Average Salary in Africa (2026)
Average monthly salaries across Africa differ considerably due to variations in economic development, employment opportunities, labor productivity, and living costs. In 2026, Mauritania records an estimated average monthly salary of $1,625, followed by South Africa ($1,593) and Seychelles ($1,363) in the supplied dataset.
Explore the average salary in Africa in 2026, compare monthly earnings across African countries in US dollars (USD), and discover the highest- and lowest-paying economies on the continent. Our salary rankings provide insights into income disparities, regional wage differences, and economic conditions across Africa.
See Also:
Average Salary in Africa by Country
| # | Country | Monthly (USD) | Global Rank | Continent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 🇲🇷Mauritania |
$1,625 | 61 | Africa |
| 2 | 🇿🇦South Africa |
$1,593 | 62 | Africa |
| 3 | 🇸🇨Seychelles |
$1,363 | 70 | Africa |
| 4 | 🇬🇦Gabon |
$996 | 92 | Africa |
| 5 | 🇲🇺Mauritius |
$938 | 94 | Africa |
| 6 | 🇳🇦Namibia |
$845 | 100 | Africa |
| 7 | 🇩🇯Djibouti |
$675 | 110 | Africa |
| 8 | 🇬🇶Equatorial Guinea |
$628 | 113 | Africa |
| 9 | 🇲🇦Morocco |
$613 | 115 | Africa |
| 10 | 🇨🇮Ivory Coast |
$605 | 117 | Africa |
| 11 | 🇧🇼Botswana |
$555 | 126 | Africa |
| 12 | 🇨🇬Congo |
$503 | 133 | Africa |
| 13 | 🇨🇻Cape Verde |
$481 | 135 | Africa |
| 14 | 🇺🇬Uganda |
$424 | 142 | Africa |
| 15 | 🇩🇿Algeria |
$406 | 144 | Africa |
| 16 | 🇪🇷Eritrea |
$400 | 145 | Africa |
| 17 | 🇹🇳Tunisia |
$383 | 146 | Africa |
| 18 | 🇸🇿Eswatini |
$375 | 147 | Africa |
| 19 | 🇱🇾Libya |
$370 | 148 | Africa |
| 20 | 🇿🇲Zambia |
$369 | 149 | Africa |
| 21 | 🇨🇲Cameroon |
$359 | 150 | Africa |
| 22 | 🇱🇷Liberia |
$350 | 152 | Africa |
| 23 | 🇰🇪Kenya |
$326 | 155 | Africa |
| 24 | 🇹🇩Chad |
$323 | 156 | Africa |
| 25 | 🇲🇿Mozambique |
$282 | 162 | Africa |
| 26 | 🇱🇸Lesotho |
$281 | 163 | Africa |
| 27 | 🇸🇹Sao Tome and Principe |
$264 | 164 | Africa |
| 28 | 🇸🇴Somalia |
$263 | 165 | Africa |
| 29 | 🇿🇼Zimbabwe |
$253 | 166 | Africa |
| 30 | 🇹🇿Tanzania |
$244 | 167 | Africa |
| 31 | 🇬🇭Ghana |
$236 | 168 | Africa |
| 32 | 🇸🇳Senegal |
$226 | 170 | Africa |
| 33 | 🇳🇬Nigeria |
$220 | 171 | Africa |
| 34 | 🇧🇯Benin |
$215 | 172 | Africa |
| 35 | 🇲🇱Mali |
$215 | 173 | Africa |
| 36 | 🇳🇪Niger |
$215 | 174 | Africa |
| 37 | 🇰🇲Comoros |
$215 | 175 | Africa |
| 38 | 🇹🇬Togo |
$180 | 182 | Africa |
| 39 | 🇬🇳Guinea |
$174 | 183 | Africa |
| 40 | 🇬🇼Guinea-Bissau |
$171 | 184 | Africa |
| 41 | 🇦🇴Angola |
$162 | 185 | Africa |
| 42 | 🇧🇫Burkina Faso |
$160 | 186 | Africa |
| 43 | 🇨🇩DR Congo |
$142 | 190 | Africa |
| 44 | 🇸🇩Sudan |
$140 | 191 | Africa |
| 45 | 🇨🇫Central African Republic |
$135 | 193 | Africa |
| 46 | 🇪🇬Egypt |
$135 | 194 | Africa |
| 47 | 🇲🇬Madagascar |
$112 | 196 | Africa |
| 48 | 🇸🇱Sierra Leone |
$108 | 198 | Africa |
| 49 | 🇬🇲Gambia |
$108 | 199 | Africa |
| 50 | 🇲🇼Malawi |
$69 | 200 | Africa |
| 51 | 🇪🇹Ethiopia |
$51 | 201 | Africa |
| 52 | 🇷🇼Rwanda |
$51 | 202 | Africa |
| 53 | 🇸🇸South Sudan |
$27 | 203 | Africa |
| 54 | 🇧🇮Burundi |
$20 | 204 | Africa |
Key Findings
Mauritania Has the Highest Reported Average Salary in Africa
- Mauritania records $1,625 per month, the highest reported figure among African countries in the supplied dataset.
- It exceeds South Africa's estimated monthly salary of $1,593 by $32.
