Mali Eritrea

Updated 2026-02-25

Mali

Minimum Wage

CFA192.30 /hr

$0.35 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

CFA120,000 /mo

Eritrea

Minimum Wage

Nfk600 /mo

$40 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

Nfk6,000 /mo

Min wage: -99% Mali vs Eritrea Avg. salary: -46% Mali vs Eritrea

The minimum wage in Mali is roughly 116 times lower than in Eritrea in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a low-income and a low-income economy. Average salaries are lower in Mali at $215/mo compared to $400/mo in Eritrea. Mali has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 2.8% compared to 6.0%.

Mali's unemployment rate is 2.8% compared to Eritrea's 6.0%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Mali and Eritrea
Metric	Mali	Eritrea	Diff
Minimum wage /hr	CFA192.30 $0.35	—	—
Minimum wage /day	CFA1,538 $2.76	—	—
Minimum wage /mo	CFA40,000 $71.81	Nfk600 $40	+79.5%
Minimum wage /yr	CFA480,000 $861.76	—	—
Avg. gross salary /mo	CFA120,000 /mo $215.44	Nfk6,000 /mo $400	-46.1%
Avg. net salary /mo	N/A/mo	Nfk5,400 /mo $360	—
Median individual income /yr	CFA360,000 /yr $646.32	N/A/yr	—

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.
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 Mali earns 11486% less per hour in USD terms than one in Eritrea. Standard work weeks differ: Mali mandates 40 hours while Eritrea mandates 44 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Mali are $14 vs $1,760 in Eritrea.

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

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Mali or Eritrea?

In Mali, the minimum wage is CFA192.30/hr ($0.35 USD). In Eritrea, it is Nfk600/mo ($40 USD). Eritrea has the higher rate by 11486% 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 Eritrea?

The average gross salary in Mali is CFA120,000/mo ($215.44 USD), compared to Nfk6,000/mo ($400 USD) in Eritrea. In USD terms, workers in Mali earn approximately 86% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Mali 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 Mali.

How do work hours compare between Mali and Eritrea?

Eritrea has a longer standard work week at 44 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.