Key Facts: Benin vs Syria Wages
- Benin Minimum Wage
- CFA300/hr ($0.54 USD)
- Syria Minimum Wage
- £S1,850/mo ($16.46 USD)
- Benin Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- CFA120,000 /mo ($215.44 USD)
- Syria Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- £S13,500 /mo ($120.13 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministry of Labour and Public Service / ILO (2026-02-25), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Syria Report economic analyses (2026-02-25)
Benin
Syria
Updated 2026-02-25
The minimum wage in Benin is roughly 31 times lower than in Syria in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a lower-middle-income and a low-income economy. Average salaries are higher in Benin at $215/mo compared to $120/mo in Syria. Benin has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 1.6% compared to 13.6%.
Benin has lower GDP per capita ($4,435 vs $4,772). Benin's unemployment rate is 1.6% compared to Syria's 13.6%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Benin | Syria |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | CFA300 $0.54 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | CFA52,000 $93.36 | £S1,850 $16.46 |
| Minimum wage /yr | CFA624,000 $1,120.29 | — |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | CFA120,000 /mo $215.44 | £S13,500 /mo $120.13 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | CFA100,000 /mo $179.53 | £S12,000 /mo $106.78 |
| Median individual income /yr | CFA480,000 /yr $861.76 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Benin is higher.
Work Week
- Benin
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.12x pay
Standard workweek is 40 hours for non-agricultural sectors (48 hours for agriculture). Overtime from 41-48 hours paid at 112% of normal rate; hours exceeding 48 paid at 135%. Night work and weekend overtime carry higher premiums.
- 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 Benin earns 2956% less per hour in USD terms than one in Syria. Standard work weeks differ: Benin mandates 40 hours while Syria mandates 48 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Benin are $22 vs $790 in Syria.
See this comparison from Syria's perspective: Syria vs Benin
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Benin or Syria?
In Benin, the minimum wage is CFA300/hr ($0.54 USD). In Syria, it is £S1,850/mo ($16.46 USD). Syria has the higher rate by 2956% 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 Benin may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much more does the average worker earn in Benin compared to Syria?
The average gross salary in Benin is CFA120,000/mo ($215.44 USD), compared to £S13,500/mo ($120.13 USD) in Syria. In USD terms, workers in Benin earn approximately 79% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Benin and Syria is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Benin earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Syria.
How do work hours compare between Benin and Syria?
Syria has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in Benin. Workers in Benin work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Benin 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 Benin and Syria?
While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Syria has the higher GDP per capita at $4,772, which is 1.1x that of Benin at $4,435. From Benin's perspective, this means goods and services are priced at a lower 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.