Key Facts: Mauritania vs Haiti Wages
- Mauritania Minimum Wage
- UM30,000/mo ($750 USD)
- Haiti Minimum Wage
- G17,125/mo ($128.76 USD)
- Mauritania Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- UM65,000 /mo ($1,625 USD)
- Haiti Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- G25,000 /mo ($187.97 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Ministère du Travail de Mauritanie (2026-02-25), Haitian Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour (MAST) / ILO (2026-02-25)
Mauritania
Haiti
Updated 2026-02-25
The minimum wage in Mauritania is roughly 6 times higher than in Haiti in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a lower-middle-income and a low-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $1,625/mo in Mauritania versus $188/mo in Haiti, a 8.6:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Mauritania is 2.3x that of Haiti, underscoring the structural economic divide.
From Mauritania's perspective: adjusting for purchasing power, Mauritania's minimum wage buys more than Haiti's. The PPP-adjusted hourly rate in Mauritania is $2,646 international dollars, compared to $193 in Haiti. Mauritania has higher GDP per capita ($7,369 vs $3,194). Mauritania's unemployment rate is 10.3% compared to Haiti's 14.9%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Mauritania | Haiti |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /day | UM1,200 $30 | G685 $5.15 |
| Minimum wage /mo | UM30,000 $750 | G17,125 $128.76 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | UM65,000 /mo $1,625 | G25,000 /mo $187.97 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | N/A/mo | G23,000 /mo $172.93 |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | G72,000 /yr $541.35 |
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.
- Haiti
-
48 hrs/wk standard
Max 56 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Haiti Labour Code sets 48 hours as the standard workweek (8 hours/day, 6 days). Maximum with overtime is 56 hours. Overtime paid at 1.5x the regular rate. In practice, enforcement is very limited and informal workers have no effective protection.
• WAGE TRAJECTORY (USD/mo)
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from Haiti to Mauritania would see a 482% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Mauritania mandates 40 hours while Haiti mandates 48 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Mauritania are $30,000 vs $6,180 in Haiti.
See this comparison from Haiti's perspective: Haiti vs Mauritania
Compare Mauritania with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Mauritania or Haiti?
In Mauritania, the minimum wage is UM30,000/mo ($750 USD). In Haiti, it is G17,125/mo ($128.76 USD). Mauritania has the higher rate by 482% 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 Haiti 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 Haiti?
The average gross salary in Mauritania is UM65,000/mo ($1,625 USD), compared to G25,000/mo ($187.97 USD) in Haiti. In USD terms, workers in Mauritania earn approximately 765% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Mauritania and Haiti 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 Haiti.
Which country has better purchasing power for minimum wage workers, Mauritania or Haiti?
After adjusting for local prices using purchasing power parity (PPP), minimum wage workers in Mauritania can afford more than those in Haiti. The PPP-adjusted rate is $2,646 in Mauritania and $193 in Haiti. PPP converts wages into equivalent US dollar buying power, accounting for what a unit of currency actually buys locally. The 1271% purchasing power gap means that even if the nominal wage in Haiti appears competitive, minimum wage workers there face greater constraints on day-to-day spending.
How do work hours compare between Mauritania and Haiti?
Haiti has a longer standard work week at 48 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 Haiti?
While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Mauritania has the higher GDP per capita at $7,369, which is 2.3x that of Haiti at $3,194. From Mauritania'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.