Key Facts: Ecuador vs South Sudan Wages
- Ecuador Minimum Wage
- $1.96/hr
- South Sudan Minimum Wage
- £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD)
- Ecuador Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- $650 /mo ($650 USD)
- South Sudan Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- £125,000 /mo ($27.23 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministerio del Trabajo — Ecuador; 2025 figure verified via Wikipedia List of countries by minimum wage (eff 2025-01-01) (2026-05-04), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / South Sudan Ministry of Labour (2026-02-25)
Ecuador
South Sudan
Updated 2026-05-04
Ecuador, a upper-middle-income economy, and South Sudan, classified as low-income, take different approaches to wage policy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $650/mo in Ecuador versus $27/mo in South Sudan, a 23.9:1 ratio. Ecuador has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 3.3% compared to 12.4%.
Ecuador's unemployment rate is 3.3% compared to South Sudan's 12.4%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Ecuador | South Sudan |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | $1.96 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | $470 | £7,000 $1.52 |
| Minimum wage /yr | $6,580 | — |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | $650 /mo | £125,000 /mo $27.23 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | $585 /mo | £112,000 /mo $24.40 |
| Median individual income /yr | $4,800 /yr | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Ecuador is higher.
Work Week
- Ecuador
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 40 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Código del Trabajo sets the standard workweek at 40 hours (8 hours/day, 5 days). Overtime (horas suplementarias) is paid at 50% premium for day hours and 100% premium for night hours (7pm-6am) and weekends/holidays. Maximum 4 hours of overtime per day, 12 hours per week. Night work (7pm-6am) has a 25% surcharge even within regular hours.
- 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 Ecuador would see a 29% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings.
See this comparison from South Sudan's perspective: South Sudan vs Ecuador
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Ecuador or South Sudan?
In Ecuador, the minimum wage is $1.96/hr. In South Sudan, it is £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD). Ecuador has the higher rate by 29% 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 Ecuador compared to South Sudan?
The average gross salary in Ecuador is $650/mo, compared to £125,000/mo ($27.23 USD) in South Sudan. In USD terms, workers in Ecuador earn approximately 2287% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Ecuador and South Sudan is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Ecuador earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in South Sudan.
How do work hours compare between Ecuador and South Sudan?
Both Ecuador and South Sudan mandate a similar standard work week of 40 hours. When work hours are equal, the country with the higher minimum wage delivers proportionally higher weekly earnings. Standard work week rules set the baseline; actual hours worked often differ based on industry norms and individual employment contracts.