Key Facts: Iraq vs Guinea-Bissau Wages
- Iraq Minimum Wage
- ع.د1,823/hr ($1.40 USD)
- Guinea-Bissau Minimum Wage
- CFA19,030/mo ($34.17 USD)
- Iraq Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ع.د700,000 /mo ($536.40 USD)
- Guinea-Bissau Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- CFA95,000 /mo ($170.56 USD)
- Data Sources
- Iraqi Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs / ILO (2026-02-25), ILOSTAT (DF_EAR_INEE_CUR_NB, 2024 reporting); confirmed via Wikipedia master list (citation [95]) (2026-05-04)
Iraq
Guinea-Bissau
Updated 2026-05-04
The minimum wage in Iraq is roughly 24 times lower than in Guinea-Bissau in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a upper-middle-income and a low-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $536/mo in Iraq versus $171/mo in Guinea-Bissau, a 3.1:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Iraq is 4.6x that of Guinea-Bissau, underscoring the structural economic divide.
Iraq has higher GDP per capita ($14,464 vs $3,119). Iraq's unemployment rate is 15.5% compared to Guinea-Bissau's 2.7%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Iraq | Guinea-Bissau |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | ع.د1,823 $1.40 | — |
| Minimum wage /day | ع.د14,583 $11.17 | CFA761 $1.37 |
| Minimum wage /mo | ع.د350,000 $268.20 | CFA19,030 $34.17 |
| Minimum wage /yr | ع.د4,200,000 $3,218.39 | — |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | ع.د700,000 /mo $536.40 | CFA95,000 /mo $170.56 |
| Median individual income /yr | ع.د3,360,000 /yr $2,574.71 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Iraq is higher.
Work Week
- Iraq
-
48 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Labour Law No. 37 of 2015 sets maximum ordinary working hours at 8 per day / 48 per week. Friday is the weekly rest day. Overtime is compensated at 150% of normal hourly rate. Work on official holidays is paid at 200%. Ramadan working hours are reduced. Public sector employees typically work ~40 hours/week in practice.
- Guinea-Bissau
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Labour Code sets 40 hours/week as the standard. Overtime provisions apply to formal employment. Portuguese is the official language; labour law reflects Lusophone and OHADA traditions.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker in Iraq earns 2346% less per hour in USD terms than one in Guinea-Bissau. Standard work weeks differ: Iraq mandates 48 hours while Guinea-Bissau mandates 40 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Iraq are $67 vs $1,367 in Guinea-Bissau.
See this comparison from Guinea-Bissau's perspective: Guinea-Bissau vs Iraq
Compare Iraq with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Iraq or Guinea-Bissau?
In Iraq, the minimum wage is ع.د1,823/hr ($1.40 USD). In Guinea-Bissau, it is CFA19,030/mo ($34.17 USD). Guinea-Bissau has the higher rate by 2346% 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 Iraq may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much more does the average worker earn in Iraq compared to Guinea-Bissau?
The average gross salary in Iraq is ع.د700,000/mo ($536.40 USD), compared to CFA95,000/mo ($170.56 USD) in Guinea-Bissau. In USD terms, workers in Iraq earn approximately 214% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Iraq and Guinea-Bissau is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Iraq earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Guinea-Bissau.
How do work hours compare between Iraq and Guinea-Bissau?
Iraq has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in Guinea-Bissau. Workers in Iraq work 48 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Guinea-Bissau 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 Iraq and Guinea-Bissau?
While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Iraq has the higher GDP per capita at $14,464, which is 4.6x that of Guinea-Bissau at $3,119. From Iraq'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.