Key Facts: Mauritania vs Hong Kong Wages
- Mauritania Minimum Wage
- UM30,000/mo ($750 USD)
- Hong Kong Minimum Wage
- HK$42.10/hr ($5.37 USD)
- Mauritania Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- UM65,000 /mo ($1,625 USD)
- Hong Kong Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- HK$20,500 /mo ($2,615.76 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Ministère du Travail de Mauritanie (2026-02-25), Minimum Wage Commission / Census and Statistics Department, HKSAR; current rate verified via Wikipedia List of countries by minimum wage (eff 2025-05-01) (2026-05-04)
Mauritania
Hong Kong
Updated 2026-05-04
The minimum wage in Mauritania is roughly 140 times higher than in Hong Kong 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 $2,616/mo in Hong Kong. GDP per capita (PPP) in Hong Kong is 10.2x that of Mauritania, underscoring the structural economic divide.
Mauritania has lower GDP per capita ($7,369 vs $75,196). Mauritania's unemployment rate is 10.3% compared to Hong Kong's 2.8%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Mauritania | Hong Kong |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | — | HK$42.10 $5.37 |
| Minimum wage /day | UM1,200 $30 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | UM30,000 $750 | HK$7,297 $931.08 |
| Minimum wage /yr | — | HK$87,568 $11,173.52 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | UM65,000 /mo $1,625 | HK$20,500 /mo $2,615.76 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | N/A/mo | HK$19,475 /mo $2,484.98 |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | HK$246,000 /yr $31,389.16 |
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.
- Hong Kong
-
hrs/wk standard
Hong Kong has NO statutory standard working hours or maximum working hours for most employees (a rare situation globally). The government has considered legislation but has not enacted a standard hours law. Working hours are determined by individual employment contracts. Average actual working hours are ~40-44 hrs/week. Overtime pay is not legally mandated except for certain specific occupations.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from Hong Kong to Mauritania would see a 13862% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings.
See this comparison from Hong Kong's perspective: Hong Kong vs Mauritania
Compare Mauritania with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Mauritania or Hong Kong?
In Mauritania, the minimum wage is UM30,000/mo ($750 USD). In Hong Kong, it is HK$42.10/hr ($5.37 USD). Mauritania has the higher rate by 13862% 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 Hong Kong 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 Hong Kong?
The average gross salary in Mauritania is UM65,000/mo ($1,625 USD), compared to HK$20,500/mo ($2,615.76 USD) in Hong Kong. In USD terms, workers in Mauritania earn approximately 61% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Mauritania and Hong Kong is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Hong Kong earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Mauritania.
What is the cost of living difference between Mauritania and Hong Kong?
While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Hong Kong has the higher GDP per capita at $75,196, which is 10.2x 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.