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Key Facts: Mauritania vs Brazil Wages

Mauritania Minimum Wage
UM30,000/mo ($750 USD)
Brazil Minimum Wage
R$7.37/hr ($1.47 USD)
Mauritania Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
UM65,000 /mo ($1,625 USD)
Brazil Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
R$3,200 /mo ($636.88 USD)
Data Sources
ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Ministère du Travail de Mauritanie (2026-02-25), Brazilian Ministry of Labour and Employment (2026-03-02)

Mauritania flag Mauritania Brazil flag Brazil

Updated 2026-03-02

Mauritania flag Mauritania

Minimum Wage

UM30,000 /mo

$750 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

UM65,000 /mo

Brazil flag Brazil

Minimum Wage

R$7.37 /hr

$1.47 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

R$3,200 /mo

Min wage: +51031% Mauritania vs Brazil Avg. salary: +155% Mauritania vs Brazil

The minimum wage in Mauritania is roughly 511 times higher than in Brazil in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a lower-middle-income and a upper-middle-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $1,625/mo in Mauritania versus $637/mo in Brazil, a 2.6:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Brazil is 3.0x that of Mauritania, underscoring the structural economic divide.

Mauritania has lower GDP per capita ($7,369 vs $22,338). Mauritania's unemployment rate is 10.3% compared to Brazil's 6.0%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Mauritania and Brazil
Metric Mauritania Brazil
Minimum wage /hr R$7.37 $1.47
Minimum wage /day UM1,200 $30 R$54.04 $10.76
Minimum wage /mo UM30,000 $750 R$1,621 $322.62
Minimum wage /yr R$21,073 $4,194.05
Avg. gross salary /mo UM65,000 /mo $1,625 R$3,200 /mo $636.88
Avg. net salary /mo N/A/mo R$2,700 /mo $537.37
Median individual income /yr N/A/yr R$22,800 /yr $4,537.76

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

Work Week

Mauritania

40 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.5x pay

Labour Code sets 40 hours/week, with Friday as the rest day. Arabic is the official language; French widely used in business. Some sectors may observe Thursday–Friday weekends.

Brazil

44 hrs/wk standard

Max 44 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.5x pay

Constitutional limit of 44 hours/week, 8 hours/day. Overtime minimum 50% premium (often higher by collective agreement). Sundays and holidays: 100% premium.

What This Means for Workers

A minimum wage worker moving from Brazil to Mauritania would see a 51031% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Mauritania mandates 40 hours while Brazil mandates 44 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Mauritania are $30,000 vs $65 in Brazil.

See this comparison from Brazil's perspective: Brazil vs Mauritania

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Mauritania or Brazil?

In Mauritania, the minimum wage is UM30,000/mo ($750 USD). In Brazil, it is R$7.37/hr ($1.47 USD). Mauritania has the higher rate by 51031% 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 Brazil may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.

How much more does the average worker earn in Mauritania compared to Brazil?

The average gross salary in Mauritania is UM65,000/mo ($1,625 USD), compared to R$3,200/mo ($636.88 USD) in Brazil. In USD terms, workers in Mauritania earn approximately 155% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Mauritania and Brazil is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Mauritania earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Brazil.

How do work hours compare between Mauritania and Brazil?

Brazil has a longer standard work week at 44 hours, compared to 40 hours in Mauritania. Workers in Mauritania work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Mauritania 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 Mauritania and Brazil?

While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Brazil has the higher GDP per capita at $22,338, which is 3.0x that of Mauritania at $7,369. From Mauritania'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.