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Key Facts: Cameroon vs Syria Wages

Cameroon Minimum Wage
FCFA254/hr ($0.46 USD)
Syria Minimum Wage
£S1,850/mo ($16.46 USD)
Cameroon Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
FCFA200,000 /mo ($359.07 USD)
Syria Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
£S13,500 /mo ($120.13 USD)
Data Sources
Ministère du Travail et de la Sécurité Sociale — Cameroon (2026-02-25), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Syria Report economic analyses (2026-02-25)

Cameroon flag Cameroon Syria flag Syria

Updated 2026-02-25

Cameroon flag Cameroon

Minimum Wage

FCFA254 /hr

$0.46 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

FCFA200,000 /mo

Syria flag Syria

Minimum Wage

£S1,850 /mo

$16.46 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

£S13,500 /mo

Min wage: -97% Cameroon vs Syria Avg. salary: +199% Cameroon vs Syria

The minimum wage in Cameroon is roughly 36 times lower than in Syria in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a lower-middle-income and a low-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $359/mo in Cameroon versus $120/mo in Syria, a 3.0:1 ratio. Cameroon has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 3.6% compared to 13.6%.

Cameroon has higher GDP per capita ($5,589 vs $4,772). Cameroon's unemployment rate is 3.6% compared to Syria's 13.6%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Cameroon and Syria
Metric Cameroon Syria
Minimum wage /hr FCFA254 $0.46
Minimum wage /mo FCFA43,969 $78.94 £S1,850 $16.46
Minimum wage /yr FCFA527,628 $947.27
Avg. gross salary /mo FCFA200,000 /mo $359.07 £S13,500 /mo $120.13
Avg. net salary /mo FCFA170,000 /mo $305.21 £S12,000 /mo $106.78
Median individual income /yr FCFA600,000 /yr $1,077.20 N/A/yr

Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Cameroon is higher.

Work Week

Cameroon

40 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.2x pay

Labour Code sets standard working hours at 40 per week for non-agricultural workers and 48 hours for agricultural workers. Overtime rates: 120% for first 8 hours of weekly overtime, 140% for subsequent hours. Night work and holiday work have higher multipliers.

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 Cameroon earns 3510% less per hour in USD terms than one in Syria. Standard work weeks differ: Cameroon mandates 40 hours while Syria mandates 48 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Cameroon are $18 vs $790 in Syria.

See this comparison from Syria's perspective: Syria vs Cameroon

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Cameroon or Syria?

In Cameroon, the minimum wage is FCFA254/hr ($0.46 USD). In Syria, it is £S1,850/mo ($16.46 USD). Syria has the higher rate by 3510% 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 Cameroon may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.

How much more does the average worker earn in Cameroon compared to Syria?

The average gross salary in Cameroon is FCFA200,000/mo ($359.07 USD), compared to £S13,500/mo ($120.13 USD) in Syria. In USD terms, workers in Cameroon earn approximately 199% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Cameroon and Syria is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Cameroon earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Syria.

How do work hours compare between Cameroon and Syria?

Syria has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in Cameroon. Workers in Cameroon work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Cameroon 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 Cameroon and Syria?

While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Cameroon has the higher GDP per capita at $5,589, which is 1.2x that of Syria at $4,772. From Cameroon'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.