Key Facts: Malaysia vs South Sudan Wages
- Malaysia Minimum Wage
- RM8.72/hr ($2.20 USD)
- South Sudan Minimum Wage
- £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD)
- Malaysia Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- RM4,000 /mo ($1,008.83 USD)
- South Sudan Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- £125,000 /mo ($27.23 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministry of Human Resources (MOHR); Minimum Wages Order 2024 P.U.(A) 376 eff 2025-02-01; primary source gajiminimum.mohr.gov.my (2026-05-27), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / South Sudan Ministry of Labour (2026-02-25)
Malaysia 
South Sudan
Updated 2026-05-27
Malaysia, a upper-middle-income economy, and South Sudan, classified as low-income, take different approaches to wage policy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $1,009/mo in Malaysia versus $27/mo in South Sudan, a 37.1:1 ratio. Malaysia has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 3.8% compared to 12.4%.
Malaysia's unemployment rate is 3.8% compared to South Sudan's 12.4%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Malaysia | South Sudan |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | RM8.72 $2.20 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | RM1,700 $428.75 | £7,000 $1.52 |
| Minimum wage /yr | RM20,400 $5,145.02 | — |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | RM4,000 /mo $1,008.83 | £125,000 /mo $27.23 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | RM3,520 /mo $887.77 | £112,000 /mo $24.40 |
| Median individual income /yr | RM31,200 /yr $7,868.85 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Malaysia is higher.
Work Week
- Malaysia
-
45 hrs/wk standard
Max 45 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Employment Act 1955 (amended 2022) reduced maximum working hours from 48 to 45 hours/week, effective 1 January 2023. Maximum 8 hours/day or 45 hours/week. Overtime at 1.5x on normal days, 2x on rest days, 3x on public holidays. Maximum overtime: 104 hours/month. Applies to employees earning up to MYR 4,000/mo (threshold raised from MYR 2,000 in 2023 amendments).
- 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 Malaysia would see a 44% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Malaysia mandates 45 hours while South Sudan mandates 40 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Malaysia are $99 vs $61 in South Sudan.
See this comparison from South Sudan's perspective: South Sudan vs Malaysia
Compare Malaysia with...
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Malaysia vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr 
Malaysia vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo 
Malaysia vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr 
Malaysia vs France € 12.02 /hr 
Malaysia vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
Malaysia vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr 
Malaysia vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr 
Malaysia vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
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Malaysia vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo 
Malaysia vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr 
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Malaysia vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr 
Malaysia vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr 
Malaysia vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr 
Malaysia vs Switzerland 
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Malaysia vs Singapore Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Malaysia or South Sudan?
In Malaysia, the minimum wage is RM8.72/hr ($2.20 USD). In South Sudan, it is £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD). Malaysia has the higher rate by 44% 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 Malaysia compared to South Sudan?
The average gross salary in Malaysia is RM4,000/mo ($1,008.83 USD), compared to £125,000/mo ($27.23 USD) in South Sudan. In USD terms, workers in Malaysia earn approximately 3605% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Malaysia and South Sudan is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Malaysia earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in South Sudan.
How do work hours compare between Malaysia and South Sudan?
Malaysia has a longer standard work week at 45 hours, compared to 40 hours in South Sudan. Workers in Malaysia work 45 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.