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Key Facts: Morocco vs Mauritania Wages

Morocco Minimum Wage
MAD17.92/hr ($1.83 USD)
Mauritania Minimum Wage
UM30,000/mo ($750 USD)
Morocco Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
MAD6,000 /mo ($613.50 USD)
Mauritania Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
UM65,000 /mo ($1,625 USD)
Data Sources
Ministère de l'Inclusion Économique, de la Petite Entreprise, de l'Emploi et des Compétences (miepeec.gov.ma); 2026 SMIG/SMAG figures verified (second stage of two-stage 10% increase agreed in April 2024 social dialogue) (2026-05-04), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Ministère du Travail de Mauritanie (2026-02-25)

Morocco flag Morocco Mauritania flag Mauritania

Updated 2026-05-04

Morocco flag Morocco

Minimum Wage

MAD17.92 /hr

$1.83 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

MAD6,000 /mo

Mauritania flag Mauritania

Minimum Wage

UM30,000 /mo

$750 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

UM65,000 /mo

Min wage: -100% Morocco vs Mauritania Avg. salary: -62% Morocco vs Mauritania

The minimum wage in Morocco is roughly 409 times lower than in Mauritania in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a lower-middle-income and a lower-middle-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $613/mo in Morocco versus $1,625/mo in Mauritania, a 2.6:1 ratio.

Morocco has higher GDP per capita ($10,415 vs $7,369). Morocco's unemployment rate is 9.0% compared to Mauritania's 10.3%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Morocco and Mauritania
Metric Morocco Mauritania
Minimum wage /hr MAD17.92 $1.83
Minimum wage /day UM1,200 $30
Minimum wage /mo MAD3,422.53 $349.95 UM30,000 $750
Avg. gross salary /mo MAD6,000 /mo $613.50 UM65,000 /mo $1,625
Avg. net salary /mo MAD5,100 /mo $521.47 N/A/mo
Median individual income /yr MAD30,000 /yr $3,067.48 N/A/yr

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

Work Week

Morocco

44 hrs/wk standard

Max 44 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.25x pay

Labour Code sets standard at 44 hours/week for non-agricultural sectors (2,288 hrs/year) and 48 hours/week for agriculture (2,496 hrs/year). Overtime: 25% premium for daytime hours, 50% for nighttime. On rest days/holidays: 50% daytime, 100% nighttime.

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.

What This Means for Workers

A minimum wage worker in Morocco earns 40832% less per hour in USD terms than one in Mauritania. Standard work weeks differ: Morocco mandates 44 hours while Mauritania mandates 40 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Morocco are $81 vs $30,000 in Mauritania.

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

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Morocco or Mauritania?

In Morocco, the minimum wage is MAD17.92/hr ($1.83 USD). In Mauritania, it is UM30,000/mo ($750 USD). Mauritania has the higher rate by 40832% 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 Morocco may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.

How much less does the average worker earn in Morocco compared to Mauritania?

The average gross salary in Morocco is MAD6,000/mo ($613.50 USD), compared to UM65,000/mo ($1,625 USD) in Mauritania. In USD terms, workers in Morocco earn approximately 165% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Morocco and Mauritania 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 Morocco.

How do work hours compare between Morocco and Mauritania?

Morocco has a longer standard work week at 44 hours, compared to 40 hours in Mauritania. Workers in Morocco work 44 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 Morocco and Mauritania?

While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Morocco has the higher GDP per capita at $10,415, which is 1.4x that of Mauritania at $7,369. From Morocco'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.