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Key Facts: Japan vs South Sudan Wages

Japan Minimum Wage
¥1,121/hr ($7.03 USD)
South Sudan Minimum Wage
£7,000/mo ($1.52 USD)
Japan Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
¥398,333 /mo ($2,497.54 USD)
South Sudan Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
£125,000 /mo ($27.23 USD)
Data Sources
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (2026-05-23), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / South Sudan Ministry of Labour (2026-02-25)

Japan flag Japan South Sudan flag South Sudan

Updated 2026-05-23

Japan flag Japan

Minimum Wage

¥1,121 /hr

$7.03 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

¥398,333 /mo

South Sudan flag South Sudan

Minimum Wage

£7,000 /mo

$1.52 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

£125,000 /mo

Min wage: +361% Japan vs South Sudan Avg. salary: +9073% Japan vs South Sudan

The minimum wage in Japan is 361% higher than in South Sudan when converted to USD. Average gross salaries diverge further: $2,498/mo in Japan versus $27/mo in South Sudan, a 91.7:1 ratio. Japan has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 2.5% compared to 12.4%.

Japan's unemployment rate is 2.5% compared to South Sudan's 12.4%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Japan and South Sudan
Metric Japan South Sudan
Minimum wage /hr ¥1,121 $7.03
Minimum wage /mo ¥194,303 $1,218.28 £7,000 $1.52
Minimum wage /yr ¥2,331,680 $14,619.60
Avg. gross salary /mo ¥398,333 /mo $2,497.54 £125,000 /mo $27.23
Avg. net salary /mo ¥290,833 /mo $1,823.52 £112,000 /mo $24.40
Median individual income /yr ¥3,620,000 /yr $22,697.35 N/A/yr

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

Work Week

Japan

40 hrs/wk standard

Overtime : 1.25x pay

Labour Standards Act sets 40 hrs/week base. Overtime premium 25% (50% over 60 hrs/month). Late night (10pm-5am) adds 25%. Holiday work adds 35%.

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 Japan would see a 361% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings.

See this comparison from South Sudan's perspective: South Sudan vs Japan

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Japan or South Sudan?

In Japan, the minimum wage is ¥1,121/hr ($7.03 USD). In South Sudan, it is £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD). Japan has the higher rate by 361% 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 Japan compared to South Sudan?

The average gross salary in Japan is ¥398,333/mo ($2,497.54 USD), compared to £125,000/mo ($27.23 USD) in South Sudan. In USD terms, workers in Japan earn approximately 9073% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Japan and South Sudan is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Japan earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in South Sudan.

How do work hours compare between Japan and South Sudan?

Both Japan 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.