"Do you earn more or less than the world's [monthly ?] average wage ? The average wage, calculated by the International Labour Organization, is published here for the first time. It's a rough figure based on data from 72 countries, omitting some of the world's poorest nations. All figures are adjusted to reflect variations in the cost of living from one country to another, and as Ruth Alexander of BBC radio's More or Less programme underlines, it's all about wage earners, not the self-employed or people on benefits." top of the list - Luxembourg $4,089 . World average wage: $1,480 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-17543356