Key Facts: Kenya vs South Sudan Wages
- Kenya Minimum Wage
- KSh93/hr ($0.61 USD)
- South Sudan Minimum Wage
- £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD)
- Kenya Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- KSh50,000 /mo ($325.73 USD)
- South Sudan Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- £125,000 /mo ($27.23 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministry of Labour and Social Protection; Legal Notice No. 164 of 2024 (eff 2024-11-01) per labour.go.ke gazette PDF (2026-05-27), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / South Sudan Ministry of Labour (2026-02-25)
Kenya 
South Sudan
Updated 2026-05-27
The minimum wage in Kenya is 60% lower than in South Sudan in USD terms, though average salaries tell a different story. Average gross salaries diverge further: $326/mo in Kenya versus $27/mo in South Sudan, a 12.0:1 ratio. Kenya has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 5.5% compared to 12.4%.
Kenya's unemployment rate is 5.5% compared to South Sudan's 12.4%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Kenya | South Sudan |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | KSh93 $0.61 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | KSh16,113.75 $104.98 | £7,000 $1.52 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | KSh50,000 /mo $325.73 | £125,000 /mo $27.23 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | KSh38,500 /mo $250.81 | £112,000 /mo $24.40 |
| Median individual income /yr | KSh180,000 /yr $1,172.64 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Kenya is higher.
Work Week
- Kenya
-
52 hrs/wk standard
Max 52 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Employment Act sets maximum normal working hours at 52 per week. Most formal sector employees work 40-45 hours by contract. Overtime paid at 1.5x normal rate. Work on rest days paid at 2x. Public holidays at 2x.
- 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 in Kenya earns 152% less per hour in USD terms than one in South Sudan. Standard work weeks differ: Kenya mandates 52 hours while South Sudan mandates 40 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Kenya are $32 vs $61 in South Sudan.
See this comparison from South Sudan's perspective: South Sudan vs Kenya
Compare Kenya with...
Kenya vs United States $ 7.25 /hr 
Kenya vs China ¥ 25 /hr 
Kenya vs Germany € 13.9 /hr 
Kenya vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr 
Kenya vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo 
Kenya vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr 
Kenya vs France € 12.02 /hr 
Kenya vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
Kenya vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr 
Kenya vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr 
Kenya vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
Kenya vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr 
Kenya vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo 
Kenya vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr 
Kenya vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr 
Kenya vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr 
Kenya vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr 
Kenya vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr 
Kenya vs Switzerland 
Kenya vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr 
Kenya vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo 
Kenya vs Sweden 
Kenya vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr 
Kenya vs Singapore Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Kenya or South Sudan?
In Kenya, the minimum wage is KSh93/hr ($0.61 USD). In South Sudan, it is £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD). South Sudan has the higher rate by 152% 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 Kenya may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much more does the average worker earn in Kenya compared to South Sudan?
The average gross salary in Kenya is KSh50,000/mo ($325.73 USD), compared to £125,000/mo ($27.23 USD) in South Sudan. In USD terms, workers in Kenya earn approximately 1096% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Kenya and South Sudan is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Kenya earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in South Sudan.
How do work hours compare between Kenya and South Sudan?
Kenya has a longer standard work week at 52 hours, compared to 40 hours in South Sudan. Workers in Kenya work 52 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.