Key Facts: Sierra Leone vs Cuba Wages
- Sierra Leone Minimum Wage
- Le600/mo ($25.97 USD)
- Cuba Minimum Wage
- $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD)
- Sierra Leone Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Le2,500 /mo ($108.23 USD)
- Cuba Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- $MN6,649 /mo ($16.22 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO / Ministry of Labour and Social Security (Sierra Leone). Note: snapshot diff flags 'currency mismatch' against Wikipedia (which still uses old SLL 500,000) — our SLE 600 reflects the post-2022 redenomination (1 SLE = 1,000 SLL) and is the correct current notation (2026-05-04), Ministerio de Trabajo y Seguridad Social (MTSS) — Cuba (2026-02-25)
Sierra Leone 
Cuba
Updated 2026-05-04
The minimum wage in Sierra Leone is roughly 879 times higher than in Cuba in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a low-income and a upper-middle-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $108/mo in Sierra Leone versus $16/mo in Cuba, a 6.7:1 ratio.
Sierra Leone's unemployment rate is 3.1% compared to Cuba's 1.8%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Sierra Leone | Cuba |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | — | $MN12.12 $0.03 |
| Minimum wage /mo | Le600 $25.97 | $MN2,100 $5.12 |
| Minimum wage /yr | — | $MN25,200 $61.46 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | Le2,500 /mo $108.23 | $MN6,649 /mo $16.22 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | N/A/mo | $MN6,300 /mo $15.37 |
| Median individual income /yr | Le4,200 /yr $181.82 | $MN48,000 /yr $117.07 |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Sierra Leone is higher.
Work Week
- Sierra Leone
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
The Regulation of Wages and Industrial Relations Act sets standard hours at 40 per week for office workers and 48 for industrial workers. Overtime compensated at 1.5x for the first additional 8 hours. These rules apply to the limited formal sector.
- 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
A minimum wage worker moving from Cuba to Sierra Leone would see a 87766% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Sierra Leone mandates 40 hours while Cuba mandates 44 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Sierra Leone are $1,039 vs $1 in Cuba.
See this comparison from Cuba's perspective: Cuba vs Sierra Leone
Compare Sierra Leone with...
Sierra Leone vs United States $ 7.25 /hr 
Sierra Leone vs China ¥ 25 /hr 
Sierra Leone vs Germany € 13.9 /hr 
Sierra Leone vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr 
Sierra Leone vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo 
Sierra Leone vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr 
Sierra Leone vs France € 12.02 /hr 
Sierra Leone vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
Sierra Leone vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr 
Sierra Leone vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr 
Sierra Leone vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
Sierra Leone vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr 
Sierra Leone vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo 
Sierra Leone vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr 
Sierra Leone vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr 
Sierra Leone vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr 
Sierra Leone vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr 
Sierra Leone vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr 
Sierra Leone vs Switzerland 
Sierra Leone vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr 
Sierra Leone vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo 
Sierra Leone vs Sweden 
Sierra Leone vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr 
Sierra Leone vs Singapore Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Sierra Leone or Cuba?
In Sierra Leone, the minimum wage is Le600/mo ($25.97 USD). In Cuba, it is $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD). Sierra Leone has the higher rate by 87766% 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 Cuba may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much more does the average worker earn in Sierra Leone compared to Cuba?
The average gross salary in Sierra Leone is Le2,500/mo ($108.23 USD), compared to $MN6,649/mo ($16.22 USD) in Cuba. In USD terms, workers in Sierra Leone earn approximately 567% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Sierra Leone and Cuba is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Sierra Leone earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Cuba.
How do work hours compare between Sierra Leone and Cuba?
Cuba has a longer standard work week at 44 hours, compared to 40 hours in Sierra Leone. Workers in Sierra Leone work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Sierra Leone 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.