Key Facts: Guinea-Bissau vs Syria Wages
- Guinea-Bissau Minimum Wage
- CFA19,030/mo ($34.17 USD)
- Syria Minimum Wage
- £S1,850/mo ($16.46 USD)
- Guinea-Bissau Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- CFA95,000 /mo ($170.56 USD)
- Syria Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- £S13,500 /mo ($120.13 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILOSTAT (DF_EAR_INEE_CUR_NB, 2024 reporting); confirmed via Wikipedia master list (citation [95]) (2026-05-04), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Syria Report economic analyses (2026-02-25)
Guinea-Bissau
Syria
Updated 2026-05-04
The minimum wage in Guinea-Bissau is 108% higher than in Syria when converted to USD. Average salaries are higher in Guinea-Bissau at $171/mo compared to $120/mo in Syria. GDP per capita (PPP) in Syria is 1.5x that of Guinea-Bissau, underscoring the structural economic divide.
From Guinea-Bissau's perspective: adjusting for purchasing power, Guinea-Bissau's minimum wage buys more than Syria's. The PPP-adjusted hourly rate in Guinea-Bissau is $97 international dollars, compared to $1 in Syria. Guinea-Bissau has lower GDP per capita ($3,119 vs $4,772). Guinea-Bissau's unemployment rate is 2.7% compared to Syria's 13.6%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Guinea-Bissau | Syria |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /day | CFA761 $1.37 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | CFA19,030 $34.17 | £S1,850 $16.46 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | CFA95,000 /mo $170.56 | £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 Guinea-Bissau is higher.
Work Week
- Guinea-Bissau
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Labour Code sets 40 hours/week as the standard. Overtime provisions apply to formal employment. Portuguese is the official language; labour law reflects Lusophone and OHADA traditions.
- 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 Guinea-Bissau would see a 108% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Guinea-Bissau mandates 40 hours while Syria mandates 48 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Guinea-Bissau are $1,367 vs $790 in Syria.
See this comparison from Syria's perspective: Syria vs Guinea-Bissau
Compare Guinea-Bissau with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Guinea-Bissau or Syria?
In Guinea-Bissau, the minimum wage is CFA19,030/mo ($34.17 USD). In Syria, it is £S1,850/mo ($16.46 USD). Guinea-Bissau has the higher rate by 108% 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 Guinea-Bissau compared to Syria?
The average gross salary in Guinea-Bissau is CFA95,000/mo ($170.56 USD), compared to £S13,500/mo ($120.13 USD) in Syria. In USD terms, workers in Guinea-Bissau earn approximately 42% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Guinea-Bissau and Syria is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Guinea-Bissau 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, Guinea-Bissau or Syria?
After adjusting for local prices using purchasing power parity (PPP), minimum wage workers in Guinea-Bissau can afford more than those in Syria. The PPP-adjusted rate is $97 in Guinea-Bissau and $1 in Syria. PPP converts wages into equivalent US dollar buying power, accounting for what a unit of currency actually buys locally. The 9129% 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 Guinea-Bissau and Syria?
Syria has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in Guinea-Bissau. Workers in Guinea-Bissau work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Guinea-Bissau 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 Guinea-Bissau and Syria?
While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Syria has the higher GDP per capita at $4,772, which is 1.5x that of Guinea-Bissau at $3,119. From Guinea-Bissau's perspective, this means goods and services are priced at a lower 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.