Key Facts: Jordan vs Eritrea Wages
- Jordan Minimum Wage
- JD1.67/hr ($2.36 USD)
- Eritrea Minimum Wage
- Nfk600/mo ($40 USD)
- Jordan Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- JD613 /mo ($864.60 USD)
- Eritrea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Nfk6,000 /mo ($400 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministry of Labour — Jordan (2026-02-25), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / OHCHR Eritrea reports (2026-02-25)
Jordan
Eritrea
Updated 2026-02-25
The minimum wage in Jordan is roughly 17 times lower than in Eritrea in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a upper-middle-income and a low-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $865/mo in Jordan versus $400/mo in Eritrea, a 2.2:1 ratio. Eritrea has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 6.0% compared to 16.5%.
Jordan's unemployment rate is 16.5% compared to Eritrea's 6.0%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Jordan | Eritrea |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | JD1.67 $2.36 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | JD290 $409.03 | Nfk600 $40 |
| Minimum wage /yr | JD3,480 $4,908.32 | — |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | JD613 /mo $864.60 | Nfk6,000 /mo $400 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | JD525 /mo $740.48 | Nfk5,400 /mo $360 |
| Median individual income /yr | JD4,320 /yr $6,093.09 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Jordan is higher.
Work Week
- Jordan
-
48 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.25x pay
Labour Code sets maximum working hours at 48 per week. Overtime work must not exceed 4 hours per day and is compensated at 125% of normal wage. Friday is the normal rest day. Overtime on Fridays and public holidays is paid at 150%.
- 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 Jordan earns 1598% less per hour in USD terms than one in Eritrea. Standard work weeks differ: Jordan mandates 48 hours while Eritrea mandates 44 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Jordan are $113 vs $1,760 in Eritrea.
See this comparison from Eritrea's perspective: Eritrea vs Jordan
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Jordan or Eritrea?
In Jordan, the minimum wage is JD1.67/hr ($2.36 USD). In Eritrea, it is Nfk600/mo ($40 USD). Eritrea has the higher rate by 1598% 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 Jordan may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much more does the average worker earn in Jordan compared to Eritrea?
The average gross salary in Jordan is JD613/mo ($864.60 USD), compared to Nfk6,000/mo ($400 USD) in Eritrea. In USD terms, workers in Jordan earn approximately 116% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Jordan and Eritrea is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Jordan earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Eritrea.
How do work hours compare between Jordan and Eritrea?
Jordan has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 44 hours in Eritrea. Workers in Jordan work 48 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Eritrea 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.