As of 2022, Zimbabwe had the lowest average monthly salary of employees in the world in terms of purchasing power parities (PPP), which takes the average cost of living in a country into account. Rwanda had the second lowest average wages, with Gambia in third. Of the 20 countries with the lowest average salaries in the world, 18 were located in Africa. On the other hand, Luxembourg had the highest average monthly salaries of employees.
20 countries with the lowest average monthly salaries of employees worldwide in 2022
(in PPP U.S. dollars)
*Numbers from 2021.
**Numbers from 2020.
***Numbers from 2019.
****Numbers from 2018.
*****Numbers from 2017.
Countries for which numbers were only available 2016 or earlier are not included.
The source adds the following information: "This series is based on the 13th ICLS definitions. For time series comparability, it includes countries that have implemented the 19th ICLS standards, for which data are also available in the Work Statistics -- 19th ICLS (WORK) database. The earnings of employees relate to the gross remuneration in cash and in kind paid to employees, as a rule at regular intervals, for time worked or work done together with remuneration for time not worked, such as annual vacation, other type of paid leave or holidays. Earnings exclude employers' contributions in respect of their employees paid to social security and pension schemes and also the benefits received by employees under these schemes. Earnings also exclude severance and termination pay. This is a harmonized series: (1) data reported as weekly, monthly and yearly are converted to hourly using data on average weekly hours if available; and (2) data are converted to U.S. dollars as the common currency, using exchange rates or using purchasing power parity (PPP) rates for private consumption expenditures. The latter series allows for international comparisons by taking account of the differences in relative prices between countries. Data disaggregated by economic activity are provided according to the latest version of the International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities (ISIC) available for that year. Data may have been regrouped from national classifications, which may not be strictly compatible with ISIC."
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ILO. (October 29, 2023). 20 countries with the lowest average monthly salaries of employees worldwide in 2022 (in PPP U.S. dollars) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved December 08, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1338777/average-monthly-salaries-countries-lowest-worldwide/
ILO. "20 countries with the lowest average monthly salaries of employees worldwide in 2022 (in PPP U.S. dollars)." Chart. October 29, 2023. Statista. Accessed December 08, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1338777/average-monthly-salaries-countries-lowest-worldwide/
ILO. (2023). 20 countries with the lowest average monthly salaries of employees worldwide in 2022 (in PPP U.S. dollars). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: December 08, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1338777/average-monthly-salaries-countries-lowest-worldwide/
ILO. "20 Countries with The Lowest Average Monthly Salaries of Employees Worldwide in 2022 (in Ppp U.S. Dollars)." Statista, Statista Inc., 29 Oct 2023, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1338777/average-monthly-salaries-countries-lowest-worldwide/
ILO, 20 countries with the lowest average monthly salaries of employees worldwide in 2022 (in PPP U.S. dollars) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1338777/average-monthly-salaries-countries-lowest-worldwide/ (last visited December 08, 2024)
20 countries with the lowest average monthly salaries of employees worldwide in 2022 (in PPP U.S. dollars) [Graph], ILO, October 29, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1338777/average-monthly-salaries-countries-lowest-worldwide/