Key Facts: Turkey vs Eritrea Wages
- Turkey Minimum Wage
- ₺164.94/hr ($3.53 USD)
- Eritrea Minimum Wage
- Nfk600/mo ($40 USD)
- Turkey Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ₺25,482 /mo ($545.98 USD)
- Eritrea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Nfk6,000 /mo ($400 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministry of Labour and Social Security (Çalışma ve Sosyal Güvenlik Bakanlığı); 2026 figure announced by Minister Vedat Işıkhan, verified via Daily Sabah (dailysabah.com) (2026-05-04), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / OHCHR Eritrea reports (2026-02-25)
Turkey 
Eritrea
Updated 2026-05-04
The minimum wage in Turkey is roughly 11 times lower than in Eritrea in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a upper-middle-income and a low-income economy. Average salaries are higher in Turkey at $546/mo compared to $400/mo in Eritrea. Eritrea has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 6.0% compared to 8.5%.
Turkey's unemployment rate is 8.5% compared to Eritrea's 6.0%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Turkey | Eritrea |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | ₺164.94 $3.53 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | ₺33,030 $707.70 | Nfk600 $40 |
| Minimum wage /yr | ₺396,360 $8,492.46 | — |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | ₺25,482 /mo $545.98 | Nfk6,000 /mo $400 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | ₺20,021 /mo $428.97 | Nfk5,400 /mo $360 |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Turkey is higher.
Work Week
- Turkey
-
45 hrs/wk standard
Max 45 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Standard workweek is 45 hours under the Labour Act (No. 4857). Can be distributed unevenly across days of the week, but no more than 11 hours/day. Overtime is limited to 270 hours/year. Overtime premium is 50%; weekend/holiday work is at 100% premium if the worker does not get a substitute rest day.
- 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 Turkey earns 1032% less per hour in USD terms than one in Eritrea. Standard work weeks differ: Turkey mandates 45 hours while Eritrea mandates 44 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Turkey are $159 vs $1,760 in Eritrea.
See this comparison from Eritrea's perspective: Eritrea vs Turkey
Compare Turkey with...
Turkey vs United States $ 7.25 /hr 
Turkey vs China ¥ 25 /hr 
Turkey vs Germany € 13.9 /hr 
Turkey vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr 
Turkey vs India ₹ 4,628 /mo 
Turkey vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr 
Turkey vs France € 12.02 /hr 
Turkey vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
Turkey vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr 
Turkey vs Australia A$ 26.44 /hr 
Turkey vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
Turkey vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr 
Turkey vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo 
Turkey vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr 
Turkey vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr 
Turkey vs Switzerland 
Turkey vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr 
Turkey vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo 
Turkey vs Sweden 
Turkey vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr 
Turkey vs Singapore 
Turkey vs Austria 
Turkey vs Malaysia RM 8.72 /hr 
Turkey vs Denmark Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Turkey or Eritrea?
In Turkey, the minimum wage is ₺164.94/hr ($3.53 USD). In Eritrea, it is Nfk600/mo ($40 USD). Eritrea has the higher rate by 1032% 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 Turkey may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much more does the average worker earn in Turkey compared to Eritrea?
The average gross salary in Turkey is ₺25,482/mo ($545.98 USD), compared to Nfk6,000/mo ($400 USD) in Eritrea. In USD terms, workers in Turkey earn approximately 36% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Turkey and Eritrea is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Turkey earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Eritrea.
How do work hours compare between Turkey and Eritrea?
Turkey has a longer standard work week at 45 hours, compared to 44 hours in Eritrea. Workers in Turkey work 45 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.