Key Facts: Barbados vs Syria Wages
- Barbados Minimum Wage
- Bds$10.71/hr ($5.36 USD)
- Syria Minimum Wage
- £S1,850/mo ($16.46 USD)
- Barbados Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Bds$3,900 /mo ($1,950 USD)
- Syria Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- £S13,500 /mo ($120.13 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministry of Labour, Social Security and Third Sector — Barbados (2026-02-25), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Syria Report economic analyses (2026-02-25)
Barbados
Syria
Updated 2026-02-25
The minimum wage in Barbados is 67% lower than in Syria in USD terms, though average salaries tell a different story. Average gross salaries diverge further: $1,950/mo in Barbados versus $120/mo in Syria, a 16.2:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Barbados is 5.2x that of Syria, underscoring the structural economic divide.
Barbados has higher GDP per capita ($24,823 vs $4,772). Barbados' unemployment rate is 6.5% compared to Syria's 13.6%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Barbados | Syria |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | Bds$10.71 $5.36 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | Bds$1,855.07 $927.54 | £S1,850 $16.46 |
| Minimum wage /yr | Bds$22,260.80 $11,130.40 | — |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | Bds$3,900 /mo $1,950 | £S13,500 /mo $120.13 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | Bds$3,120 /mo $1,560 | £S12,000 /mo $106.78 |
| Median individual income /yr | Bds$28,000 /yr $14,000 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Barbados is higher.
Work Week
- Barbados
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Standard workweek is 40 hours (8 hours/day, 5 days/week). The Shops Act allows up to 48 hours in some retail sectors. Overtime is paid at 1.5x the regular rate. Work on Sundays and public holidays typically paid at 2x the regular rate.
- Syria
-
48 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Labour Law No. 17 of 2010 set 48 hours/week as the standard. Friday is the weekly rest day. Enforcement is impossible across most of the country due to conflict. Government employees in Damascus and other major cities are the primary remaining formal workforce.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker in Barbados earns 207% less per hour in USD terms than one in Syria. Standard work weeks differ: Barbados mandates 40 hours while Syria mandates 48 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Barbados are $214 vs $790 in Syria.
See this comparison from Syria's perspective: Syria vs Barbados
Compare Barbados with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Barbados or Syria?
In Barbados, the minimum wage is Bds$10.71/hr ($5.36 USD). In Syria, it is £S1,850/mo ($16.46 USD). Syria has the higher rate by 207% 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 Barbados may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much more does the average worker earn in Barbados compared to Syria?
The average gross salary in Barbados is Bds$3,900/mo ($1,950 USD), compared to £S13,500/mo ($120.13 USD) in Syria. In USD terms, workers in Barbados earn approximately 1523% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Barbados and Syria is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Barbados earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Syria.
How do work hours compare between Barbados and Syria?
Syria has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in Barbados. Workers in Barbados work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Barbados working fewer hours may have comparable or better effective hourly earnings depending on the wage levels of each country. Total annual compensation depends on both the wage rate and the number of hours required.
What is the cost of living difference between Barbados and Syria?
While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Barbados has the higher GDP per capita at $24,823, which is 5.2x that of Syria at $4,772. From Barbados' perspective, this means goods and services are priced at a higher economic level. A higher GDP per capita generally correlates with higher wages, higher consumer prices, and greater availability of goods and services. Workers moving between these two countries should expect significant differences in rent, food, and transportation costs.