Key Facts: Sudan vs Eritrea Wages
- Sudan Minimum Wage
- ج.س.30,000/mo ($49.59 USD)
- Eritrea Minimum Wage
- Nfk600/mo ($40 USD)
- Sudan Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ج.س.85,000 /mo ($140.50 USD)
- Eritrea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Nfk6,000 /mo ($400 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Sudan Labour Code (2026-02-25), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / OHCHR Eritrea reports (2026-02-25)
Sudan
Eritrea
Updated 2026-02-25
Both low-income economies, Sudan and Eritrea set comparable minimum wage floors in USD terms. Average gross salaries diverge further: $140/mo in Sudan versus $400/mo in Eritrea, a 2.8:1 ratio.
From Sudan's perspective: adjusting for purchasing power, Sudan's minimum wage buys less than Eritrea's. The PPP-adjusted hourly rate in Sudan is $41 international dollars, compared to $121 in Eritrea. Sudan's unemployment rate is 7.5% compared to Eritrea's 6.0%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Sudan | Eritrea |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /mo | ج.س.30,000 $49.59 | Nfk600 $40 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | ج.س.85,000 /mo $140.50 | Nfk6,000 /mo $400 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | N/A/mo | Nfk5,400 /mo $360 |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Sudan is higher.
Work Week
- Sudan
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Labour Act of 2017 sets standard hours at 8 per day / 40 per week. Maximum with overtime is 48 hours/week. Friday is the weekly rest day (Islamic calendar). These provisions apply to formal employment only and enforcement has been severely disrupted by the 2023 conflict.
- 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.
• WAGE TRAJECTORY (USD/mo)
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from Eritrea to Sudan would see a 24% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. However, after adjusting for cost of living, Eritrea's minimum wage provides more purchasing power. Standard work weeks differ: Sudan mandates 40 hours while Eritrea mandates 44 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Sudan are $1,983 vs $1,760 in Eritrea.
See this comparison from Eritrea's perspective: Eritrea vs Sudan
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Sudan or Eritrea?
In Sudan, the minimum wage is ج.س.30,000/mo ($49.59 USD). In Eritrea, it is Nfk600/mo ($40 USD). Sudan has the higher rate by 24% 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 Eritrea may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much less does the average worker earn in Sudan compared to Eritrea?
The average gross salary in Sudan is ج.س.85,000/mo ($140.50 USD), compared to Nfk6,000/mo ($400 USD) in Eritrea. In USD terms, workers in Sudan earn approximately 185% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Sudan 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 Sudan.
Which country has better purchasing power for minimum wage workers, Sudan or Eritrea?
After adjusting for local prices using purchasing power parity (PPP), minimum wage workers in Eritrea can afford more than those in Sudan. The PPP-adjusted rate is $41 in Sudan and $121 in Eritrea. PPP converts wages into equivalent US dollar buying power, accounting for what a unit of currency actually buys locally. The 195% purchasing power gap means that even if the nominal wage in Sudan appears competitive, minimum wage workers there face greater constraints on day-to-day spending.
How do work hours compare between Sudan and Eritrea?
Eritrea has a longer standard work week at 44 hours, compared to 40 hours in Sudan. Workers in Sudan work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Sudan 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.