Key Facts: Uruguay vs Eritrea Wages
- Uruguay Minimum Wage
- $U92.80/hr ($2.15 USD)
- Eritrea Minimum Wage
- Nfk600/mo ($40 USD)
- Uruguay Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- $U55,000 /mo ($1,273.15 USD)
- Eritrea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Nfk6,000 /mo ($400 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministerio de Trabajo y Seguridad Social (MTSS) (2026-02-24), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / OHCHR Eritrea reports (2026-02-25)
Uruguay
Eritrea
Updated 2026-02-25
The minimum wage in Uruguay is roughly 19 times lower than in Eritrea in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a high-income and a low-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $1,273/mo in Uruguay versus $400/mo in Eritrea, a 3.2:1 ratio.
Uruguay's unemployment rate is 7.5% compared to Eritrea's 6.0%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Uruguay | Eritrea |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | $U92.80 $2.15 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | $U22,268 $515.46 | Nfk600 $40 |
| Minimum wage /yr | $U290,484 $6,724.17 | — |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | $U55,000 /mo $1,273.15 | Nfk6,000 /mo $400 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | $U42,350 /mo $980.32 | Nfk5,400 /mo $360 |
| Median individual income /yr | $U468,000 /yr $10,833.33 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Uruguay is higher.
Work Week
- Uruguay
-
44 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 2x pay
Standard workweek is 44 hours for commerce and 48 hours for industry (Law 5,350 of 1915 and Law 7,318 of 1920). In practice, most workers work 40-44 hours. Overtime is paid at double the normal rate (100% premium). Night work (after 10pm) also attracts premium pay.
- 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 Uruguay earns 1762% less per hour in USD terms than one in Eritrea.
See this comparison from Eritrea's perspective: Eritrea vs Uruguay
Compare Uruguay with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Uruguay or Eritrea?
In Uruguay, the minimum wage is $U92.80/hr ($2.15 USD). In Eritrea, it is Nfk600/mo ($40 USD). Eritrea has the higher rate by 1762% 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 Uruguay may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much more does the average worker earn in Uruguay compared to Eritrea?
The average gross salary in Uruguay is $U55,000/mo ($1,273.15 USD), compared to Nfk6,000/mo ($400 USD) in Eritrea. In USD terms, workers in Uruguay earn approximately 218% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Uruguay and Eritrea is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Uruguay earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Eritrea.
How do work hours compare between Uruguay and Eritrea?
Both Uruguay and Eritrea mandate a similar standard work week of 44 hours. When work hours are equal, the country with the higher minimum wage delivers proportionally higher weekly earnings. Standard work week rules set the baseline; actual hours worked often differ based on industry norms and individual employment contracts.