Key Facts: Madagascar vs Eritrea Wages
- Madagascar Minimum Wage
- Ar1,202/hr ($0.27 USD)
- Eritrea Minimum Wage
- Nfk600/mo ($40 USD)
- Madagascar Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Ar500,000 /mo ($112.36 USD)
- Eritrea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Nfk6,000 /mo ($400 USD)
- Data Sources
- Malagasy Ministry of Labour and Social Laws / ILO (2026-02-25), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / OHCHR Eritrea reports (2026-02-25)
Madagascar 
Eritrea
Updated 2026-02-25
The minimum wage in Madagascar is roughly 148 times lower than in Eritrea in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a low-income and a low-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $112/mo in Madagascar versus $400/mo in Eritrea, a 3.6:1 ratio. Madagascar has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 3.0% compared to 6.0%.
Madagascar's unemployment rate is 3.0% compared to Eritrea's 6.0%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Madagascar | Eritrea |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | Ar1,202 $0.27 | — |
| Minimum wage /day | Ar9,615 $2.16 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | Ar250,000 $56.18 | Nfk600 $40 |
| Minimum wage /yr | Ar3,000,000 $674.16 | — |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | Ar500,000 /mo $112.36 | Nfk6,000 /mo $400 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | N/A/mo | Nfk5,400 /mo $360 |
| Median individual income /yr | Ar1,200,000 /yr $269.66 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Madagascar is higher.
Work Week
- Madagascar
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.3x pay
Labour Code (Law No. 2003-044) sets standard hours at 40 per week (8 hrs/day, 5 days). Maximum including overtime is 48 hours/week. Overtime is compensated at 130% of normal rate (for the first 8 hours of overtime per week), then 160% (for subsequent hours), and 200% on Sundays and public holidays. Night work premium applies. EPZ workers may have different arrangements under zone-specific regulations.
- 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 Madagascar earns 14709% less per hour in USD terms than one in Eritrea. Standard work weeks differ: Madagascar mandates 40 hours while Eritrea mandates 44 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Madagascar are $11 vs $1,760 in Eritrea.
See this comparison from Eritrea's perspective: Eritrea vs Madagascar
Compare Madagascar with...
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Madagascar vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr 
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Madagascar vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo 
Madagascar vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr 
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Madagascar vs Switzerland 
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Madagascar vs Singapore Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Madagascar or Eritrea?
In Madagascar, the minimum wage is Ar1,202/hr ($0.27 USD). In Eritrea, it is Nfk600/mo ($40 USD). Eritrea has the higher rate by 14709% 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 Madagascar may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much less does the average worker earn in Madagascar compared to Eritrea?
The average gross salary in Madagascar is Ar500,000/mo ($112.36 USD), compared to Nfk6,000/mo ($400 USD) in Eritrea. In USD terms, workers in Madagascar earn approximately 256% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Madagascar 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 Madagascar.
How do work hours compare between Madagascar and Eritrea?
Eritrea has a longer standard work week at 44 hours, compared to 40 hours in Madagascar. Workers in Madagascar work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Madagascar 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.