Key Facts: Mauritania vs Brunei Wages
- Mauritania Minimum Wage
- UM30,000/mo ($750 USD)
- Brunei Minimum Wage
- B$2.62/hr ($2.06 USD)
- Mauritania Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- UM65,000 /mo ($1,625 USD)
- Brunei Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- B$2,500 /mo ($1,968.50 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Ministère du Travail de Mauritanie (2026-02-25), Labour Department, Ministry of Home Affairs — Brunei Darussalam (2026-02-25)
Mauritania
Brunei
Updated 2026-02-25
The minimum wage in Mauritania is roughly 364 times higher than in Brunei in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a lower-middle-income and a high-income economy. Average salaries are lower in Mauritania at $1,625/mo compared to $1,969/mo in Brunei. GDP per capita (PPP) in Brunei is 12.2x that of Mauritania, underscoring the structural economic divide.
Mauritania has lower GDP per capita ($7,369 vs $89,879). Mauritania's unemployment rate is 10.3% compared to Brunei's 5.3%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Mauritania | Brunei |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | — | B$2.62 $2.06 |
| Minimum wage /day | UM1,200 $30 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | UM30,000 $750 | B$500 $393.70 |
| Minimum wage /yr | — | B$6,000 $4,724.41 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | UM65,000 /mo $1,625 | B$2,500 /mo $1,968.50 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | N/A/mo | B$2,500 /mo $1,968.50 |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | B$18,000 /yr $14,173.23 |
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.
- Brunei
-
44 hrs/wk standard
Max 44 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Standard working hours are 8 hours per day or 44 hours per week under the Employment Order, 2009. Overtime is paid at 1.5x the regular rate. During Ramadan, Muslim workers typically work 6 hours/day. The government sector generally works 37.5-40 hours/week.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from Brunei to Mauritania would see a 36255% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Mauritania mandates 40 hours while Brunei mandates 44 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Mauritania are $30,000 vs $91 in Brunei.
See this comparison from Brunei's perspective: Brunei vs Mauritania
Compare Mauritania with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Mauritania or Brunei?
In Mauritania, the minimum wage is UM30,000/mo ($750 USD). In Brunei, it is B$2.62/hr ($2.06 USD). Mauritania has the higher rate by 36255% 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 Brunei may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much less does the average worker earn in Mauritania compared to Brunei?
The average gross salary in Mauritania is UM65,000/mo ($1,625 USD), compared to B$2,500/mo ($1,968.50 USD) in Brunei. In USD terms, workers in Mauritania earn approximately 21% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Mauritania and Brunei is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Brunei earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Mauritania.
How do work hours compare between Mauritania and Brunei?
Brunei 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 Brunei?
While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Brunei has the higher GDP per capita at $89,879, which is 12.2x 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.