Key Facts: Rwanda vs Eritrea Wages
- Rwanda Minimum Wage
- FRw14.08/hr ($0.01 USD)
- Eritrea Minimum Wage
- Nfk600/mo ($40 USD)
- Rwanda Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- FRw73,948 /mo ($50.61 USD)
- Eritrea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Nfk6,000 /mo ($400 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministry of Public Service and Labour / ILO (2026-02-25), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / OHCHR Eritrea reports (2026-02-25)
Rwanda 
Eritrea
Updated 2026-02-25
The minimum wage in Rwanda is roughly 4151 times lower than in Eritrea in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a low-income and a low-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $51/mo in Rwanda versus $400/mo in Eritrea, a 7.9:1 ratio. Eritrea has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 6.0% compared to 11.4%.
Rwanda's unemployment rate is 11.4% compared to Eritrea's 6.0%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Rwanda | Eritrea |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | FRw14.08 $0.01 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | FRw2,440 $1.67 | Nfk600 $40 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | FRw73,948 /mo $50.61 | Nfk6,000 /mo $400 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | FRw62,000 /mo $42.44 | Nfk5,400 /mo $360 |
| Median individual income /yr | FRw240,000 /yr $164.27 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Rwanda is higher.
Work Week
- Rwanda
-
45 hrs/wk standard
Max 55 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Standard workweek is 45 hours per Law No. 66/2018 Regulating Labor in Rwanda. Overtime limited to 2 hours/day and 10 hours/week (max 55 hours total). Overtime permitted for urgent, exceptional, or seasonal work. Overtime compensation varies by sector agreement. Daily working hours typically 9 hours over 5 days.
- 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 Rwanda earns 414957% less per hour in USD terms than one in Eritrea. Standard work weeks differ: Rwanda mandates 45 hours while Eritrea mandates 44 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Rwanda are $0 vs $1,760 in Eritrea.
See this comparison from Eritrea's perspective: Eritrea vs Rwanda
Compare Rwanda with...
Rwanda vs United States $ 7.25 /hr 
Rwanda vs China ¥ 25 /hr 
Rwanda vs Germany € 13.9 /hr 
Rwanda vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr 
Rwanda vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo 
Rwanda vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr 
Rwanda vs France € 12.02 /hr 
Rwanda vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
Rwanda vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr 
Rwanda vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr 
Rwanda vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
Rwanda vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr 
Rwanda vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo 
Rwanda vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr 
Rwanda vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr 
Rwanda vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr 
Rwanda vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr 
Rwanda vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr 
Rwanda vs Switzerland 
Rwanda vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr 
Rwanda vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo 
Rwanda vs Sweden 
Rwanda vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr 
Rwanda vs Singapore Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Rwanda or Eritrea?
In Rwanda, the minimum wage is FRw14.08/hr ($0.01 USD). In Eritrea, it is Nfk600/mo ($40 USD). Eritrea has the higher rate by 414957% 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 Rwanda may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much less does the average worker earn in Rwanda compared to Eritrea?
The average gross salary in Rwanda is FRw73,948/mo ($50.61 USD), compared to Nfk6,000/mo ($400 USD) in Eritrea. In USD terms, workers in Rwanda earn approximately 690% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Rwanda 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 Rwanda.
How do work hours compare between Rwanda and Eritrea?
Rwanda has a longer standard work week at 45 hours, compared to 44 hours in Eritrea. Workers in Rwanda work 45 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.