Key Facts: Mauritania vs Lebanon Wages
- Mauritania Minimum Wage
- UM30,000/mo ($750 USD)
- Lebanon Minimum Wage
- L£161,600/hr ($1.81 USD)
- Mauritania Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- UM65,000 /mo ($1,625 USD)
- Lebanon Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- L£27,000,000 /mo ($301.68 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Ministère du Travail de Mauritanie (2026-02-25), Ministry of Labour — Lebanon (2026-02-25)
Mauritania
Lebanon
Updated 2026-02-25
The minimum wage in Mauritania is roughly 415 times higher than in Lebanon in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a lower-middle-income and a lower-middle-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $1,625/mo in Mauritania versus $302/mo in Lebanon, a 5.4:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Lebanon is 1.7x that of Mauritania, underscoring the structural economic divide.
Mauritania has lower GDP per capita ($7,369 vs $12,575). Mauritania's unemployment rate is 10.3% compared to Lebanon's 11.0%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Mauritania | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | — | L£161,600 $1.81 |
| Minimum wage /day | UM1,200 $30 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | UM30,000 $750 | L£28,000,000 $312.85 |
| Minimum wage /yr | — | L£336,000,000 $3,754.19 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | UM65,000 /mo $1,625 | L£27,000,000 /mo $301.68 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | N/A/mo | L£24,000,000 /mo $268.16 |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | L£144,000,000 /yr $1,608.94 |
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.
- Lebanon
-
48 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Labour Code sets maximum working hours at 48 per week. Overtime is paid at 150% of normal rate. Overtime on holidays at 200%. In practice, many workers work longer hours due to the economic crisis.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from Lebanon to Mauritania would see a 41438% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Mauritania mandates 40 hours while Lebanon mandates 48 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Mauritania are $30,000 vs $87 in Lebanon.
See this comparison from Lebanon's perspective: Lebanon vs Mauritania
Compare Mauritania with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Mauritania or Lebanon?
In Mauritania, the minimum wage is UM30,000/mo ($750 USD). In Lebanon, it is L£161,600/hr ($1.81 USD). Mauritania has the higher rate by 41438% 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 Lebanon 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 Lebanon?
The average gross salary in Mauritania is UM65,000/mo ($1,625 USD), compared to L£27,000,000/mo ($301.68 USD) in Lebanon. In USD terms, workers in Mauritania earn approximately 439% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Mauritania and Lebanon 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 Lebanon.
How do work hours compare between Mauritania and Lebanon?
Lebanon 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 Lebanon?
While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Lebanon has the higher GDP per capita at $12,575, which is 1.7x 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.