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Key Facts: Iraq vs Palestine Wages

Iraq Minimum Wage
ع.د1,823/hr ($1.40 USD)
Palestine Minimum Wage
₪1,880/mo ($667.73 USD)
Iraq Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
ع.د700,000 /mo ($536.40 USD)
Palestine Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
₪3,200 /mo ($1,136.57 USD)
Data Sources
Iraqi Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs / ILO (2026-02-25), Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) / ILO (2026-02-25)

Iraq flag Iraq Palestine flag Palestine

Updated 2026-02-25

Iraq flag Iraq

Minimum Wage

ع.د1,823 /hr

$1.40 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

ع.د700,000 /mo

Palestine flag Palestine

Minimum Wage

₪1,880 /mo

$667.73 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

₪3,200 /mo

Min wage: -100% Iraq vs Palestine Avg. salary: -53% Iraq vs Palestine

The minimum wage in Iraq is roughly 478 times lower than in Palestine in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a upper-middle-income and a lower-middle-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $536/mo in Iraq versus $1,137/mo in Palestine, a 2.1:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Iraq is 3.3x that of Palestine, underscoring the structural economic divide.

Iraq has higher GDP per capita ($14,464 vs $4,371). Iraq's unemployment rate is 15.5% compared to Palestine's 24.4%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Iraq and Palestine
Metric Iraq Palestine
Minimum wage /hr ع.د1,823 $1.40
Minimum wage /day ع.د14,583 $11.17 ₪86 $30.55
Minimum wage /mo ع.د350,000 $268.20 ₪1,880 $667.73
Minimum wage /yr ع.د4,200,000 $3,218.39
Avg. gross salary /mo ع.د700,000 /mo $536.40 ₪3,200 /mo $1,136.57
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.

Palestine

45 hrs/wk standard

Max 54 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.25x pay

Palestinian Labour Law sets 45 hours/week maximum ordinary time (8 hours/day, 6 days). Overtime payable at 1.25x. Friday is the weekly rest day. Workers employed in Israel work under Israeli labour law (which has different provisions). The conflict beginning October 2023 has fundamentally disrupted normal labour conditions across the territory.

What This Means for Workers

A minimum wage worker in Iraq earns 47700% less per hour in USD terms than one in Palestine. Standard work weeks differ: Iraq mandates 48 hours while Palestine mandates 45 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Iraq are $67 vs $30,048 in Palestine.

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

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Iraq or Palestine?

In Iraq, the minimum wage is ع.د1,823/hr ($1.40 USD). In Palestine, it is ₪1,880/mo ($667.73 USD). Palestine has the higher rate by 47700% 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 less does the average worker earn in Iraq compared to Palestine?

The average gross salary in Iraq is ع.د700,000/mo ($536.40 USD), compared to ₪3,200/mo ($1,136.57 USD) in Palestine. In USD terms, workers in Iraq earn approximately 112% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Iraq and Palestine is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Palestine earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Iraq.

How do work hours compare between Iraq and Palestine?

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

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 3.3x that of Palestine at $4,371. 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.