Key Facts: Canada vs Syria Wages
- Canada Minimum Wage
- C$18.10/hr ($13.09 USD)
- Syria Minimum Wage
- £S1,850/mo ($16.46 USD)
- Canada Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- C$5,708 /mo ($4,127.26 USD)
- Syria Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- £S13,500 /mo ($120.13 USD)
- Data Sources
- Government of Canada - Labour Program (2026-05-28), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Syria Report economic analyses (2026-02-25)
Canada
Syria
Updated 2026-05-28
Canada, a high-income economy, and Syria, classified as low-income, take different approaches to wage policy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $4,127/mo in Canada versus $120/mo in Syria, a 34.4:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Canada is 13.5x that of Syria, underscoring the structural economic divide.
Canada has higher GDP per capita ($64,610 vs $4,772). Canada's unemployment rate is 6.9% compared to Syria's 13.6%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Canada | Syria |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | C$18.10 $13.09 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | C$3,137.33 $2,268.50 | £S1,850 $16.46 |
| Minimum wage /yr | C$37,648 $27,221.98 | — |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | C$5,708 /mo $4,127.26 | £S13,500 /mo $120.13 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | C$4,334 /mo $3,133.77 | £S12,000 /mo $106.78 |
| Median individual income /yr | C$44,000 /yr $31,814.90 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Canada is higher.
Work Week
- Canada
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Federal standard is 40 hours/week with overtime after 40 hours at 1.5x. Maximum 48 hours/week unless authorized. Provincial rules vary (e.g., Ontario overtime after 44 hrs).
- 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 Canada earns 26% less per hour in USD terms than one in Syria. Standard work weeks differ: Canada mandates 40 hours while Syria mandates 48 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Canada are $523 vs $790 in Syria.
See this comparison from Syria's perspective: Syria vs Canada
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Canada or Syria?
In Canada, the minimum wage is C$18.10/hr ($13.09 USD). In Syria, it is £S1,850/mo ($16.46 USD). Syria has the higher rate by 26% 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 Canada may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much more does the average worker earn in Canada compared to Syria?
The average gross salary in Canada is C$5,708/mo ($4,127.26 USD), compared to £S13,500/mo ($120.13 USD) in Syria. In USD terms, workers in Canada earn approximately 3336% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Canada and Syria is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Canada earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Syria.
How do work hours compare between Canada and Syria?
Syria has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in Canada. Workers in Canada work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Canada 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 Canada and Syria?
While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Canada has the higher GDP per capita at $64,610, which is 13.5x that of Syria at $4,772. From Canada'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.