Key Facts: Kuwait vs South Sudan Wages
- Kuwait Minimum Wage
- KWD0.39/hr ($1.27 USD)
- South Sudan Minimum Wage
- £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD)
- Kuwait Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- KWD1,200 /mo ($3,908.79 USD)
- South Sudan Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- £125,000 /mo ($27.23 USD)
- Data Sources
- Public Authority for Manpower — State of Kuwait (2026-02-24), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / South Sudan Ministry of Labour (2026-02-25)
Kuwait 
South Sudan
Updated 2026-02-25
Kuwait, a high-income economy, and South Sudan, classified as low-income, take different approaches to wage policy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $3,909/mo in Kuwait versus $27/mo in South Sudan, a 143.6:1 ratio. Kuwait has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 2.2% compared to 12.4%.
Kuwait's unemployment rate is 2.2% compared to South Sudan's 12.4%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Kuwait | South Sudan |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | KWD0.39 $1.27 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | KWD75 $244.30 | £7,000 $1.52 |
| Minimum wage /yr | KWD900 $2,931.60 | — |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | KWD1,200 /mo $3,908.79 | £125,000 /mo $27.23 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | KWD1,200 /mo $3,908.79 | £112,000 /mo $24.40 |
| Median individual income /yr | KWD9,600 /yr $31,270.36 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Kuwait is higher.
Work Week
- Kuwait
-
48 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.25x pay
Labour Law No. 6 of 2010 sets the standard workweek at 48 hours (8 hours/day). During Ramadan, working hours are reduced to 36 hours/week (6 hours/day). Overtime premium is 25% of regular pay, with work on rest days or public holidays at double pay. Government sector hours are typically 35 hours/week.
- 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 Kuwait earns 20% less per hour in USD terms than one in South Sudan. Standard work weeks differ: Kuwait mandates 48 hours while South Sudan mandates 40 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Kuwait are $61 vs $61 in South Sudan.
See this comparison from South Sudan's perspective: South Sudan vs Kuwait
Compare Kuwait with...
Kuwait vs United States $ 7.25 /hr 
Kuwait vs China ¥ 25 /hr 
Kuwait vs Germany € 13.9 /hr 
Kuwait vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr 
Kuwait vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo 
Kuwait vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr 
Kuwait vs France € 12.02 /hr 
Kuwait vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
Kuwait vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr 
Kuwait vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr 
Kuwait vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
Kuwait vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr 
Kuwait vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo 
Kuwait vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr 
Kuwait vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr 
Kuwait vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr 
Kuwait vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr 
Kuwait vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr 
Kuwait vs Switzerland 
Kuwait vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr 
Kuwait vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo 
Kuwait vs Sweden 
Kuwait vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr 
Kuwait vs Singapore Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Kuwait or South Sudan?
In Kuwait, the minimum wage is KWD0.39/hr ($1.27 USD). In South Sudan, it is £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD). South Sudan has the higher rate by 20% 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 Kuwait may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much more does the average worker earn in Kuwait compared to South Sudan?
The average gross salary in Kuwait is KWD1,200/mo ($3,908.79 USD), compared to £125,000/mo ($27.23 USD) in South Sudan. In USD terms, workers in Kuwait earn approximately 14256% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Kuwait and South Sudan is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Kuwait earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in South Sudan.
How do work hours compare between Kuwait and South Sudan?
Kuwait has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in South Sudan. Workers in Kuwait work 48 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.