Key Facts: Norway vs Cuba Wages
- Norway Minimum Wage
- No statutory minimum wage
- Cuba Minimum Wage
- $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD)
- Norway Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- kr55,150 /mo ($5,953.34 USD)
- Cuba Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- $MN6,649 /mo ($16.22 USD)
- Data Sources
- Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority (Arbeidstilsynet) (2026-05-28), Ministerio de Trabajo y Seguridad Social (MTSS) — Cuba (2026-02-25)
Norway
Cuba
Updated 2026-05-28
Norway has no statutory minimum wage, while Cuba sets a floor of $0/hr. Average gross salaries diverge further: $5,953/mo in Norway versus $16/mo in Cuba, a 367.1:1 ratio. Cuba has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 1.8% compared to 4.6%.
Norway's unemployment rate is 4.6% compared to Cuba's 1.8%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Norway | Cuba |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | None | $MN12.12 $0.03 |
| Minimum wage /mo | None | $MN2,100 $5.12 |
| Minimum wage /yr | None | $MN25,200 $61.46 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | kr55,150 /mo $5,953.34 | $MN6,649 /mo $16.22 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | kr38,600 /mo $4,166.80 | $MN6,300 /mo $15.37 |
| Median individual income /yr | kr570,000 /yr $61,530.49 | $MN48,000 /yr $117.07 |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Norway is higher.
Work Week
- Norway
-
37.5 hrs/wk standard
Max 40 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.4x pay
The Working Environment Act sets a maximum of 40 hours/week, but most collective agreements specify 37.5 hours. Overtime premium minimum 40% by law. Maximum overtime: 10 hrs/week, 25 hrs over 4 consecutive weeks, 200 hrs/year. Night and Sunday work requires additional premiums by agreement.
- Cuba
-
44 hrs/wk standard
Max 44 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.25x pay
Labour Code sets standard working hours at 8 hours/day and 44 hours/week. Overtime is paid at 125% of normal rate. Some sectors work 40 hours/week.
What This Means for Workers
Standard work weeks differ: Norway mandates 37.5 hours while Cuba mandates 44 hours.
See this comparison from Cuba's perspective: Cuba vs Norway
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Norway or Cuba?
In Norway, the minimum wage is no statutory minimum wage. In Cuba, it is $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD).
How much more does the average worker earn in Norway compared to Cuba?
The average gross salary in Norway is kr55,150/mo ($5,953.34 USD), compared to $MN6,649/mo ($16.22 USD) in Cuba. In USD terms, workers in Norway earn approximately 36610% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Norway and Cuba is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Norway earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Cuba.
How do work hours compare between Norway and Cuba?
Cuba has a longer standard work week at 44 hours, compared to 37.5 hours in Norway. Workers in Norway work 37.5 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Norway 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.