Key Facts: Malawi vs South Sudan Wages
- Malawi Minimum Wage
- MK240.40/hr ($0.14 USD)
- South Sudan Minimum Wage
- £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD)
- Malawi Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- MK120,000 /mo ($69.16 USD)
- South Sudan Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- £125,000 /mo ($27.23 USD)
- Data Sources
- Malawi Ministry of Labour / Minimum Wages Board / ILO (2026-02-25), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / South Sudan Ministry of Labour (2026-02-25)
Malawi 
South Sudan
Updated 2026-02-25
The minimum wage in Malawi is roughly 11 times lower than in South Sudan in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a low-income and a low-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $69/mo in Malawi versus $27/mo in South Sudan, a 2.5:1 ratio. Malawi has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 5.1% compared to 12.4%.
Malawi's unemployment rate is 5.1% compared to South Sudan's 12.4%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Malawi | South Sudan |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | MK240.40 $0.14 | — |
| Minimum wage /day | MK1,923 $1.11 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | MK50,000 $28.82 | £7,000 $1.52 |
| Minimum wage /yr | MK600,000 $345.82 | — |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | MK120,000 /mo $69.16 | £125,000 /mo $27.23 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | N/A/mo | £112,000 /mo $24.40 |
| Median individual income /yr | MK360,000 /yr $207.49 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Malawi is higher.
Work Week
- Malawi
-
48 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Employment Act (Cap 55:02) sets maximum ordinary working hours at 48 per week (8 hrs/day, 6 days) or 45 hours over 5 days. Overtime is compensated at 150% of normal hourly rate. Night work (6pm–6am) attracts a premium. Public holidays are compensated at double time if worked. Workers are entitled to 15 days of paid annual leave after 12 months.
- 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 Malawi earns 1000% less per hour in USD terms than one in South Sudan. Standard work weeks differ: Malawi mandates 48 hours while South Sudan mandates 40 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Malawi are $7 vs $61 in South Sudan.
See this comparison from South Sudan's perspective: South Sudan vs Malawi
Compare Malawi with...
Malawi vs United States $ 7.25 /hr 
Malawi vs China ¥ 25 /hr 
Malawi vs Germany € 13.9 /hr 
Malawi vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr 
Malawi vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo 
Malawi vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr 
Malawi vs France € 12.02 /hr 
Malawi vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
Malawi vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr 
Malawi vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr 
Malawi vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
Malawi vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr 
Malawi vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo 
Malawi vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr 
Malawi vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr 
Malawi vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr 
Malawi vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr 
Malawi vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr 
Malawi vs Switzerland 
Malawi vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr 
Malawi vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo 
Malawi vs Sweden 
Malawi vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr 
Malawi vs Singapore Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Malawi or South Sudan?
In Malawi, the minimum wage is MK240.40/hr ($0.14 USD). In South Sudan, it is £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD). South Sudan has the higher rate by 1000% 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 Malawi may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much more does the average worker earn in Malawi compared to South Sudan?
The average gross salary in Malawi is MK120,000/mo ($69.16 USD), compared to £125,000/mo ($27.23 USD) in South Sudan. In USD terms, workers in Malawi earn approximately 154% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Malawi and South Sudan is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Malawi earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in South Sudan.
How do work hours compare between Malawi and South Sudan?
Malawi has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in South Sudan. Workers in Malawi 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.