Key Facts: Sweden vs Eritrea Wages
- Sweden Minimum Wage
- No statutory minimum wage
- Eritrea Minimum Wage
- Nfk600/mo ($40 USD)
- Sweden Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- kr40,000 /mo ($4,317.74 USD)
- Eritrea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Nfk6,000 /mo ($400 USD)
- Data Sources
- Medlingsinstitutet (Swedish National Mediation Office) (2026-02-24), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / OHCHR Eritrea reports (2026-02-25)
Sweden 
Eritrea
Updated 2026-02-25
Sweden has no statutory minimum wage, while Eritrea sets a floor of $40/mo. Average gross salaries diverge further: $4,318/mo in Sweden versus $400/mo in Eritrea, a 10.8:1 ratio. Eritrea has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 6.0% compared to 8.7%.
Sweden's unemployment rate is 8.7% compared to Eritrea's 6.0%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Sweden | Eritrea |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /mo | None | Nfk600 $40 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | kr40,000 /mo $4,317.74 | Nfk6,000 /mo $400 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | kr30,000 /mo $3,238.31 | Nfk5,400 /mo $360 |
| Median individual income /yr | kr367,000 /yr $39,615.29 | N/A/yr |
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.
- 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
Standard work weeks differ: Sweden mandates 40 hours while Eritrea mandates 44 hours.
See this comparison from Eritrea's perspective: Eritrea vs Sweden
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Sweden vs Norway Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Sweden or Eritrea?
In Sweden, the minimum wage is no statutory minimum wage. In Eritrea, it is Nfk600/mo ($40 USD).
How much more does the average worker earn in Sweden compared to Eritrea?
The average gross salary in Sweden is kr40,000/mo ($4,317.74 USD), compared to Nfk6,000/mo ($400 USD) in Eritrea. In USD terms, workers in Sweden earn approximately 979% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Sweden and Eritrea 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 Eritrea.
How do work hours compare between Sweden and Eritrea?
Eritrea 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.