Key Facts: Turkmenistan vs Eritrea Wages
- Turkmenistan Minimum Wage
- T1,160/mo ($331.43 USD)
- Eritrea Minimum Wage
- Nfk600/mo ($40 USD)
- Turkmenistan Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- T2,500 /mo ($714.29 USD)
- Eritrea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Nfk6,000 /mo ($400 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Turkmenistan government sources (2026-05-04), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / OHCHR Eritrea reports (2026-02-25)
Turkmenistan
Eritrea
Updated 2026-05-04
The minimum wage in Turkmenistan is roughly 8 times higher than in Eritrea in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a upper-middle-income and a low-income economy. Average salaries are higher in Turkmenistan at $714/mo compared to $400/mo in Eritrea.
From Turkmenistan's perspective: adjusting for purchasing power, Turkmenistan's minimum wage buys more than Eritrea's. The PPP-adjusted hourly rate in Turkmenistan is $768 international dollars, compared to $121 in Eritrea. Turkmenistan's unemployment rate is 4.3% compared to Eritrea's 6.0%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Turkmenistan | Eritrea |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /mo | T1,160 $331.43 | Nfk600 $40 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | T2,500 /mo $714.29 | Nfk6,000 /mo $400 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | N/A/mo | Nfk5,400 /mo $360 |
| Median individual income /yr | T30,000 /yr $8,571.43 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Turkmenistan is higher.
Work Week
- Turkmenistan
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Labour Code sets 40 hours/week (8 hours/day, 5 days). Saturday and Sunday are rest days. State-sector employees work standard government hours. The gas industry may have different shift arrangements.
- 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 Turkmenistan would see a 729% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Turkmenistan mandates 40 hours while Eritrea mandates 44 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Turkmenistan are $13,257 vs $1,760 in Eritrea.
See this comparison from Eritrea's perspective: Eritrea vs Turkmenistan
Compare Turkmenistan with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Turkmenistan or Eritrea?
In Turkmenistan, the minimum wage is T1,160/mo ($331.43 USD). In Eritrea, it is Nfk600/mo ($40 USD). Turkmenistan has the higher rate by 729% 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 more does the average worker earn in Turkmenistan compared to Eritrea?
The average gross salary in Turkmenistan is T2,500/mo ($714.29 USD), compared to Nfk6,000/mo ($400 USD) in Eritrea. In USD terms, workers in Turkmenistan earn approximately 79% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Turkmenistan and Eritrea is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Turkmenistan earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Eritrea.
Which country has better purchasing power for minimum wage workers, Turkmenistan or Eritrea?
After adjusting for local prices using purchasing power parity (PPP), minimum wage workers in Turkmenistan can afford more than those in Eritrea. The PPP-adjusted rate is $768 in Turkmenistan and $121 in Eritrea. PPP converts wages into equivalent US dollar buying power, accounting for what a unit of currency actually buys locally. The 532% purchasing power gap means that even if the nominal wage in Eritrea appears competitive, minimum wage workers there face greater constraints on day-to-day spending.
How do work hours compare between Turkmenistan and Eritrea?
Eritrea has a longer standard work week at 44 hours, compared to 40 hours in Turkmenistan. Workers in Turkmenistan work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Turkmenistan 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.