Key Facts: Malta vs Eritrea Wages
- Malta Minimum Wage
- €5.74/hr ($6.68 USD)
- Eritrea Minimum Wage
- Nfk600/mo ($40 USD)
- Malta Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- €2,100 /mo ($2,445.56 USD)
- Eritrea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Nfk6,000 /mo ($400 USD)
- Data Sources
- Department of Industrial and Employment Relations (DIER); 2026 rate per DIER Resource Pack (dier.gov.mt) (2026-05-27), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / OHCHR Eritrea reports (2026-02-25)
Malta 
Eritrea
Updated 2026-05-27
The minimum wage in Malta is roughly 6 times lower than in Eritrea in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a high-income and a low-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $2,446/mo in Malta versus $400/mo in Eritrea, a 6.1:1 ratio. Malta has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 2.9% compared to 6.0%.
Malta's unemployment rate is 2.9% compared to Eritrea's 6.0%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Malta | Eritrea |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | €5.74 $6.68 | — |
| Minimum wage /wk | €229.44 $267.19 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | €994.24 $1,157.84 | Nfk600 $40 |
| Minimum wage /yr | €11,930.88 $13,894.12 | — |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | €2,100 /mo $2,445.56 | Nfk6,000 /mo $400 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | €1,750 /mo $2,037.96 | Nfk5,400 /mo $360 |
| Median individual income /yr | €17,000 /yr $19,797.37 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Malta is higher.
Work Week
- Malta
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Standard workweek is 40 hours. Maximum 48 hours/week averaged over a 17-week reference period. Overtime premium is at least 50% for weekdays and 100% for Sundays and public holidays.
- 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 Malta earns 498% less per hour in USD terms than one in Eritrea. Standard work weeks differ: Malta mandates 40 hours while Eritrea mandates 44 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Malta are $267 vs $1,760 in Eritrea.
See this comparison from Eritrea's perspective: Eritrea vs Malta
Compare Malta with...
Malta vs United States $ 7.25 /hr 
Malta vs China ¥ 25 /hr 
Malta vs Germany € 13.9 /hr 
Malta vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr 
Malta vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo 
Malta vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr 
Malta vs France € 12.02 /hr 
Malta vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
Malta vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr 
Malta vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr 
Malta vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
Malta vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr 
Malta vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo 
Malta vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr 
Malta vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr 
Malta vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr 
Malta vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr 
Malta vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr 
Malta vs Switzerland 
Malta vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr 
Malta vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo 
Malta vs Sweden 
Malta vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr 
Malta vs Singapore Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Malta or Eritrea?
In Malta, the minimum wage is €5.74/hr ($6.68 USD). In Eritrea, it is Nfk600/mo ($40 USD). Eritrea has the higher rate by 498% 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 Malta may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much more does the average worker earn in Malta compared to Eritrea?
The average gross salary in Malta is €2,100/mo ($2,445.56 USD), compared to Nfk6,000/mo ($400 USD) in Eritrea. In USD terms, workers in Malta earn approximately 511% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Malta and Eritrea is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Malta earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Eritrea.
How do work hours compare between Malta and Eritrea?
Eritrea has a longer standard work week at 44 hours, compared to 40 hours in Malta. Workers in Malta work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Malta 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.