South Africa Ranks Among Africa's Highest-Salary Economies
- South Africa records an estimated average monthly salary of $1,593.
- Its reported salary exceeds Seychelles ($1,363) by $230 per month.
Seychelles Reports an Average Monthly Salary Above $1,300
- Seychelles records $1,363 in estimated average monthly earnings.
- Its salary is $367 higher than Gabon's reported $996.
Average Salaries Differ Across African Economies
- Gabon reports $996, Namibia $845, and Botswana $555 per month.
- These figures highlight differences in nominal salaries across the continent.
Nigeria Reports an Average Monthly Salary of $220
- Nigeria records $220 per month in the supplied dataset.
- Its reported monthly salary is $335 lower than Botswana's $555.
Burundi Has the Lowest Reported Average Salary in Africa
- Burundi records $20 per month, followed by South Sudan at $27.
- Ethiopia and Rwanda each record $51 per month in the dataset.
Africa's Highest Reported Salary Is Over 81 Times Its Lowest
- Mauritania's estimated salary is 81.25 times Burundi's reported figure.
- The absolute difference is $1,605 per month.
Average Salary in Africa Comparison
The chart below compares the top 5 countries in Africa with the highest monthly average salaries. It provides a quick visual comparison of monthly take-home pay, helping you see how the region’s highest-paying countries differ from one another.
Average Gross Salary in Africa
Top 10 Countries with the Highest Average Salaries in Africa (2026)
- Mauritania — $1,625
- South Africa — $1,593
- Seychelles — $1,363
- Gabon — $996
- Namibia — $845
- Djibouti — $675
- Equatorial Guinea — $628
- Morocco — $613
- Ivory Coast — $605
- Botswana — $555
10 Countries with the Lowest Average Salaries in Africa (2026)
- Burundi — $20
- South Sudan — $27
- Ethiopia — $51
- Rwanda — $51
- Malawi — $69
- Sierra Leone — $108
- Gambia — $108
- Madagascar — $112
- Central African Republic — $135
- Egypt — $135
Definitions & Methodology
What does average monthly salary in Africa represent?
Average monthly salary represents estimated earnings for workers in African countries during one month. Values are expressed in US dollars (USD) for international comparison. The estimates may differ in employment coverage, wage definitions, and tax treatment between countries.
How are African countries ranked in 2026?
African countries are ranked from highest to lowest by their estimated average monthly salary in USD. Mauritania records $1,625, followed by South Africa at $1,593 and Seychelles at $1,363. Burundi has the lowest reported figure at $20 per month in the supplied dataset.
What is the difference between gross and net salary?
Gross salary refers to earnings before taxes and mandatory deductions, while net salary represents the amount remaining after applicable deductions. Taxation and social insurance systems vary across African economies. The supplied data does not confirm a uniform gross or net basis.
Why do average salaries vary widely across Africa?
Salary differences reflect variations in economic development, labor productivity, industrial activity, education, employment opportunities, workforce skills, inflation, and currency values. The size of informal employment and differences between urban and rural labor markets can also influence national salary estimates.
Does a higher salary mean better living standards in Africa?
Not necessarily. Higher nominal wages do not always translate into greater purchasing power. Food prices, housing costs, transportation, healthcare, inflation, and access to public services should also be considered when comparing living standards.
How do exchange rates affect African salary rankings?
Salaries reported in local currencies are compared using US dollars. Currency depreciation can reduce a country's reported USD salary even when earnings in the local currency remain unchanged. Exchange-rate fluctuations may therefore influence regional rankings.
Are average monthly salaries directly comparable across Africa?
The figures provide broad estimates, but differences in informal employment, agricultural work, wage reporting, tax systems, employment coverage, working hours, and data collection methods can affect comparability. Extremely low reported values require particular caution when interpreting national income levels.
Average Salary in Africa (2026) FAQs
Which country has the highest average monthly salary in Africa?
Mauritania has the highest reported average monthly salary in Africa at $1,625, followed by South Africa at $1,593 in the supplied dataset.
Which African countries have the highest average salaries?
The five highest-ranked countries in the supplied African dataset are Mauritania ($1,625), South Africa ($1,593), Seychelles ($1,363), Gabon ($996), and Namibia ($845) per month.
Which country has the lowest average monthly salary in Africa?
Burundi has the lowest reported estimated average monthly salary in Africa at $20 per month, followed by South Sudan at $27.
What is the average monthly salary in South Africa?
South Africa records an estimated average monthly salary of $1,593, placing it among the highest reported salary figures in Africa.
What is the average monthly salary in Nigeria in 2026?
Nigeria records an estimated average monthly salary of $220, ranking 171st globally among the 206 entries in the supplied dataset.
What is the average salary in Ethiopia and Kenya?
The supplied dataset reports an estimated average monthly salary of $51 in Ethiopia and $326 in Kenya. These estimates should be interpreted cautiously because wage coverage can vary between countries.
Is average monthly salary in Africa the same as net salary?
Not necessarily. Average monthly salary may represent gross or net earnings depending on the source. Net salary specifically refers to earnings remaining after applicable taxes and mandatory deductions.
Why do average salaries vary widely across African countries?
Differences in economic development, labor productivity, informal employment, inflation, exchange rates, education, workforce skills, and industry structure contribute to salary differences across Africa.