Key Facts: Japan vs Eritrea Wages
- Japan Minimum Wage
- ¥1,121/hr ($7.03 USD)
- Eritrea Minimum Wage
- Nfk600/mo ($40 USD)
- Japan Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ¥398,333 /mo ($2,497.54 USD)
- Eritrea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Nfk6,000 /mo ($400 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (2026-05-23), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / OHCHR Eritrea reports (2026-02-25)
Japan 
Eritrea
Updated 2026-05-23
The minimum wage in Japan is roughly 6 times lower than in Eritrea in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a high-income and a low-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $2,498/mo in Japan versus $400/mo in Eritrea, a 6.2:1 ratio. Japan has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 2.5% compared to 6.0%.
Japan's unemployment rate is 2.5% compared to Eritrea's 6.0%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Japan | Eritrea |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | ¥1,121 $7.03 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | ¥194,303 $1,218.28 | Nfk600 $40 |
| Minimum wage /yr | ¥2,331,680 $14,619.60 | — |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | ¥398,333 /mo $2,497.54 | Nfk6,000 /mo $400 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | ¥290,833 /mo $1,823.52 | Nfk5,400 /mo $360 |
| Median individual income /yr | ¥3,620,000 /yr $22,697.35 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Japan is higher.
Work Week
- Japan
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Overtime : 1.25x pay
Labour Standards Act sets 40 hrs/week base. Overtime premium 25% (50% over 60 hrs/month). Late night (10pm-5am) adds 25%. Holiday work adds 35%.
- Eritrea
-
44 hrs/wk standard
Labour Law sets 44 hours/week for civilian workers (8 hours/day, 5.5 days). However, the national service program operates under military regulations outside normal labour law. No reliable enforcement or monitoring data is available.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker in Japan earns 469% less per hour in USD terms than one in Eritrea. Standard work weeks differ: Japan mandates 40 hours while Eritrea mandates 44 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Japan are $281 vs $1,760 in Eritrea.
See this comparison from Eritrea's perspective: Eritrea vs Japan
Compare Japan with...
Japan vs United States $ 7.25 /hr 
Japan vs China ¥ 25 /hr 
Japan vs Germany € 13.9 /hr 
Japan vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr 
Japan vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo 
Japan vs France € 12.02 /hr 
Japan vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
Japan vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr 
Japan vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr 
Japan vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
Japan vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr 
Japan vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo 
Japan vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr 
Japan vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr 
Japan vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr 
Japan vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr 
Japan vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr 
Japan vs Switzerland 
Japan vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr 
Japan vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo 
Japan vs Sweden 
Japan vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr 
Japan vs Singapore 
Japan vs Norway Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Japan or Eritrea?
In Japan, the minimum wage is ¥1,121/hr ($7.03 USD). In Eritrea, it is Nfk600/mo ($40 USD). Eritrea has the higher rate by 469% 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 Japan may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much more does the average worker earn in Japan compared to Eritrea?
The average gross salary in Japan is ¥398,333/mo ($2,497.54 USD), compared to Nfk6,000/mo ($400 USD) in Eritrea. In USD terms, workers in Japan earn approximately 524% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Japan and Eritrea is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Japan earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Eritrea.
How do work hours compare between Japan and Eritrea?
Eritrea has a longer standard work week at 44 hours, compared to 40 hours in Japan. Workers in Japan work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Japan 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.