Key Facts: Equatorial Guinea vs Syria Wages
- Equatorial Guinea Minimum Wage
- FCFA129,035/mo ($231.66 USD)
- Syria Minimum Wage
- £S1,850/mo ($16.46 USD)
- Equatorial Guinea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- FCFA350,000 /mo ($628.37 USD)
- Syria Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- £S13,500 /mo ($120.13 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Ministerio de Trabajo de Guinea Ecuatorial (2026-02-25), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Syria Report economic analyses (2026-02-25)
Equatorial Guinea
Syria
Updated 2026-02-25
The minimum wage in Equatorial Guinea is roughly 14 times higher than in Syria in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a upper-middle-income and a low-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $628/mo in Equatorial Guinea versus $120/mo in Syria, a 5.2:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Equatorial Guinea is 3.7x that of Syria, underscoring the structural economic divide.
From Equatorial Guinea's perspective: adjusting for purchasing power, Equatorial Guinea's minimum wage buys more than Syria's. The PPP-adjusted hourly rate in Equatorial Guinea is $554 international dollars, compared to $1 in Syria. Equatorial Guinea has higher GDP per capita ($17,567 vs $4,772). Equatorial Guinea's unemployment rate is 8.3% compared to Syria's 13.6%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Equatorial Guinea | Syria |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /day | FCFA5,161 $9.27 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | FCFA129,035 $231.66 | £S1,850 $16.46 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | FCFA350,000 /mo $628.37 | £S13,500 /mo $120.13 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | N/A/mo | £S12,000 /mo $106.78 |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Equatorial Guinea is higher.
Work Week
- Equatorial Guinea
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Labour Code (Spanish-heritage) sets 40 hours/week standard, 48 hours maximum including overtime. Oil sector may have different contractual arrangements. Spanish and French are official languages.
- 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.
• WAGE TRAJECTORY (USD/mo)
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from Syria to Equatorial Guinea would see a 1307% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Equatorial Guinea mandates 40 hours while Syria mandates 48 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Equatorial Guinea are $9,266 vs $790 in Syria.
See this comparison from Syria's perspective: Syria vs Equatorial Guinea
Compare Equatorial Guinea with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Equatorial Guinea or Syria?
In Equatorial Guinea, the minimum wage is FCFA129,035/mo ($231.66 USD). In Syria, it is £S1,850/mo ($16.46 USD). Equatorial Guinea has the higher rate by 1307% 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 Syria may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much more does the average worker earn in Equatorial Guinea compared to Syria?
The average gross salary in Equatorial Guinea is FCFA350,000/mo ($628.37 USD), compared to £S13,500/mo ($120.13 USD) in Syria. In USD terms, workers in Equatorial Guinea earn approximately 423% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Equatorial Guinea and Syria is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Equatorial Guinea earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Syria.
Which country has better purchasing power for minimum wage workers, Equatorial Guinea or Syria?
After adjusting for local prices using purchasing power parity (PPP), minimum wage workers in Equatorial Guinea can afford more than those in Syria. The PPP-adjusted rate is $554 in Equatorial Guinea and $1 in Syria. PPP converts wages into equivalent US dollar buying power, accounting for what a unit of currency actually buys locally. The 52550% purchasing power gap means that even if the nominal wage in Syria appears competitive, minimum wage workers there face greater constraints on day-to-day spending.
How do work hours compare between Equatorial Guinea and Syria?
Syria has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in Equatorial Guinea. Workers in Equatorial Guinea work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Equatorial Guinea 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 Equatorial Guinea and Syria?
While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Equatorial Guinea has the higher GDP per capita at $17,567, which is 3.7x that of Syria at $4,772. From Equatorial Guinea'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.