Mali Bahrain

Updated 2026-02-25

Mali

Minimum Wage

CFA192.30 /hr

$0.35 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

CFA120,000 /mo

Bahrain

Minimum Wage

BD1.73 /hr

$4.60 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

BD850 /mo

Min wage: -92% Mali vs Bahrain Avg. salary: -90% Mali vs Bahrain

The minimum wage in Mali is roughly 13 times lower than in Bahrain in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a low-income and a high-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $215/mo in Mali versus $2,261/mo in Bahrain, a 10.5:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Bahrain is 20.2x that of Mali, underscoring the structural economic divide.

From Mali's perspective: adjusting for purchasing power, Mali's minimum wage buys less than Bahrain's. The PPP-adjusted hourly rate in Mali is $1 international dollars, compared to $10 in Bahrain. Mali has lower GDP per capita ($3,315 vs $66,941). Mali's unemployment rate is 2.8% compared to Bahrain's 1.1%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Mali and Bahrain
Metric	Mali	Bahrain	Diff
Minimum wage /hr	CFA192.30 $0.35	BD1.73 $4.60	-92.5%
Minimum wage /day	CFA1,538 $2.76	—	—
Minimum wage /mo	CFA40,000 $71.81	BD300 $797.87	-91.0%
Minimum wage /yr	CFA480,000 $861.76	BD3,600 $9,574.47	-91.0%
Avg. gross salary /mo	CFA120,000 /mo $215.44	BD850 /mo $2,260.64	-90.5%
Avg. net salary /mo	N/A/mo	BD840 /mo $2,234.04	—
Median individual income /yr	CFA360,000 /yr $646.32	BD4,800 /yr $12,765.96	-94.9%

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

Work Week

Mali: 40 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.15x pay

Labour Code (Law No. 92-020 of 23 September 1992, amended) sets standard hours at 40 per week (8 hrs/day, 5 days). Maximum including overtime is 48 hours/week. Overtime rates: 115% for day hours; 130% for hours between 21:00 and 05:00 on weekdays; 150% for Sunday daytime; 200% for night hours on Sundays/holidays. Workers are entitled to 2.5 days of paid leave per month worked (30 days/year). Friday prayers (Jumu'ah) are accommodated — Mali is ~90% Muslim.
Bahrain: 48 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.25x pay

Labour Law sets maximum working hours at 48 per week (8 hours/day). During Ramadan, Muslim workers' hours are reduced to 6 hours/day (36 hours/week). Overtime paid at 125% of normal rate; Friday work at 150%.

• WAGE TRAJECTORY (USD/hr)

Mali Bahrain Source: wage.is · USD equivalent/hr

Year	Mali (USD)	Bahrain (USD)
2013	$72/hr	—
2020	$72/hr	$798/hr
2022	$72/hr	—
2023	—	$798/hr
2024	$72/hr	—
2025	—	$798/hr

What This Means for Workers

A minimum wage worker in Mali earns 1233% less per hour in USD terms than one in Bahrain. Standard work weeks differ: Mali mandates 40 hours while Bahrain mandates 48 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Mali are $14 vs $221 in Bahrain.

See this comparison from Bahrain's perspective: Bahrain vs Mali

Compare Mali with...

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Mali or Bahrain?

In Mali, the minimum wage is CFA192.30/hr ($0.35 USD). In Bahrain, it is BD1.73/hr ($4.60 USD). Bahrain has the higher rate by 1233% 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 Mali may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.

How much less does the average worker earn in Mali compared to Bahrain?

The average gross salary in Mali is CFA120,000/mo ($215.44 USD), compared to BD850/mo ($2,260.64 USD) in Bahrain. In USD terms, workers in Mali earn approximately 949% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Mali and Bahrain is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Bahrain earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Mali.

Which country has better purchasing power for minimum wage workers, Mali or Bahrain?

After adjusting for local prices using purchasing power parity (PPP), minimum wage workers in Bahrain can afford more than those in Mali. The PPP-adjusted rate is $1 in Mali and $10 in Bahrain. PPP converts wages into equivalent US dollar buying power, accounting for what a unit of currency actually buys locally. The 960% purchasing power gap means that even if the nominal wage in Mali appears competitive, minimum wage workers there face greater constraints on day-to-day spending.

How do work hours compare between Mali and Bahrain?

Bahrain has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in Mali. Workers in Mali work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Mali 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 Mali and Bahrain?

While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Bahrain has the higher GDP per capita at $66,941, which is 20.2x that of Mali at $3,315. From Mali's perspective, this means goods and services are priced at a lower 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.