Cuba South Sudan

Updated 2026-02-25

Cuba

Minimum Wage

$MN12.12 /hr

$0.03 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

$MN6,649 /mo

South Sudan

Minimum Wage

£7,000 /mo

$1.52 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

£125,000 /mo

Min wage: -98% Cuba vs South Sudan Avg. salary: -40% Cuba vs South Sudan

The minimum wage in Cuba is roughly 52 times lower than in South Sudan in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a upper-middle-income and a low-income economy. Average salaries are lower in Cuba at $16/mo compared to $27/mo in South Sudan. Cuba has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 1.8% compared to 12.4%.

Cuba's unemployment rate is 1.8% compared to South Sudan's 12.4%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Cuba and South Sudan
Metric	Cuba	South Sudan	Diff
Minimum wage /hr	$MN12.12 $0.03	—	—
Minimum wage /mo	$MN2,100 $5.12	£7,000 $1.52	+235.9%
Minimum wage /yr	$MN25,200 $61.46	—	—
Avg. gross salary /mo	$MN6,649 /mo $16.22	£125,000 /mo $27.23	-40.4%
Avg. net salary /mo	$MN6,300 /mo $15.37	£112,000 /mo $24.40	-37.0%
Median individual income /yr	$MN48,000 /yr $117.07	N/A/yr	—

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

Work Week

Cuba: 44 hrs/wk standard

Max 44 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.25x pay

Labour Code sets standard working hours at 8 hours/day and 44 hours/week. Overtime is paid at 125% of normal rate. Some sectors work 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 in Cuba earns 5058% less per hour in USD terms than one in South Sudan. Standard work weeks differ: Cuba mandates 44 hours while South Sudan mandates 40 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Cuba are $1 vs $61 in South Sudan.

See this comparison from South Sudan's perspective: South Sudan vs Cuba

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Cuba or South Sudan?

In Cuba, the minimum wage is $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD). In South Sudan, it is £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD). South Sudan has the higher rate by 5058% 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 Cuba may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.

How much less does the average worker earn in Cuba compared to South Sudan?

The average gross salary in Cuba is $MN6,649/mo ($16.22 USD), compared to £125,000/mo ($27.23 USD) in South Sudan. In USD terms, workers in Cuba earn approximately 68% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Cuba and South Sudan is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in South Sudan earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Cuba.

How do work hours compare between Cuba and South Sudan?

Cuba has a longer standard work week at 44 hours, compared to 40 hours in South Sudan. Workers in Cuba 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.