Key Facts: Niger vs Eritrea Wages
- Niger Minimum Wage
- CFA30,047/mo ($53.94 USD)
- Eritrea Minimum Wage
- Nfk600/mo ($40 USD)
- Niger Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- CFA120,000 /mo ($215.44 USD)
- Eritrea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Nfk6,000 /mo ($400 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO / Ministère du Travail et de la Protection Sociale (Niger) (2026-02-25), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / OHCHR Eritrea reports (2026-02-25)
Niger
Eritrea
Updated 2026-02-25
Both low-income economies, Niger and Eritrea set comparable minimum wage floors in USD terms. Average salaries are lower in Niger at $215/mo compared to $400/mo in Eritrea. Niger has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 0.4% compared to 6.0%.
From Niger's perspective: adjusting for purchasing power, Niger's minimum wage buys more than Eritrea's. The PPP-adjusted hourly rate in Niger is $138 international dollars, compared to $121 in Eritrea. Niger's unemployment rate is 0.4% compared to Eritrea's 6.0%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Niger | Eritrea |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /mo | CFA30,047 $53.94 | Nfk600 $40 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | CFA120,000 /mo $215.44 | Nfk6,000 /mo $400 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | N/A/mo | Nfk5,400 /mo $360 |
| Median individual income /yr | CFA150,000 /yr $269.30 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Niger is higher.
Work Week
- Niger
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Labour Code sets standard at 40 hours/week. Maximum 48 hours with overtime. Overtime paid at 1.5x. These rules apply only to the small formal sector.
- 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.
• WAGE TRAJECTORY (USD/mo)
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from Eritrea to Niger would see a 35% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Niger mandates 40 hours while Eritrea mandates 44 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Niger are $2,158 vs $1,760 in Eritrea.
See this comparison from Eritrea's perspective: Eritrea vs Niger
Compare Niger with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Niger or Eritrea?
In Niger, the minimum wage is CFA30,047/mo ($53.94 USD). In Eritrea, it is Nfk600/mo ($40 USD). Niger has the higher rate by 35% 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 Eritrea may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much less does the average worker earn in Niger compared to Eritrea?
The average gross salary in Niger is CFA120,000/mo ($215.44 USD), compared to Nfk6,000/mo ($400 USD) in Eritrea. In USD terms, workers in Niger earn approximately 86% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Niger 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 Niger.
Which country has better purchasing power for minimum wage workers, Niger or Eritrea?
After adjusting for local prices using purchasing power parity (PPP), minimum wage workers in Niger can afford more than those in Eritrea. The PPP-adjusted rate is $138 in Niger and $121 in Eritrea. PPP converts wages into equivalent US dollar buying power, accounting for what a unit of currency actually buys locally. The 14% purchasing power gap means that even if the nominal wage in Eritrea appears competitive, minimum wage workers there face greater constraints on day-to-day spending.
How do work hours compare between Niger and Eritrea?
Eritrea has a longer standard work week at 44 hours, compared to 40 hours in Niger. Workers in Niger work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Niger 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.