Mali Madagascar

Updated 2026-02-25

Mali

Minimum Wage

CFA192.30 /hr

$0.35 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

CFA120,000 /mo

Madagascar

Minimum Wage

Ar1,202 /hr

$0.27 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

Ar500,000 /mo

Min wage: +28% Mali vs Madagascar Avg. salary: +92% Mali vs Madagascar

Both low-income economies, Mali and Madagascar set comparable minimum wage floors in USD terms. Average salaries are higher in Mali at $215/mo compared to $112/mo in Madagascar. GDP per capita (PPP) in Mali is 1.8x that of Madagascar, underscoring the structural economic divide.

From Mali's perspective: adjusting for purchasing power, Mali's minimum wage buys about the same as Madagascar's. The PPP-adjusted hourly rate in Mali is $1 international dollars, compared to $1 in Madagascar. Mali has higher GDP per capita ($3,315 vs $1,884). Mali's unemployment rate is 2.8% compared to Madagascar's 3.0%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Mali and Madagascar
Metric	Mali	Madagascar	Diff
Minimum wage /hr	CFA192.30 $0.35	Ar1,202 $0.27	+27.8%
Minimum wage /day	CFA1,538 $2.76	Ar9,615 $2.16	+27.8%
Minimum wage /mo	CFA40,000 $71.81	Ar250,000 $56.18	+27.8%
Minimum wage /yr	CFA480,000 $861.76	Ar3,000,000 $674.16	+27.8%
Avg. gross salary /mo	CFA120,000 /mo $215.44	Ar500,000 /mo $112.36	+91.7%
Median individual income /yr	CFA360,000 /yr $646.32	Ar1,200,000 /yr $269.66	+139.7%

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.
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.

• WAGE TRAJECTORY (USD/hr)

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

Year	Mali (USD)	Madagascar (USD)
2013	$72/hr	—
2020	$72/hr	$38/hr
2021	—	$41/hr
2022	$72/hr	$45/hr
2023	—	$51/hr
2024	$72/hr	$56/hr

What This Means for Workers

A minimum wage worker moving from Madagascar to Mali would see a 28% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings.

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

Compare Mali with...

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Mali or Madagascar?

In Mali, the minimum wage is CFA192.30/hr ($0.35 USD). In Madagascar, it is Ar1,202/hr ($0.27 USD). Mali has the higher rate by 28% 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 more does the average worker earn in Mali compared to Madagascar?

The average gross salary in Mali is CFA120,000/mo ($215.44 USD), compared to Ar500,000/mo ($112.36 USD) in Madagascar. In USD terms, workers in Mali earn approximately 92% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Mali and Madagascar is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Mali earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Madagascar.

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

After adjusting for local prices using purchasing power parity (PPP), minimum wage workers in Mali can afford more than those in Madagascar. The PPP-adjusted rate is $1 in Mali and $1 in Madagascar. PPP converts wages into equivalent US dollar buying power, accounting for what a unit of currency actually buys locally. The 5% purchasing power gap means that even if the nominal wage in Madagascar appears competitive, minimum wage workers there face greater constraints on day-to-day spending.

How do work hours compare between Mali and Madagascar?

Both Mali and Madagascar mandate a similar standard work week of 40 hours. When work hours are equal, the country with the higher minimum wage delivers proportionally higher weekly earnings. Standard work week rules set the baseline; actual hours worked often differ based on industry norms and individual employment contracts.

What is the cost of living difference between Mali and Madagascar?

While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Mali has the higher GDP per capita at $3,315, which is 1.8x that of Madagascar at $1,884. From Mali's perspective, this means goods and services are priced at a higher 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.