Key Facts: Brazil vs Syria Wages
- Brazil Minimum Wage
- R$7.37/hr ($1.42 USD)
- Syria Minimum Wage
- £S1,850/mo ($16.46 USD)
- Brazil Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- R$3,200 /mo ($616.88 USD)
- Syria Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- £S13,500 /mo ($120.13 USD)
- Data Sources
- Brazilian Ministry of Labour and Employment (2026-03-02), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Syria Report economic analyses (2026-02-25)
Brazil
Syria
Updated 2026-03-02
The minimum wage in Brazil is roughly 12 times lower than in Syria in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a upper-middle-income and a low-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $617/mo in Brazil versus $120/mo in Syria, a 5.1:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Brazil is 4.7x that of Syria, underscoring the structural economic divide.
Brazil has higher GDP per capita ($22,338 vs $4,772). Brazil's unemployment rate is 6.0% compared to Syria's 13.6%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Brazil | Syria |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | R$7.37 $1.42 | — |
| Minimum wage /day | R$54.04 $10.42 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | R$1,621 $312.49 | £S1,850 $16.46 |
| Minimum wage /yr | R$21,073 $4,062.34 | — |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | R$3,200 /mo $616.88 | £S13,500 /mo $120.13 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | R$2,700 /mo $520.49 | £S12,000 /mo $106.78 |
| Median individual income /yr | R$22,800 /yr $4,395.27 | 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.
- 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 Brazil earns 1059% less per hour in USD terms than one in Syria. Standard work weeks differ: Brazil mandates 44 hours while Syria mandates 48 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Brazil are $63 vs $790 in Syria.
See this comparison from Syria's perspective: Syria vs Brazil
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Brazil or Syria?
In Brazil, the minimum wage is R$7.37/hr ($1.42 USD). In Syria, it is £S1,850/mo ($16.46 USD). Syria has the higher rate by 1059% 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 Syria?
The average gross salary in Brazil is R$3,200/mo ($616.88 USD), compared to £S13,500/mo ($120.13 USD) in Syria. In USD terms, workers in Brazil earn approximately 414% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Brazil and Syria 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 Syria.
How do work hours compare between Brazil and Syria?
Syria has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 44 hours in Brazil. Workers in Brazil work 44 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Brazil 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 Brazil and Syria?
While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Brazil has the higher GDP per capita at $22,338, which is 4.7x that of Syria at $4,772. From Brazil's 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.