Key Facts: Guatemala vs South Sudan Wages
- Guatemala Minimum Wage
- Q15.34/hr ($2 USD)
- South Sudan Minimum Wage
- £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD)
- Guatemala Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Q5,800 /mo ($756.19 USD)
- South Sudan Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- £125,000 /mo ($27.23 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministerio de Trabajo y Previsión Social — Guatemala (2026-02-25), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / South Sudan Ministry of Labour (2026-02-25)
Guatemala 
South Sudan
Updated 2026-02-25
Guatemala, a upper-middle-income economy, and South Sudan, classified as low-income, take different approaches to wage policy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $756/mo in Guatemala versus $27/mo in South Sudan, a 27.8:1 ratio. Guatemala has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 2.6% compared to 12.4%.
Guatemala's unemployment rate is 2.6% compared to South Sudan's 12.4%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Guatemala | South Sudan |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | Q15.34 $2 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | Q3,681 $479.92 | £7,000 $1.52 |
| Minimum wage /yr | Q44,172 $5,759.06 | — |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | Q5,800 /mo $756.19 | £125,000 /mo $27.23 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | Q5,200 /mo $677.97 | £112,000 /mo $24.40 |
| Median individual income /yr | Q28,000 /yr $3,650.59 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Guatemala is higher.
Work Week
- Guatemala
-
48 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Labour Code sets maximum ordinary work at 8 hours/day (daytime), 6 hours/day (nighttime), for a maximum of 48 hours/week (daytime) or 36 hours/week (nighttime). Overtime paid at 150% of regular rate.
- 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 Guatemala would see a 31% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Guatemala mandates 48 hours while South Sudan mandates 40 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Guatemala are $96 vs $61 in South Sudan.
See this comparison from South Sudan's perspective: South Sudan vs Guatemala
Compare Guatemala with...
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Guatemala vs China ¥ 25 /hr 
Guatemala vs Germany € 13.9 /hr 
Guatemala vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr 
Guatemala vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo 
Guatemala vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr 
Guatemala vs France € 12.02 /hr 
Guatemala vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
Guatemala vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr 
Guatemala vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr 
Guatemala vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
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Guatemala vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr 
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Guatemala vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr 
Guatemala vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr 
Guatemala vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr 
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Guatemala vs Singapore Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Guatemala or South Sudan?
In Guatemala, the minimum wage is Q15.34/hr ($2 USD). In South Sudan, it is £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD). Guatemala has the higher rate by 31% 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 Guatemala compared to South Sudan?
The average gross salary in Guatemala is Q5,800/mo ($756.19 USD), compared to £125,000/mo ($27.23 USD) in South Sudan. In USD terms, workers in Guatemala earn approximately 2677% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Guatemala and South Sudan is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Guatemala earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in South Sudan.
How do work hours compare between Guatemala and South Sudan?
Guatemala has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in South Sudan. Workers in Guatemala work 48 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.