Iraq Sri Lanka

Updated 2026-05-04

Iraq

Minimum Wage

ع.د1,823 /hr

$1.40 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

ع.د700,000 /mo

Sri Lanka

Minimum Wage

Rs135 /hr

$0.45 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

Rs55,000 /mo

Min wage: +209% Iraq vs Sri Lanka Avg. salary: +192% Iraq vs Sri Lanka

The minimum wage in Iraq is 209% higher than in Sri Lanka when converted to USD. Average gross salaries diverge further: $536/mo in Iraq versus $184/mo in Sri Lanka, a 2.9:1 ratio. Sri Lanka has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 4.0% compared to 15.5%.

From Iraq's perspective: adjusting for purchasing power, Iraq's minimum wage buys more than Sri Lanka's. The PPP-adjusted hourly rate in Iraq is $3 international dollars, compared to $2 in Sri Lanka. Iraq has lower GDP per capita ($14,464 vs $15,633). Iraq's unemployment rate is 15.5% compared to Sri Lanka's 4.0%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Iraq and Sri Lanka
Metric	Iraq	Sri Lanka	Diff
Minimum wage /hr	ع.د1,823 $1.40	Rs135 $0.45	+209.4%
Minimum wage /day	ع.د14,583 $11.17	Rs1,080 $3.61	+209.4%
Minimum wage /mo	ع.د350,000 $268.20	Rs27,000 $90.30	+197.0%
Minimum wage /yr	ع.د4,200,000 $3,218.39	Rs324,000 $1,083.61	+197.0%
Avg. gross salary /mo	ع.د700,000 /mo $536.40	Rs55,000 /mo $183.95	+191.6%
Avg. net salary /mo	N/A/mo	Rs49,500 /mo $165.55	—
Median individual income /yr	ع.د3,360,000 /yr $2,574.71	Rs420,000 /yr $1,404.68	+83.3%

Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Iraq is higher.

Work Week

Iraq: 48 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.5x pay

Labour Law No. 37 of 2015 sets maximum ordinary working hours at 8 per day / 48 per week. Friday is the weekly rest day. Overtime is compensated at 150% of normal hourly rate. Work on official holidays is paid at 200%. Ramadan working hours are reduced. Public sector employees typically work ~40 hours/week in practice.
Sri Lanka: 45 hrs/wk standard

Max 45 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.5x pay

Shop and Office Employees Act limits hours to 8 per day and 45 per week for commercial establishments. Factories Ordinance limits factory workers to similar hours. Overtime is paid at 1.5x the ordinary rate. Different rules apply to plantation workers and domestic workers. Public holidays: approximately 25 per year (Sri Lanka has one of the highest numbers of public holidays globally).

• WAGE TRAJECTORY (USD/hr)

Iraq Sri Lanka Source: wage.is · USD equivalent/hr

Year	Iraq (USD)	Sri Lanka (USD)
2015	$268/hr	—
2016	—	$33/hr
2019	—	$33/hr
2020	$268/hr	$33/hr
2021	—	$33/hr
2022	$268/hr	$42/hr
2023	—	$54/hr
2024	$268/hr	$54/hr
2025	—	$90/hr

What This Means for Workers

A minimum wage worker moving from Sri Lanka to Iraq would see a 209% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Iraq mandates 48 hours while Sri Lanka mandates 45 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Iraq are $67 vs $20 in Sri Lanka.

See this comparison from Sri Lanka's perspective: Sri Lanka vs Iraq

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Iraq or Sri Lanka?

In Iraq, the minimum wage is ع.د1,823/hr ($1.40 USD). In Sri Lanka, it is Rs135/hr ($0.45 USD). Iraq has the higher rate by 209% 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 Sri Lanka may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.

How much more does the average worker earn in Iraq compared to Sri Lanka?

The average gross salary in Iraq is ع.د700,000/mo ($536.40 USD), compared to Rs55,000/mo ($183.95 USD) in Sri Lanka. In USD terms, workers in Iraq earn approximately 192% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Iraq and Sri Lanka is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Iraq earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Sri Lanka.

Which country has better purchasing power for minimum wage workers, Iraq or Sri Lanka?

After adjusting for local prices using purchasing power parity (PPP), minimum wage workers in Iraq can afford more than those in Sri Lanka. The PPP-adjusted rate is $3 in Iraq and $2 in Sri Lanka. PPP converts wages into equivalent US dollar buying power, accounting for what a unit of currency actually buys locally. The 116% purchasing power gap means that even if the nominal wage in Sri Lanka appears competitive, minimum wage workers there face greater constraints on day-to-day spending.

How do work hours compare between Iraq and Sri Lanka?

Iraq has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 45 hours in Sri Lanka. Workers in Iraq work 48 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Sri Lanka 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 Iraq and Sri Lanka?

While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Sri Lanka has the higher GDP per capita at $15,633, which is 1.1x that of Iraq at $14,464. From Iraq'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.