Iraq Namibia

Updated 2026-02-25

Iraq

Minimum Wage

ع.د1,823 /hr

$1.40 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

ع.د700,000 /mo

Namibia

Minimum Wage

N$18 /hr

$1.13 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

N$13,500 /mo

Min wage: +24% Iraq vs Namibia Avg. salary: -37% Iraq vs Namibia

Both upper-middle-income economies, Iraq and Namibia set comparable minimum wage floors in USD terms. Average salaries are lower in Iraq at $536/mo compared to $845/mo in Namibia. Iraq has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 15.5% compared to 19.3%.

From Iraq's perspective: adjusting for purchasing power, Iraq's minimum wage buys more than Namibia's. The PPP-adjusted hourly rate in Iraq is $3 international dollars, compared to $3 in Namibia. Iraq has higher GDP per capita ($14,464 vs $11,687). Iraq's unemployment rate is 15.5% compared to Namibia's 19.3%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Iraq and Namibia
Metric	Iraq	Namibia	Diff
Minimum wage /hr	ع.د1,823 $1.40	N$18 $1.13	+23.9%
Minimum wage /day	ع.د14,583 $11.17	—	—
Minimum wage /mo	ع.د350,000 $268.20	N$3,510 $219.79	+22.0%
Minimum wage /yr	ع.د4,200,000 $3,218.39	N$42,120 $2,637.45	+22.0%
Avg. gross salary /mo	ع.د700,000 /mo $536.40	N$13,500 /mo $845.34	-36.5%
Avg. net salary /mo	N/A/mo	N$11,000 /mo $688.79	—
Median individual income /yr	ع.د3,360,000 /yr $2,574.71	N$48,000 /yr $3,005.64	-14.3%

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.
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 moving from Namibia to Iraq would see a 24% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Iraq mandates 48 hours while Namibia mandates 45 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Iraq are $67 vs $51 in Namibia.

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

Compare Iraq with...

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Iraq or Namibia?

In Iraq, the minimum wage is ع.د1,823/hr ($1.40 USD). In Namibia, it is N$18/hr ($1.13 USD). Iraq has the higher rate by 24% 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 Namibia may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.

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

The average gross salary in Iraq is ع.د700,000/mo ($536.40 USD), compared to N$13,500/mo ($845.34 USD) in Namibia. In USD terms, workers in Iraq earn approximately 58% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Iraq 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 Iraq.

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

After adjusting for local prices using purchasing power parity (PPP), minimum wage workers in Iraq can afford more than those in Namibia. The PPP-adjusted rate is $3 in Iraq and $3 in Namibia. PPP converts wages into equivalent US dollar buying power, accounting for what a unit of currency actually buys locally. The 28% 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 Iraq and Namibia?

Iraq has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 45 hours in Namibia. Workers in Iraq work 48 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Namibia 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 Namibia?

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 1.2x that of Namibia at $11,687. 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.