Key Facts: New Zealand vs Eritrea Wages
- New Zealand Minimum Wage
- NZ$23.50/hr ($13.99 USD)
- Eritrea Minimum Wage
- Nfk600/mo ($40 USD)
- New Zealand Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- NZ$5,666.67 /mo ($3,374.22 USD)
- Eritrea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Nfk6,000 /mo ($400 USD)
- Data Sources
- Employment New Zealand / Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (2026-03-02), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / OHCHR Eritrea reports (2026-02-25)
New Zealand 
Eritrea
Updated 2026-03-02
The minimum wage in New Zealand is 65% lower than in Eritrea in USD terms, though average salaries tell a different story. Average gross salaries diverge further: $3,374/mo in New Zealand versus $400/mo in Eritrea, a 8.4:1 ratio.
New Zealand's unemployment rate is 5.1% compared to Eritrea's 6.0%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | New Zealand | Eritrea |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | NZ$23.50 $13.99 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | NZ$4,073.83 $2,425.77 | Nfk600 $40 |
| Minimum wage /yr | NZ$48,880 $29,105.63 | — |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | NZ$5,666.67 /mo $3,374.22 | Nfk6,000 /mo $400 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | NZ$4,533.33 /mo $2,699.37 | Nfk5,400 /mo $360 |
| Median individual income /yr | NZ$61,828 /yr $36,815.53 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means New Zealand is higher.
Work Week
- New Zealand
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Overtime : 1.5x pay
No statutory maximum working hours, but employers must ensure reasonable working hours. Most employment agreements specify 40 hours/week. Overtime rates not mandated by statute but commonly 1.5x by agreement. Time-and-a-half and a day in lieu required for work on public holidays.
- 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 New Zealand earns 186% less per hour in USD terms than one in Eritrea. Standard work weeks differ: New Zealand mandates 40 hours while Eritrea mandates 44 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in New Zealand are $560 vs $1,760 in Eritrea.
See this comparison from Eritrea's perspective: Eritrea vs New Zealand
Compare New Zealand with...
New Zealand vs United States $ 7.25 /hr 
New Zealand vs China ¥ 25 /hr 
New Zealand vs Germany € 13.9 /hr 
New Zealand vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr 
New Zealand vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo 
New Zealand vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr 
New Zealand vs France € 12.02 /hr 
New Zealand vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
New Zealand vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr 
New Zealand vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr 
New Zealand vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
New Zealand vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr 
New Zealand vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo 
New Zealand vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr 
New Zealand vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr 
New Zealand vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr 
New Zealand vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr 
New Zealand vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr 
New Zealand vs Switzerland 
New Zealand vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr 
New Zealand vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo 
New Zealand vs Sweden 
New Zealand vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr 
New Zealand vs Singapore Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in New Zealand or Eritrea?
In New Zealand, the minimum wage is NZ$23.50/hr ($13.99 USD). In Eritrea, it is Nfk600/mo ($40 USD). Eritrea has the higher rate by 186% 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 New Zealand may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much more does the average worker earn in New Zealand compared to Eritrea?
The average gross salary in New Zealand is NZ$5,666.67/mo ($3,374.22 USD), compared to Nfk6,000/mo ($400 USD) in Eritrea. In USD terms, workers in New Zealand earn approximately 744% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between New Zealand and Eritrea is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in New Zealand earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Eritrea.
How do work hours compare between New Zealand and Eritrea?
Eritrea has a longer standard work week at 44 hours, compared to 40 hours in New Zealand. Workers in New Zealand work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in New Zealand 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.