Key Facts: Nepal vs Eritrea Wages
- Nepal Minimum Wage
- Rs112.81/hr ($0.83 USD)
- Eritrea Minimum Wage
- Nfk600/mo ($40 USD)
- Nepal Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Rs32,000 /mo ($234.43 USD)
- Eritrea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Nfk6,000 /mo ($400 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security; 2025 figure verified via Wikipedia List of countries by minimum wage (eff July 2025) (2026-05-04), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / OHCHR Eritrea reports (2026-02-25)
Nepal 
Eritrea
Updated 2026-05-04
The minimum wage in Nepal is roughly 48 times lower than in Eritrea in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a lower-middle-income and a low-income economy. Average salaries are lower in Nepal at $234/mo compared to $400/mo in Eritrea. Eritrea has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 6.0% compared to 10.5%.
Nepal's unemployment rate is 10.5% compared to Eritrea's 6.0%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Nepal | Eritrea |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | Rs112.81 $0.83 | — |
| Minimum wage /day | Rs651.67 $4.77 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | Rs19,550 $143.22 | Nfk600 $40 |
| Minimum wage /yr | Rs234,600 $1,718.68 | — |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | Rs32,000 /mo $234.43 | Nfk6,000 /mo $400 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | Rs29,500 /mo $216.12 | Nfk5,400 /mo $360 |
| Median individual income /yr | Rs180,000 /yr $1,318.68 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Nepal is higher.
Work Week
- Nepal
-
48 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Labour Act 2017 sets maximum working hours at 8 hours/day, 48 hours/week. Overtime: 150% of normal rate, limited to 4 hours/day and 24 hours/week. Weekly rest of at least one day (Saturday is the traditional rest day). Tea estate and some other sector workers may have different arrangements under sectoral orders.
- 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 Nepal earns 4740% less per hour in USD terms than one in Eritrea. Standard work weeks differ: Nepal mandates 48 hours while Eritrea mandates 44 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Nepal are $40 vs $1,760 in Eritrea.
See this comparison from Eritrea's perspective: Eritrea vs Nepal
Compare Nepal with...
Nepal vs United States $ 7.25 /hr 
Nepal vs China ¥ 25 /hr 
Nepal vs Germany € 13.9 /hr 
Nepal vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr 
Nepal vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo 
Nepal vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr 
Nepal vs France € 12.02 /hr 
Nepal vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
Nepal vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr 
Nepal vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr 
Nepal vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
Nepal vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr 
Nepal vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo 
Nepal vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr 
Nepal vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr 
Nepal vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr 
Nepal vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr 
Nepal vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr 
Nepal vs Switzerland 
Nepal vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr 
Nepal vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo 
Nepal vs Sweden 
Nepal vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr 
Nepal vs Singapore Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Nepal or Eritrea?
In Nepal, the minimum wage is Rs112.81/hr ($0.83 USD). In Eritrea, it is Nfk600/mo ($40 USD). Eritrea has the higher rate by 4740% 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 Nepal may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much less does the average worker earn in Nepal compared to Eritrea?
The average gross salary in Nepal is Rs32,000/mo ($234.43 USD), compared to Nfk6,000/mo ($400 USD) in Eritrea. In USD terms, workers in Nepal earn approximately 71% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Nepal and Eritrea is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Eritrea earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Nepal.
How do work hours compare between Nepal and Eritrea?
Nepal has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 44 hours in Eritrea. Workers in Nepal work 48 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.