Key Facts: Papua New Guinea vs Eritrea Wages
- Papua New Guinea Minimum Wage
- K5/hr ($1.33 USD)
- Eritrea Minimum Wage
- Nfk600/mo ($40 USD)
- Papua New Guinea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- K2,200 /mo ($585.11 USD)
- Eritrea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Nfk6,000 /mo ($400 USD)
- Data Sources
- PNG minimum wage determination (ILO-supported), effective 2026-01-01, verified 2026-06-08 (2026-06-08), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / OHCHR Eritrea reports (2026-02-25)
Papua New Guinea
Eritrea
Updated 2026-06-08
The minimum wage in Papua New Guinea is roughly 30 times lower than in Eritrea in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a lower-middle-income and a low-income economy. Average salaries are higher in Papua New Guinea at $585/mo compared to $400/mo in Eritrea. Papua New Guinea has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 2.6% compared to 6.0%.
Papua New Guinea's unemployment rate is 2.6% compared to Eritrea's 6.0%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Papua New Guinea | Eritrea |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | K5 $1.33 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | K866.67 $230.50 | Nfk600 $40 |
| Minimum wage /yr | K10,400 $2,765.96 | — |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | K2,200 /mo $585.11 | Nfk6,000 /mo $400 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | K1,900 /mo $505.32 | Nfk5,400 /mo $360 |
| Median individual income /yr | K7,200 /yr $1,914.89 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Papua New Guinea is higher.
Work Week
- Papua New Guinea
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Papua New Guinea Employment Act sets a standard 40-hour week (8 hours/day, 5 days). Maximum is 48 hours including overtime. Overtime is paid at 1.5x the ordinary rate. Work on Sundays is at 2x. The extractive sector often operates on rotating shift schedules under enterprise agreements.
- 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 Papua New Guinea earns 2908% less per hour in USD terms than one in Eritrea. Standard work weeks differ: Papua New Guinea mandates 40 hours while Eritrea mandates 44 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Papua New Guinea are $53 vs $1,760 in Eritrea.
See this comparison from Eritrea's perspective: Eritrea vs Papua New Guinea
Compare Papua New Guinea with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Papua New Guinea or Eritrea?
In Papua New Guinea, the minimum wage is K5/hr ($1.33 USD). In Eritrea, it is Nfk600/mo ($40 USD). Eritrea has the higher rate by 2908% 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 Papua New Guinea may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much more does the average worker earn in Papua New Guinea compared to Eritrea?
The average gross salary in Papua New Guinea is K2,200/mo ($585.11 USD), compared to Nfk6,000/mo ($400 USD) in Eritrea. In USD terms, workers in Papua New Guinea earn approximately 46% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Papua New Guinea and Eritrea is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Papua New Guinea earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Eritrea.
How do work hours compare between Papua New Guinea and Eritrea?
Eritrea has a longer standard work week at 44 hours, compared to 40 hours in Papua New Guinea. Workers in Papua New Guinea work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Papua New Guinea 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.