Key Facts: Faroe Islands vs South Africa Wages
- Faroe Islands Minimum Wage
- No statutory minimum wage
- South Africa Minimum Wage
- R30.23/hr ($1.86 USD)
- Faroe Islands Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- kr34,278 /mo ($5,341.42 USD)
- South Africa Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- R26,500 /mo ($1,630.41 USD)
- Data Sources
- Statistics Faroe Islands (hagstova.fo) (2026-05-04), Department of Employment and Labour; 2026 figure cross-verified via Wikipedia List of countries by minimum wage (eff 2026-03-01) (2026-05-04)
Faroe Islands 
South Africa
Updated 2026-05-04
Faroe Islands has no statutory minimum wage, while South Africa sets a floor of $2/hr. Average gross salaries diverge further: $5,341/mo in Faroe Islands versus $1,630/mo in South Africa, a 3.3:1 ratio.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Faroe Islands | South Africa |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | None | R30.23 $1.86 |
| Minimum wage /mo | None | R5,239.87 $322.38 |
| Minimum wage /yr | None | R62,878.40 $3,868.58 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | kr34,278 /mo $5,341.42 | R26,500 /mo $1,630.41 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | N/A/mo | R21,500 /mo $1,322.78 |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | R72,000 /yr $4,429.79 |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Faroe Islands is higher.
Work Week
- Faroe Islands
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Standard workweek is 40 hours. Working conditions governed by collective agreements.
- South Africa
-
45 hrs/wk standard
Max 45 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Basic Conditions of Employment Act sets maximum ordinary hours at 45 per week (9 hrs/day for 5-day week, or 8 hrs/day for 6-day week). Overtime maximum of 10 additional hours per week. Overtime rate is 1.5x; Sunday/public holiday work is 2x.
What This Means for Workers
Standard work weeks differ: Faroe Islands mandates 40 hours while South Africa mandates 45 hours.
See this comparison from South Africa's perspective: South Africa vs Faroe Islands
Compare Faroe Islands with...
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Faroe Islands vs Germany € 13.9 /hr 
Faroe Islands vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr 
Faroe Islands vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo 
Faroe Islands vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr 
Faroe Islands vs France € 12.02 /hr 
Faroe Islands vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
Faroe Islands vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr 
Faroe Islands vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr 
Faroe Islands vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
Faroe Islands vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr 
Faroe Islands vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo 
Faroe Islands vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr 
Faroe Islands vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr 
Faroe Islands vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr 
Faroe Islands vs Switzerland 
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Faroe Islands vs Israel ₪ 35.4 /hr Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Faroe Islands or South Africa?
In Faroe Islands, the minimum wage is no statutory minimum wage. In South Africa, it is R30.23/hr ($1.86 USD).
How much more does the average worker earn in Faroe Islands compared to South Africa?
The average gross salary in Faroe Islands is kr34,278/mo ($5,341.42 USD), compared to R26,500/mo ($1,630.41 USD) in South Africa. In USD terms, workers in Faroe Islands earn approximately 228% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Faroe Islands and South Africa is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Faroe Islands earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in South Africa.
How do work hours compare between Faroe Islands and South Africa?
South Africa has a longer standard work week at 45 hours, compared to 40 hours in Faroe Islands. Workers in Faroe Islands work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Faroe Islands 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.