 of the Labour Law sets ordinary working hours at 44 hours per week (8 hours/day, 6 days, with 4 hours on the sixth day — or equivalent arrangements). Maximum including overtime is 48 hours/week. Overtime is compensated at 140% of the ordinary hourly rate. Friday is the official weekly rest day. Workers in hazardous conditions have reduced hours.
Namibia: 45 hrs/wk standard

Max 45 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.5x pay

Labour Act sets maximum ordinary hours at 45 per week (9 hrs/day for 5-day week, 8 hrs/day for 6-day week). Overtime limited to 10 hours/week and 3 hours/day. Overtime paid at 1.5x normal rate. Rest days at 2x. Daily rest period of at least 12 consecutive hours. Weekly rest of at least 36 consecutive hours (ideally including Sunday). Annual leave: 20 working days for 5-day week.

What This Means for Workers

A minimum wage worker in Iran earns 11% less per hour in USD terms than one in Namibia. However, after adjusting for cost of living, Iran's minimum wage provides more purchasing power. Standard work weeks differ: Iran mandates 44 hours while Namibia mandates 45 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Iran are $45 vs $51 in Namibia.

See this comparison from Namibia's perspective: Namibia vs Iran

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Iran or Namibia?

In Iran, the minimum wage is ﷼692,731/hr ($1.02 USD). In Namibia, it is N$18/hr ($1.13 USD). Namibia has the higher rate by 11% 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 Iran may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.

How much less does the average worker earn in Iran compared to Namibia?

The average gross salary in Iran is ﷼400,000,000/mo ($588.24 USD), compared to N$13,500/mo ($845.34 USD) in Namibia. In USD terms, workers in Iran earn approximately 44% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Iran and Namibia is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Namibia earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Iran.

Which country has better purchasing power for minimum wage workers, Iran or Namibia?

After adjusting for local prices using purchasing power parity (PPP), minimum wage workers in Iran can afford more than those in Namibia. The PPP-adjusted rate is $6 in Iran and $3 in Namibia. PPP converts wages into equivalent US dollar buying power, accounting for what a unit of currency actually buys locally. The 125% purchasing power gap means that even if the nominal wage in Namibia appears competitive, minimum wage workers there face greater constraints on day-to-day spending.

How do work hours compare between Iran and Namibia?

Namibia has a longer standard work week at 45 hours, compared to 44 hours in Iran. Workers in Iran work 44 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Iran 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 Iran and Namibia?

While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Iran has the higher GDP per capita at $19,874, which is 1.7x that of Namibia at $11,687. From Iran'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.