Key Facts: Spain vs Eritrea Wages
- Spain Minimum Wage
- €7.96/hr ($9.27 USD)
- Eritrea Minimum Wage
- Nfk600/mo ($40 USD)
- Spain Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- €2,450 /mo ($2,853.15 USD)
- Eritrea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Nfk6,000 /mo ($400 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministerio de Trabajo y Economía Social (2026-03-02), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / OHCHR Eritrea reports (2026-02-25)
Spain 
Eritrea
Updated 2026-03-02
The minimum wage in Spain is 77% lower than in Eritrea in USD terms, though average salaries tell a different story. Average gross salaries diverge further: $2,853/mo in Spain versus $400/mo in Eritrea, a 7.1:1 ratio. Eritrea has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 6.0% compared to 10.4%.
Spain's unemployment rate is 10.4% compared to Eritrea's 6.0%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Spain | Eritrea |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | €7.96 $9.27 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | €1,221 $1,421.92 | Nfk600 $40 |
| Minimum wage /yr | €17,094 $19,906.84 | — |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | €2,450 /mo $2,853.15 | Nfk6,000 /mo $400 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | €1,900 /mo $2,212.65 | Nfk5,400 /mo $360 |
| Median individual income /yr | €22,000 /yr $25,620.12 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Spain is higher.
Work Week
- Spain
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Standard workweek is 40 hours (Workers' Statute, Article 34). Maximum 80 hours of overtime per year. Overtime compensation is set by collective agreement or individual contract, with a minimum of regular hourly rate or equivalent time off. EU Working Time Directive caps average weekly hours at 48.
- 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 Spain earns 332% less per hour in USD terms than one in Eritrea. Standard work weeks differ: Spain mandates 40 hours while Eritrea mandates 44 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Spain are $371 vs $1,760 in Eritrea.
See this comparison from Eritrea's perspective: Eritrea vs Spain
Compare Spain with...
Spain vs United States $ 7.25 /hr 
Spain vs China ¥ 25 /hr 
Spain vs Germany € 13.9 /hr 
Spain vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr 
Spain vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo 
Spain vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr 
Spain vs France € 12.02 /hr 
Spain vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
Spain vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr 
Spain vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr 
Spain vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
Spain vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr 
Spain vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo 
Spain vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr 
Spain vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr 
Spain vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr 
Spain vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr 
Spain vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr 
Spain vs Switzerland 
Spain vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr 
Spain vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo 
Spain vs Sweden 
Spain vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr 
Spain vs Singapore Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Spain or Eritrea?
In Spain, the minimum wage is €7.96/hr ($9.27 USD). In Eritrea, it is Nfk600/mo ($40 USD). Eritrea has the higher rate by 332% 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 Spain may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much more does the average worker earn in Spain compared to Eritrea?
The average gross salary in Spain is €2,450/mo ($2,853.15 USD), compared to Nfk6,000/mo ($400 USD) in Eritrea. In USD terms, workers in Spain earn approximately 613% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Spain and Eritrea is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Spain earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Eritrea.
How do work hours compare between Spain and Eritrea?
Eritrea has a longer standard work week at 44 hours, compared to 40 hours in Spain. Workers in Spain work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Spain 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.