Key Facts: Syria vs Eritrea Wages
- Syria Minimum Wage
- £S1,850/mo ($16.46 USD)
- Eritrea Minimum Wage
- Nfk600/mo ($40 USD)
- Syria Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- £S13,500 /mo ($120.13 USD)
- Eritrea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Nfk6,000 /mo ($400 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Syria Report economic analyses (2026-02-25), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / OHCHR Eritrea reports (2026-02-25)
Syria
Eritrea
Updated 2026-02-25
The minimum wage in Syria is 59% lower than in Eritrea in USD terms, though average salaries tell a different story. Average gross salaries diverge further: $120/mo in Syria versus $400/mo in Eritrea, a 3.3:1 ratio. Eritrea has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 6.0% compared to 13.6%.
From Syria's perspective: adjusting for purchasing power, Syria's minimum wage buys less than Eritrea's. The PPP-adjusted hourly rate in Syria is $1 international dollars, compared to $121 in Eritrea. Syria's unemployment rate is 13.6% compared to Eritrea's 6.0%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Syria | Eritrea |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /mo | £S1,850 $16.46 | Nfk600 $40 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | £S13,500 /mo $120.13 | Nfk6,000 /mo $400 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | £S12,000 /mo $106.78 | Nfk5,400 /mo $360 |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Syria is higher.
Work Week
- Syria
-
48 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Labour Law No. 17 of 2010 set 48 hours/week as the standard. Friday is the weekly rest day. Enforcement is impossible across most of the country due to conflict. Government employees in Damascus and other major cities are the primary remaining formal workforce.
- 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 in Syria earns 143% less per hour in USD terms than one in Eritrea. Standard work weeks differ: Syria mandates 48 hours while Eritrea mandates 44 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Syria are $790 vs $1,760 in Eritrea.
See this comparison from Eritrea's perspective: Eritrea vs Syria
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Syria or Eritrea?
In Syria, the minimum wage is £S1,850/mo ($16.46 USD). In Eritrea, it is Nfk600/mo ($40 USD). Eritrea has the higher rate by 143% 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 Syria may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much less does the average worker earn in Syria compared to Eritrea?
The average gross salary in Syria is £S13,500/mo ($120.13 USD), compared to Nfk6,000/mo ($400 USD) in Eritrea. In USD terms, workers in Syria earn approximately 233% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Syria 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 Syria.
Which country has better purchasing power for minimum wage workers, Syria or Eritrea?
After adjusting for local prices using purchasing power parity (PPP), minimum wage workers in Eritrea can afford more than those in Syria. The PPP-adjusted rate is $1 in Syria and $121 in Eritrea. PPP converts wages into equivalent US dollar buying power, accounting for what a unit of currency actually buys locally. The 11439% purchasing power gap means that even if the nominal wage in Syria appears competitive, minimum wage workers there face greater constraints on day-to-day spending.
How do work hours compare between Syria and Eritrea?
Syria has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 44 hours in Eritrea. Workers in Syria work 48 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Eritrea 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.