Key Facts: Brunei vs South Sudan Wages
- Brunei Minimum Wage
- B$2.62/hr ($2.06 USD)
- South Sudan Minimum Wage
- £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD)
- Brunei Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- B$2,500 /mo ($1,968.50 USD)
- South Sudan Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- £125,000 /mo ($27.23 USD)
- Data Sources
- Labour Department, Ministry of Home Affairs — Brunei Darussalam (2026-02-25), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / South Sudan Ministry of Labour (2026-02-25)
Brunei
South Sudan
Updated 2026-02-25
Brunei, a high-income economy, and South Sudan, classified as low-income, take different approaches to wage policy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $1,969/mo in Brunei versus $27/mo in South Sudan, a 72.3:1 ratio. Brunei has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 5.3% compared to 12.4%.
Brunei's unemployment rate is 5.3% compared to South Sudan's 12.4%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Brunei | South Sudan |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | B$2.62 $2.06 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | B$500 $393.70 | £7,000 $1.52 |
| Minimum wage /yr | B$6,000 $4,724.41 | — |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | B$2,500 /mo $1,968.50 | £125,000 /mo $27.23 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | B$2,500 /mo $1,968.50 | £112,000 /mo $24.40 |
| Median individual income /yr | B$18,000 /yr $14,173.23 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Brunei is higher.
Work Week
- Brunei
-
44 hrs/wk standard
Max 44 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Standard working hours are 8 hours per day or 44 hours per week under the Employment Order, 2009. Overtime is paid at 1.5x the regular rate. During Ramadan, Muslim workers typically work 6 hours/day. The government sector generally works 37.5-40 hours/week.
- 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 moving from South Sudan to Brunei would see a 35% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Brunei mandates 44 hours while South Sudan mandates 40 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Brunei are $91 vs $61 in South Sudan.
See this comparison from South Sudan's perspective: South Sudan vs Brunei
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Brunei or South Sudan?
In Brunei, the minimum wage is B$2.62/hr ($2.06 USD). In South Sudan, it is £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD). Brunei has the higher rate by 35% 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 South Sudan may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much more does the average worker earn in Brunei compared to South Sudan?
The average gross salary in Brunei is B$2,500/mo ($1,968.50 USD), compared to £125,000/mo ($27.23 USD) in South Sudan. In USD terms, workers in Brunei earn approximately 7130% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Brunei and South Sudan is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Brunei earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in South Sudan.
How do work hours compare between Brunei and South Sudan?
Brunei has a longer standard work week at 44 hours, compared to 40 hours in South Sudan. Workers in Brunei 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.