Key Facts: Sweden vs Cuba Wages
- Sweden Minimum Wage
- No statutory minimum wage
- Cuba Minimum Wage
- $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD)
- Sweden Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- kr40,000 /mo ($4,317.74 USD)
- Cuba Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- $MN6,649 /mo ($16.22 USD)
- Data Sources
- Medlingsinstitutet (Swedish National Mediation Office) (2026-02-24), Ministerio de Trabajo y Seguridad Social (MTSS) — Cuba (2026-02-25)
Sweden 
Cuba
Updated 2026-02-25
Sweden has no statutory minimum wage, while Cuba sets a floor of $0/hr. Average gross salaries diverge further: $4,318/mo in Sweden versus $16/mo in Cuba, a 266.2:1 ratio. Cuba has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 1.8% compared to 8.7%.
Sweden's unemployment rate is 8.7% compared to Cuba's 1.8%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Sweden | Cuba |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | None | $MN12.12 $0.03 |
| Minimum wage /mo | None | $MN2,100 $5.12 |
| Minimum wage /yr | None | $MN25,200 $61.46 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | kr40,000 /mo $4,317.74 | $MN6,649 /mo $16.22 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | kr30,000 /mo $3,238.31 | $MN6,300 /mo $15.37 |
| Median individual income /yr | kr367,000 /yr $39,615.29 | $MN48,000 /yr $117.07 |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Sweden is higher.
Work Week
- Sweden
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Standard workweek is 40 hours (Working Hours Act / Arbetstidslagen). Maximum overtime is 48 hours over 4 weeks or 200 hours per calendar year. Overtime compensation is determined by collective agreements, not statute. Many agreements provide overtime at 150-200% of normal pay. EU Working Time Directive limits average to 48 hrs/week.
- 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
Standard work weeks differ: Sweden mandates 40 hours while Cuba mandates 44 hours.
See this comparison from Cuba's perspective: Cuba vs Sweden
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Sweden vs Switzerland 
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Sweden vs Norway Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Sweden or Cuba?
In Sweden, the minimum wage is no statutory minimum wage. In Cuba, it is $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD).
How much more does the average worker earn in Sweden compared to Cuba?
The average gross salary in Sweden is kr40,000/mo ($4,317.74 USD), compared to $MN6,649/mo ($16.22 USD) in Cuba. In USD terms, workers in Sweden earn approximately 26525% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Sweden and Cuba is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Sweden earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Cuba.
How do work hours compare between Sweden and Cuba?
Cuba has a longer standard work week at 44 hours, compared to 40 hours in Sweden. Workers in Sweden work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Sweden 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.