Key Facts: Namibia vs Eritrea Wages
- Namibia Minimum Wage
- N$18/hr ($1.13 USD)
- Eritrea Minimum Wage
- Nfk600/mo ($40 USD)
- Namibia Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- N$13,500 /mo ($845.34 USD)
- Eritrea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Nfk6,000 /mo ($400 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministry of Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment Creation / Wage Order 2024 (2026-02-25), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / OHCHR Eritrea reports (2026-02-25)
Namibia 
Eritrea
Updated 2026-02-25
The minimum wage in Namibia is roughly 35 times lower than in Eritrea in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a upper-middle-income and a low-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $845/mo in Namibia versus $400/mo in Eritrea, a 2.1:1 ratio. Eritrea has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 6.0% compared to 19.3%.
Namibia's unemployment rate is 19.3% compared to Eritrea's 6.0%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Namibia | Eritrea |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | N$18 $1.13 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | N$3,510 $219.79 | Nfk600 $40 |
| Minimum wage /yr | N$42,120 $2,637.45 | — |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | N$13,500 /mo $845.34 | Nfk6,000 /mo $400 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | N$11,000 /mo $688.79 | Nfk5,400 /mo $360 |
| Median individual income /yr | N$48,000 /yr $3,005.64 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Namibia is higher.
Work Week
- Namibia
-
45 hrs/wk standard
Max 45 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Labour Act sets maximum ordinary hours at 45 per week (9 hrs/day for 5-day week, 8 hrs/day for 6-day week). Overtime limited to 10 hours/week and 3 hours/day. Overtime paid at 1.5x normal rate. Rest days at 2x. Daily rest period of at least 12 consecutive hours. Weekly rest of at least 36 consecutive hours (ideally including Sunday). Annual leave: 20 working days for 5-day week.
- Eritrea
-
44 hrs/wk standard
Labour Law sets 44 hours/week for civilian workers (8 hours/day, 5.5 days). However, the national service program operates under military regulations outside normal labour law. No reliable enforcement or monitoring data is available.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker in Namibia earns 3449% less per hour in USD terms than one in Eritrea. Standard work weeks differ: Namibia mandates 45 hours while Eritrea mandates 44 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Namibia are $51 vs $1,760 in Eritrea.
See this comparison from Eritrea's perspective: Eritrea vs Namibia
Compare Namibia with...
Namibia vs United States $ 7.25 /hr 
Namibia vs China ¥ 25 /hr 
Namibia vs Germany € 13.9 /hr 
Namibia vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr 
Namibia vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo 
Namibia vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr 
Namibia vs France € 12.02 /hr 
Namibia vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
Namibia vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr 
Namibia vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr 
Namibia vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
Namibia vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr 
Namibia vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo 
Namibia vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr 
Namibia vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr 
Namibia vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr 
Namibia vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr 
Namibia vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr 
Namibia vs Switzerland 
Namibia vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr 
Namibia vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo 
Namibia vs Sweden 
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Namibia vs Singapore Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Namibia or Eritrea?
In Namibia, the minimum wage is N$18/hr ($1.13 USD). In Eritrea, it is Nfk600/mo ($40 USD). Eritrea has the higher rate by 3449% 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 Namibia may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much more does the average worker earn in Namibia compared to Eritrea?
The average gross salary in Namibia is N$13,500/mo ($845.34 USD), compared to Nfk6,000/mo ($400 USD) in Eritrea. In USD terms, workers in Namibia earn approximately 111% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Namibia and Eritrea is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Namibia earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Eritrea.
How do work hours compare between Namibia and Eritrea?
Namibia has a longer standard work week at 45 hours, compared to 44 hours in Eritrea. Workers in Namibia work 45 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Eritrea 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.