Key Facts: Brazil vs South Sudan Wages
- Brazil Minimum Wage
- R$7.37/hr ($1.47 USD)
- South Sudan Minimum Wage
- £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD)
- Brazil Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- R$3,200 /mo ($636.88 USD)
- South Sudan Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- £125,000 /mo ($27.23 USD)
- Data Sources
- Brazilian Ministry of Labour and Employment (2026-03-02), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / South Sudan Ministry of Labour (2026-02-25)
Brazil
South Sudan
Updated 2026-03-02
Brazil, a upper-middle-income economy, and South Sudan, classified as low-income, take different approaches to wage policy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $637/mo in Brazil versus $27/mo in South Sudan, a 23.4:1 ratio. Brazil has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 6.0% compared to 12.4%.
Brazil's unemployment rate is 6.0% compared to South Sudan's 12.4%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Brazil | South Sudan |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | R$7.37 $1.47 | — |
| Minimum wage /day | R$54.04 $10.76 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | R$1,621 $322.62 | £7,000 $1.52 |
| Minimum wage /yr | R$21,073 $4,194.05 | — |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | R$3,200 /mo $636.88 | £125,000 /mo $27.23 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | R$2,700 /mo $537.37 | £112,000 /mo $24.40 |
| Median individual income /yr | R$22,800 /yr $4,537.76 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Brazil is higher.
Work Week
- Brazil
-
44 hrs/wk standard
Max 44 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Constitutional limit of 44 hours/week, 8 hours/day. Overtime minimum 50% premium (often higher by collective agreement). Sundays and holidays: 100% premium.
- South Sudan
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Labour Act 2017 sets 40 hours/week as standard. Enforcement is effectively non-existent across most of the country due to ongoing conflict, institutional collapse, and absence of functioning labour inspectorates.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker in Brazil earns 4% less per hour in USD terms than one in South Sudan. Standard work weeks differ: Brazil mandates 44 hours while South Sudan mandates 40 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Brazil are $65 vs $61 in South Sudan.
See this comparison from South Sudan's perspective: South Sudan vs Brazil
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Brazil or South Sudan?
In Brazil, the minimum wage is R$7.37/hr ($1.47 USD). In South Sudan, it is £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD). South Sudan has the higher rate by 4% 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 Brazil may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much more does the average worker earn in Brazil compared to South Sudan?
The average gross salary in Brazil is R$3,200/mo ($636.88 USD), compared to £125,000/mo ($27.23 USD) in South Sudan. In USD terms, workers in Brazil earn approximately 2239% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Brazil and South Sudan is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Brazil earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in South Sudan.
How do work hours compare between Brazil and South Sudan?
Brazil has a longer standard work week at 44 hours, compared to 40 hours in South Sudan. Workers in Brazil work 44 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in South Sudan 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.