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Key Facts: Libya vs South Sudan Wages

Libya Minimum Wage
LD450/mo ($92.59 USD)
South Sudan Minimum Wage
£7,000/mo ($1.52 USD)
Libya Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
LD1,800 /mo ($370.37 USD)
South Sudan Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
£125,000 /mo ($27.23 USD)
Data Sources
ILO / Ministry of Labour and Rehabilitation (Libya) (2026-02-25), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / South Sudan Ministry of Labour (2026-02-25)

Libya flag Libya South Sudan flag South Sudan

Updated 2026-02-25

Libya flag Libya

Minimum Wage

LD450 /mo

$92.59 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

LD1,800 /mo

South Sudan flag South Sudan

Minimum Wage

£7,000 /mo

$1.52 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

£125,000 /mo

Min wage: +5973% Libya vs South Sudan Avg. salary: +1260% Libya vs South Sudan

The minimum wage in Libya is roughly 61 times higher than in South Sudan in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a upper-middle-income and a low-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $370/mo in Libya versus $27/mo in South Sudan, a 13.6:1 ratio. South Sudan has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 12.4% compared to 18.8%.

From Libya's perspective: adjusting for purchasing power, Libya's minimum wage buys more than South Sudan's. The PPP-adjusted hourly rate in Libya is $203 international dollars, compared to $55 in South Sudan. Libya's unemployment rate is 18.8% compared to South Sudan's 12.4%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Libya and South Sudan
Metric Libya South Sudan
Minimum wage /mo LD450 $92.59 £7,000 $1.52
Avg. gross salary /mo LD1,800 /mo $370.37 £125,000 /mo $27.23
Avg. net salary /mo N/A/mo £112,000 /mo $24.40
Median individual income /yr LD7,200 /yr $1,481.48 N/A/yr

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

Work Week

Libya

48 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.5x pay

Labour Law No. 12 (2010) sets standard at 48 hours/week (8 hrs/day, 6 days). Friday is the statutory rest day. During Ramadan, hours are reduced. Overtime paid at 1.5x. These regulations are inconsistently enforced given the political situation.

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.

• WAGE TRAJECTORY (USD/mo)

Libya South Sudan Source: wage.is · USD equivalent/mo

What This Means for Workers

A minimum wage worker moving from South Sudan to Libya would see a 5973% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Libya mandates 48 hours while South Sudan mandates 40 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Libya are $4,444 vs $61 in South Sudan.

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

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Libya or South Sudan?

In Libya, the minimum wage is LD450/mo ($92.59 USD). In South Sudan, it is £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD). Libya has the higher rate by 5973% 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 Libya compared to South Sudan?

The average gross salary in Libya is LD1,800/mo ($370.37 USD), compared to £125,000/mo ($27.23 USD) in South Sudan. In USD terms, workers in Libya earn approximately 1260% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Libya and South Sudan is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Libya earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in South Sudan.

Which country has better purchasing power for minimum wage workers, Libya or South Sudan?

After adjusting for local prices using purchasing power parity (PPP), minimum wage workers in Libya can afford more than those in South Sudan. The PPP-adjusted rate is $203 in Libya and $55 in South Sudan. PPP converts wages into equivalent US dollar buying power, accounting for what a unit of currency actually buys locally. The 267% purchasing power gap means that even if the nominal wage in South Sudan appears competitive, minimum wage workers there face greater constraints on day-to-day spending.

How do work hours compare between Libya and South Sudan?

Libya has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in South Sudan. Workers in Libya 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.