Key Facts: Madagascar vs Syria Wages
- Madagascar Minimum Wage
- Ar1,202/hr ($0.27 USD)
- Syria Minimum Wage
- £S1,850/mo ($16.46 USD)
- Madagascar Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Ar500,000 /mo ($112.36 USD)
- Syria Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- £S13,500 /mo ($120.13 USD)
- Data Sources
- Malagasy Ministry of Labour and Social Laws / ILO (2026-02-25), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Syria Report economic analyses (2026-02-25)
Madagascar
Syria
Updated 2026-02-25
The minimum wage in Madagascar is roughly 61 times lower than in Syria in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a low-income and a low-income economy. Average salaries are lower in Madagascar at $112/mo compared to $120/mo in Syria. GDP per capita (PPP) in Syria is 2.5x that of Madagascar, underscoring the structural economic divide.
Madagascar has lower GDP per capita ($1,884 vs $4,772). Madagascar's unemployment rate is 3.0% compared to Syria's 13.6%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Madagascar | Syria |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | Ar1,202 $0.27 | — |
| Minimum wage /day | Ar9,615 $2.16 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | Ar250,000 $56.18 | £S1,850 $16.46 |
| Minimum wage /yr | Ar3,000,000 $674.16 | — |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | Ar500,000 /mo $112.36 | £S13,500 /mo $120.13 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | N/A/mo | £S12,000 /mo $106.78 |
| Median individual income /yr | Ar1,200,000 /yr $269.66 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Madagascar is higher.
Work Week
- Madagascar
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.3x pay
Labour Code (Law No. 2003-044) sets standard hours at 40 per week (8 hrs/day, 5 days). Maximum including overtime is 48 hours/week. Overtime is compensated at 130% of normal rate (for the first 8 hours of overtime per week), then 160% (for subsequent hours), and 200% on Sundays and public holidays. Night work premium applies. EPZ workers may have different arrangements under zone-specific regulations.
- Syria
-
48 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Labour Law No. 17 of 2010 set 48 hours/week as the standard. Friday is the weekly rest day. Enforcement is impossible across most of the country due to conflict. Government employees in Damascus and other major cities are the primary remaining formal workforce.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker in Madagascar earns 5995% less per hour in USD terms than one in Syria. Standard work weeks differ: Madagascar mandates 40 hours while Syria mandates 48 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Madagascar are $11 vs $790 in Syria.
See this comparison from Syria's perspective: Syria vs Madagascar
Compare Madagascar with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Madagascar or Syria?
In Madagascar, the minimum wage is Ar1,202/hr ($0.27 USD). In Syria, it is £S1,850/mo ($16.46 USD). Syria has the higher rate by 5995% 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 Madagascar may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much less does the average worker earn in Madagascar compared to Syria?
The average gross salary in Madagascar is Ar500,000/mo ($112.36 USD), compared to £S13,500/mo ($120.13 USD) in Syria. In USD terms, workers in Madagascar earn approximately 7% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Madagascar and Syria is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Syria earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Madagascar.
How do work hours compare between Madagascar and Syria?
Syria has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in Madagascar. Workers in Madagascar work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Madagascar 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.
What is the cost of living difference between Madagascar and Syria?
While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Syria has the higher GDP per capita at $4,772, which is 2.5x that of Madagascar at $1,884. From Madagascar's perspective, this means goods and services are priced at a lower economic level. A higher GDP per capita generally correlates with higher wages, higher consumer prices, and greater availability of goods and services. Workers moving between these two countries should expect significant differences in rent, food, and transportation costs.