According to a recent report by global e-commerce company Picodi, Nigeria has been found to have the lowest minimum wage in the world. The study analyzed the minimum wages of workers in 67 countries across six continents (Asia, Africa, North, and South America, Europe, and Asia) as of January 2023, and the results showed that Nigerian workers received the lowest minimum wages. The lowest-paid workers in Nigeria received only $68 in take-home pay, making it the lowest rate in the world.
India was also reported to be among the lowest-paying countries, with a monthly minimum wage of $95. The report also found that basic food items sufficient to meet the minimum nutrient requirements cost 160.4% of Nigeria’s minimum wage. This suggests that the minimum wage is insufficient to cover workers’ basic living expenses, including healthy food.
Luxembourg ranked the highest on the list of countries with the highest minimum wage, with a monthly minimum wage of $2,140. Australia and New Zealand followed closely behind with monthly minimum wages of $2,020 and $1,866, respectively.
Other countries with low minimum wages include Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Armenia, the Philippines, Ukraine, Vietnam, Indonesia, Moldova, Azerbaijan, and Thailand. The report highlights the importance of improving minimum wage policies to promote fair and livable wages for workers, particularly in countries where minimum wages are insufficient to cover basic living expenses.
