Key Facts: Lebanon vs South Sudan Wages
- Lebanon Minimum Wage
- L£161,600/hr ($1.81 USD)
- South Sudan Minimum Wage
- £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD)
- Lebanon Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- L£27,000,000 /mo ($301.68 USD)
- South Sudan Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- £125,000 /mo ($27.23 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministry of Labour — Lebanon (2026-02-25), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / South Sudan Ministry of Labour (2026-02-25)
Lebanon
South Sudan
Updated 2026-02-25
Lebanon, a lower-middle-income economy, and South Sudan, classified as low-income, take different approaches to wage policy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $302/mo in Lebanon versus $27/mo in South Sudan, a 11.1:1 ratio.
Lebanon's unemployment rate is 11.0% compared to South Sudan's 12.4%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Lebanon | South Sudan |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | L£161,600 $1.81 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | L£28,000,000 $312.85 | £7,000 $1.52 |
| Minimum wage /yr | L£336,000,000 $3,754.19 | — |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | L£27,000,000 /mo $301.68 | £125,000 /mo $27.23 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | L£24,000,000 /mo $268.16 | £112,000 /mo $24.40 |
| Median individual income /yr | L£144,000,000 /yr $1,608.94 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Lebanon is higher.
Work Week
- Lebanon
-
48 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Labour Code sets maximum working hours at 48 per week. Overtime is paid at 150% of normal rate. Overtime on holidays at 200%. In practice, many workers work longer hours due to the economic crisis.
- 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 Lebanon would see a 18% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Lebanon mandates 48 hours while South Sudan mandates 40 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Lebanon are $87 vs $61 in South Sudan.
See this comparison from South Sudan's perspective: South Sudan vs Lebanon
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Lebanon or South Sudan?
In Lebanon, the minimum wage is L£161,600/hr ($1.81 USD). In South Sudan, it is £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD). Lebanon has the higher rate by 18% 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 Lebanon compared to South Sudan?
The average gross salary in Lebanon is L£27,000,000/mo ($301.68 USD), compared to £125,000/mo ($27.23 USD) in South Sudan. In USD terms, workers in Lebanon earn approximately 1008% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Lebanon and South Sudan is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Lebanon earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in South Sudan.
How do work hours compare between Lebanon and South Sudan?
Lebanon has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in South Sudan. Workers in Lebanon 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.