Key Facts: Ghana vs South Sudan Wages
- Ghana Minimum Wage
- GH₵2.72/hr ($0.18 USD)
- South Sudan Minimum Wage
- £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD)
- Ghana Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- GH₵3,500 /mo ($235.69 USD)
- South Sudan Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- £125,000 /mo ($27.23 USD)
- Data Sources
- Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) / Ministry of Finance (MOFEP) / National Tripartite Committee; 2025-2026 daily rates per official gazettements (2026-05-27), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / South Sudan Ministry of Labour (2026-02-25)
Ghana
South Sudan
Updated 2026-05-27
The minimum wage in Ghana is roughly 8 times lower than in South Sudan in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a lower-middle-income and a low-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $236/mo in Ghana versus $27/mo in South Sudan, a 8.7:1 ratio. Ghana has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 3.0% compared to 12.4%.
Ghana's unemployment rate is 3.0% compared to South Sudan's 12.4%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Ghana | South Sudan |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | GH₵2.72 $0.18 | — |
| Minimum wage /day | GH₵21.77 $1.47 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | GH₵565.02 $38.05 | £7,000 $1.52 |
| Minimum wage /yr | GH₵6,780.24 $456.58 | — |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | GH₵3,500 /mo $235.69 | £125,000 /mo $27.23 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | GH₵3,000 /mo $202.02 | £112,000 /mo $24.40 |
| Median individual income /yr | GH₵12,000 /yr $808.08 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Ghana is higher.
Work Week
- Ghana
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Labour Act 2003 (Act 651) sets standard working hours at 8 hours/day, 40 hours/week. Overtime must be paid at 1.5x the normal rate. Work on rest days or public holidays at 2x.
- 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 Ghana earns 732% less per hour in USD terms than one in South Sudan.
See this comparison from South Sudan's perspective: South Sudan vs Ghana
Compare Ghana with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Ghana or South Sudan?
In Ghana, the minimum wage is GH₵2.72/hr ($0.18 USD). In South Sudan, it is £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD). South Sudan has the higher rate by 732% 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 Ghana may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much more does the average worker earn in Ghana compared to South Sudan?
The average gross salary in Ghana is GH₵3,500/mo ($235.69 USD), compared to £125,000/mo ($27.23 USD) in South Sudan. In USD terms, workers in Ghana earn approximately 766% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Ghana and South Sudan is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Ghana earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in South Sudan.
How do work hours compare between Ghana and South Sudan?
Both Ghana 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.