Key Facts: Qatar vs Eritrea Wages
- Qatar Minimum Wage
- QAR5.21/hr ($1.43 USD)
- Eritrea Minimum Wage
- Nfk600/mo ($40 USD)
- Qatar Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- QAR11,724 /mo ($3,220.88 USD)
- Eritrea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Nfk6,000 /mo ($400 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministry of Labour (MOL) — State of Qatar (2026-02-24), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / OHCHR Eritrea reports (2026-02-25)
Qatar 
Eritrea
Updated 2026-02-25
The minimum wage in Qatar is roughly 28 times lower than in Eritrea in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a high-income and a low-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $3,221/mo in Qatar versus $400/mo in Eritrea, a 8.1:1 ratio. Qatar has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 0.1% compared to 6.0%.
Qatar's unemployment rate is 0.1% compared to Eritrea's 6.0%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Qatar | Eritrea |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | QAR5.21 $1.43 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | QAR1,000 $274.73 | Nfk600 $40 |
| Minimum wage /yr | QAR12,000 $3,296.70 | — |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | QAR11,724 /mo $3,220.88 | Nfk6,000 /mo $400 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | QAR11,724 /mo $3,220.88 | Nfk5,400 /mo $360 |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Qatar is higher.
Work Week
- Qatar
-
48 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.25x pay
Standard workweek is 48 hours (8 hours/day, 6 days/week) under the Labour Law No. 14 of 2004. During Ramadan, working hours are reduced to 36 hours/week (6 hours/day). Overtime premium: 25% of basic wage. Work between 9pm and 6am attracts a 50% premium. Government sector typically works 35-40 hours/week.
- 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 Qatar earns 2695% less per hour in USD terms than one in Eritrea. Standard work weeks differ: Qatar mandates 48 hours while Eritrea mandates 44 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Qatar are $69 vs $1,760 in Eritrea.
See this comparison from Eritrea's perspective: Eritrea vs Qatar
Compare Qatar with...
Qatar vs United States $ 7.25 /hr 
Qatar vs China ¥ 25 /hr 
Qatar vs Germany € 13.9 /hr 
Qatar vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr 
Qatar vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo 
Qatar vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr 
Qatar vs France € 12.02 /hr 
Qatar vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
Qatar vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr 
Qatar vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr 
Qatar vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
Qatar vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr 
Qatar vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo 
Qatar vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr 
Qatar vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr 
Qatar vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr 
Qatar vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr 
Qatar vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr 
Qatar vs Switzerland 
Qatar vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr 
Qatar vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo 
Qatar vs Sweden 
Qatar vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr 
Qatar vs Singapore Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Qatar or Eritrea?
In Qatar, the minimum wage is QAR5.21/hr ($1.43 USD). In Eritrea, it is Nfk600/mo ($40 USD). Eritrea has the higher rate by 2695% 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 Qatar may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much more does the average worker earn in Qatar compared to Eritrea?
The average gross salary in Qatar is QAR11,724/mo ($3,220.88 USD), compared to Nfk6,000/mo ($400 USD) in Eritrea. In USD terms, workers in Qatar earn approximately 705% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Qatar and Eritrea is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Qatar earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Eritrea.
How do work hours compare between Qatar and Eritrea?
Qatar has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 44 hours in Eritrea. Workers in Qatar 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.