Key Facts: Ireland vs South Sudan Wages
- Ireland Minimum Wage
- €14.15/hr ($16.48 USD)
- South Sudan Minimum Wage
- £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD)
- Ireland Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- €4,350 /mo ($5,065.80 USD)
- South Sudan Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- £125,000 /mo ($27.23 USD)
- Data Sources
- Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) (2026-03-02), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / South Sudan Ministry of Labour (2026-02-25)
Ireland 
South Sudan
Updated 2026-03-02
The minimum wage in Ireland is roughly 11 times higher than in South Sudan in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a high-income and a low-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $5,066/mo in Ireland versus $27/mo in South Sudan, a 186.1:1 ratio. Ireland has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 4.6% compared to 12.4%.
Ireland's unemployment rate is 4.6% compared to South Sudan's 12.4%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Ireland | South Sudan |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | €14.15 $16.48 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | €2,452.62 $2,856.20 | £7,000 $1.52 |
| Minimum wage /yr | €29,432 $34,275.07 | — |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | €4,350 /mo $5,065.80 | £125,000 /mo $27.23 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | €3,100 /mo $3,610.11 | £112,000 /mo $24.40 |
| Median individual income /yr | €40,000 /yr $46,582.04 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Ireland is higher.
Work Week
- Ireland
-
39 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
There is no single statutory standard workweek; 39 hours is the most common. The Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 limits average weekly hours to 48 over a 4-month reference period. There is no statutory overtime rate; overtime pay is determined by employment contract or collective agreement.
- 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 Ireland would see a 981% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Ireland mandates 39 hours while South Sudan mandates 40 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Ireland are $643 vs $61 in South Sudan.
See this comparison from South Sudan's perspective: South Sudan vs Ireland
Compare Ireland with...
Ireland vs United States $ 7.25 /hr 
Ireland vs China ¥ 25 /hr 
Ireland vs Germany € 13.9 /hr 
Ireland vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr 
Ireland vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo 
Ireland vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr 
Ireland vs France € 12.02 /hr 
Ireland vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
Ireland vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr 
Ireland vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr 
Ireland vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
Ireland vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr 
Ireland vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo 
Ireland vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr 
Ireland vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr 
Ireland vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr 
Ireland vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr 
Ireland vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr 
Ireland vs Switzerland 
Ireland vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr 
Ireland vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo 
Ireland vs Sweden 
Ireland vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr 
Ireland vs Singapore Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Ireland or South Sudan?
In Ireland, the minimum wage is €14.15/hr ($16.48 USD). In South Sudan, it is £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD). Ireland has the higher rate by 981% 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 Ireland compared to South Sudan?
The average gross salary in Ireland is €4,350/mo ($5,065.80 USD), compared to £125,000/mo ($27.23 USD) in South Sudan. In USD terms, workers in Ireland earn approximately 18506% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Ireland and South Sudan is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Ireland earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in South Sudan.
How do work hours compare between Ireland and South Sudan?
South Sudan has a longer standard work week at 40 hours, compared to 39 hours in Ireland. Workers in Ireland work 39 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Ireland 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.