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Key Facts: Mali vs Thailand Wages

Mali Minimum Wage
CFA192.30/hr ($0.35 USD)
Thailand Minimum Wage
฿10,400/mo ($319.46 USD)
Mali Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
CFA120,000 /mo ($215.44 USD)
Thailand Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
฿15,700 /mo ($482.26 USD)
Data Sources
Mali Ministry of Labour and Civil Service / ILO (2026-02-25), Ministry of Labour / National Wage Committee (2026-05-27)

Mali flag Mali Thailand flag Thailand

Updated 2026-05-27

Mali flag Mali

Minimum Wage

CFA192.30 /hr

$0.35 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

CFA120,000 /mo

Thailand flag Thailand

Minimum Wage

฿10,400 /mo

$319.46 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

฿15,700 /mo

Min wage: -100% Mali vs Thailand Avg. salary: -55% Mali vs Thailand

The minimum wage in Mali is roughly 925 times lower than in Thailand in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a low-income and a upper-middle-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $215/mo in Mali versus $482/mo in Thailand, a 2.2:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Thailand is 7.5x that of Mali, underscoring the structural economic divide.

Mali has lower GDP per capita ($3,315 vs $24,712). Mali's unemployment rate is 2.8% compared to Thailand's 0.8%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Mali and Thailand
Metric Mali Thailand
Minimum wage /hr CFA192.30 $0.35
Minimum wage /day CFA1,538 $2.76 ฿400 $12.29
Minimum wage /mo CFA40,000 $71.81 ฿10,400 $319.46
Minimum wage /yr CFA480,000 $861.76 ฿124,800 $3,833.51
Avg. gross salary /mo CFA120,000 /mo $215.44 ฿15,700 /mo $482.26
Avg. net salary /mo N/A/mo ฿14,915 /mo $458.15
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.

Thailand

48 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.5x pay

Labour Protection Act sets maximum 8 hours/day, 48 hours/week for general work (42 hours for hazardous work). Overtime at 1.5x base rate. Holiday work at 1x additional. Holiday overtime at 3x. Employees cannot be forced to work more than 36 overtime hours per week.

What This Means for Workers

A minimum wage worker in Mali earns 92432% less per hour in USD terms than one in Thailand. Standard work weeks differ: Mali mandates 40 hours while Thailand mandates 48 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Mali are $14 vs $15,334 in Thailand.

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

Compare Mali with...

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Mali or Thailand?

In Mali, the minimum wage is CFA192.30/hr ($0.35 USD). In Thailand, it is ฿10,400/mo ($319.46 USD). Thailand has the higher rate by 92432% 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 Thailand?

The average gross salary in Mali is CFA120,000/mo ($215.44 USD), compared to ฿15,700/mo ($482.26 USD) in Thailand. In USD terms, workers in Mali earn approximately 124% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Mali and Thailand is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Thailand 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 Thailand?

Thailand 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 Thailand?

While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Thailand has the higher GDP per capita at $24,712, which is 7.5x 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.