Mali Sri Lanka

Updated 2026-05-04

Mali

Minimum Wage

CFA192.30 /hr

$0.35 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

CFA120,000 /mo

Sri Lanka

Minimum Wage

Rs135 /hr

$0.45 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

Rs55,000 /mo

Min wage: -24% Mali vs Sri Lanka Avg. salary: +17% Mali vs Sri Lanka

Mali, a low-income economy, and Sri Lanka, classified as lower-middle-income, take different approaches to wage policy. Average salaries are higher in Mali at $215/mo compared to $184/mo in Sri Lanka. GDP per capita (PPP) in Sri Lanka is 4.7x that of Mali, underscoring the structural economic divide.

From Mali's perspective: adjusting for purchasing power, Mali's minimum wage buys less than Sri Lanka's. The PPP-adjusted hourly rate in Mali is $1 international dollars, compared to $2 in Sri Lanka. Mali has lower GDP per capita ($3,315 vs $15,633). Mali's unemployment rate is 2.8% compared to Sri Lanka's 4.0%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Mali and Sri Lanka
Metric	Mali	Sri Lanka	Diff
Minimum wage /hr	CFA192.30 $0.35	Rs135 $0.45	-23.5%
Minimum wage /day	CFA1,538 $2.76	Rs1,080 $3.61	-23.6%
Minimum wage /mo	CFA40,000 $71.81	Rs27,000 $90.30	-20.5%
Minimum wage /yr	CFA480,000 $861.76	Rs324,000 $1,083.61	-20.5%
Avg. gross salary /mo	CFA120,000 /mo $215.44	Rs55,000 /mo $183.95	+17.1%
Avg. net salary /mo	N/A/mo	Rs49,500 /mo $165.55	—
Median individual income /yr	CFA360,000 /yr $646.32	Rs420,000 /yr $1,404.68	-54.0%

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

Work Week

Mali: 40 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.15x pay

Labour Code (Law No. 92-020 of 23 September 1992, amended) sets standard hours at 40 per week (8 hrs/day, 5 days). Maximum including overtime is 48 hours/week. Overtime rates: 115% for day hours; 130% for hours between 21:00 and 05:00 on weekdays; 150% for Sunday daytime; 200% for night hours on Sundays/holidays. Workers are entitled to 2.5 days of paid leave per month worked (30 days/year). Friday prayers (Jumu'ah) are accommodated — Mali is ~90% Muslim.
Sri Lanka: 45 hrs/wk standard

Max 45 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.5x pay

Shop and Office Employees Act limits hours to 8 per day and 45 per week for commercial establishments. Factories Ordinance limits factory workers to similar hours. Overtime is paid at 1.5x the ordinary rate. Different rules apply to plantation workers and domestic workers. Public holidays: approximately 25 per year (Sri Lanka has one of the highest numbers of public holidays globally).

• WAGE TRAJECTORY (USD/hr)

Mali Sri Lanka Source: wage.is · USD equivalent/hr

Year	Mali (USD)	Sri Lanka (USD)
2013	$72/hr	—
2016	—	$33/hr
2019	—	$33/hr
2020	$72/hr	$33/hr
2021	—	$33/hr
2022	$72/hr	$42/hr
2023	—	$54/hr
2024	$72/hr	$54/hr
2025	—	$90/hr

What This Means for Workers

A minimum wage worker in Mali earns 31% less per hour in USD terms than one in Sri Lanka. Standard work weeks differ: Mali mandates 40 hours while Sri Lanka mandates 45 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Mali are $14 vs $20 in Sri Lanka.

See this comparison from Sri Lanka's perspective: Sri Lanka vs Mali

Compare Mali with...

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Mali or Sri Lanka?

In Mali, the minimum wage is CFA192.30/hr ($0.35 USD). In Sri Lanka, it is Rs135/hr ($0.45 USD). Sri Lanka has the higher rate by 31% 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 Mali may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.

How much more does the average worker earn in Mali compared to Sri Lanka?

The average gross salary in Mali is CFA120,000/mo ($215.44 USD), compared to Rs55,000/mo ($183.95 USD) in Sri Lanka. In USD terms, workers in Mali earn approximately 17% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Mali and Sri Lanka is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Mali earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Sri Lanka.

Which country has better purchasing power for minimum wage workers, Mali or Sri Lanka?

After adjusting for local prices using purchasing power parity (PPP), minimum wage workers in Sri Lanka can afford more than those in Mali. The PPP-adjusted rate is $1 in Mali and $2 in Sri Lanka. PPP converts wages into equivalent US dollar buying power, accounting for what a unit of currency actually buys locally. The 61% purchasing power gap means that even if the nominal wage in Mali appears competitive, minimum wage workers there face greater constraints on day-to-day spending.

How do work hours compare between Mali and Sri Lanka?

Sri Lanka has a longer standard work week at 45 hours, compared to 40 hours in Mali. Workers in Mali work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Mali 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 Mali and Sri Lanka?

While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Sri Lanka has the higher GDP per capita at $15,633, which is 4.7x that of Mali at $3,315. From Mali'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.