Laos Eritrea

Updated 2026-02-25

Laos

Minimum Wage

₭10,417 /hr

$0.48 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

₭4,000,000 /mo

Eritrea

Minimum Wage

Nfk600 /mo

$40 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

Nfk6,000 /mo

Min wage: -99% Laos vs Eritrea Avg. salary: -54% Laos vs Eritrea

The minimum wage in Laos is roughly 83 times lower than in Eritrea in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a lower-middle-income and a low-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $186/mo in Laos versus $400/mo in Eritrea, a 2.2:1 ratio. Laos has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 1.2% compared to 6.0%.

Laos' unemployment rate is 1.2% compared to Eritrea's 6.0%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Laos and Eritrea
Metric	Laos	Eritrea	Diff
Minimum wage /hr	₭10,417 $0.48	—	—
Minimum wage /mo	₭2,500,000 $116.12	Nfk600 $40	+190.3%
Avg. gross salary /mo	₭4,000,000 /mo $185.79	Nfk6,000 /mo $400	-53.6%
Avg. net salary /mo	₭3,600,000 /mo $167.21	Nfk5,400 /mo $360	-53.6%
Median individual income /yr	₭18,000,000 /yr $836.04	N/A/yr	—

Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Laos is higher.

Work Week

Laos: 48 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.5x pay

Standard workweek is 48 hours (8 hours/day, 6 days/week). Workers in dangerous conditions are limited to 6 hours/day or 36 hours/week. Overtime is limited to 45 hours/month or 3 hours/day. Overtime compensation: 1.5x regular rate on normal days, 2.5x on weekly rest days during daytime, 3x on rest days at night. Governed by the Labour Law.
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 Laos earns 8167% less per hour in USD terms than one in Eritrea. Standard work weeks differ: Laos mandates 48 hours while Eritrea mandates 44 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Laos are $23 vs $1,760 in Eritrea.

See this comparison from Eritrea's perspective: Eritrea vs Laos

Compare Laos with...

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Laos or Eritrea?

In Laos, the minimum wage is ₭10,417/hr ($0.48 USD). In Eritrea, it is Nfk600/mo ($40 USD). Eritrea has the higher rate by 8167% 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 Laos may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.

How much less does the average worker earn in Laos compared to Eritrea?

The average gross salary in Laos is ₭4,000,000/mo ($185.79 USD), compared to Nfk6,000/mo ($400 USD) in Eritrea. In USD terms, workers in Laos earn approximately 115% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Laos and Eritrea is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Eritrea earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Laos.

How do work hours compare between Laos and Eritrea?

Laos has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 44 hours in Eritrea. Workers in Laos 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.