Key Facts: Latvia vs South Sudan Wages
- Latvia Minimum Wage
- €4.50/hr ($5.24 USD)
- South Sudan Minimum Wage
- £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD)
- Latvia Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- €1,600 /mo ($1,863.28 USD)
- South Sudan Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- £125,000 /mo ($27.23 USD)
- Data Sources
- State Revenue Service (Valsts ieņēmumu dienests); 2026 figure verified via Wikipedia EU member states by minimum wage table (eff 2026-01-01) (2026-05-04), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / South Sudan Ministry of Labour (2026-02-25)
Latvia
South Sudan
Updated 2026-05-04
The minimum wage in Latvia is 244% higher than in South Sudan when converted to USD. Average gross salaries diverge further: $1,863/mo in Latvia versus $27/mo in South Sudan, a 68.4:1 ratio. Latvia has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 6.6% compared to 12.4%.
Latvia's unemployment rate is 6.6% compared to South Sudan's 12.4%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Latvia | South Sudan |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | €4.50 $5.24 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | €780 $908.35 | £7,000 $1.52 |
| Minimum wage /yr | €9,360 $10,900.20 | — |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | €1,600 /mo $1,863.28 | £125,000 /mo $27.23 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | €1,180 /mo $1,374.17 | £112,000 /mo $24.40 |
| Median individual income /yr | €10,200 /yr $11,878.42 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Latvia is higher.
Work Week
- Latvia
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 2x pay
Standard workweek is 40 hours. Overtime is limited and must be compensated at 100% premium (double rate). Night work premium at least 50%. Overtime not to exceed 144 hours in a 4-month period.
- 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 Latvia would see a 244% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings.
See this comparison from South Sudan's perspective: South Sudan vs Latvia
Compare Latvia with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Latvia or South Sudan?
In Latvia, the minimum wage is €4.50/hr ($5.24 USD). In South Sudan, it is £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD). Latvia has the higher rate by 244% 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 Latvia compared to South Sudan?
The average gross salary in Latvia is €1,600/mo ($1,863.28 USD), compared to £125,000/mo ($27.23 USD) in South Sudan. In USD terms, workers in Latvia earn approximately 6743% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Latvia and South Sudan is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Latvia earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in South Sudan.
How do work hours compare between Latvia and South Sudan?
Both Latvia 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.