Key Facts: Mauritania vs South Sudan Wages
- Mauritania Minimum Wage
- UM30,000/mo ($750 USD)
- South Sudan Minimum Wage
- £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD)
- Mauritania Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- UM65,000 /mo ($1,625 USD)
- South Sudan Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- £125,000 /mo ($27.23 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Ministère du Travail de Mauritanie (2026-02-25), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / South Sudan Ministry of Labour (2026-02-25)
Mauritania
South Sudan
Updated 2026-02-25
The minimum wage in Mauritania is roughly 492 times higher than in South Sudan in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a lower-middle-income and a low-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $1,625/mo in Mauritania versus $27/mo in South Sudan, a 59.7:1 ratio. Mauritania has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 10.3% compared to 12.4%.
From Mauritania's perspective: adjusting for purchasing power, Mauritania's minimum wage buys more than South Sudan's. The PPP-adjusted hourly rate in Mauritania is $2,646 international dollars, compared to $55 in South Sudan. Mauritania's unemployment rate is 10.3% compared to South Sudan's 12.4%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Mauritania | South Sudan |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /day | UM1,200 $30 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | UM30,000 $750 | £7,000 $1.52 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | UM65,000 /mo $1,625 | £125,000 /mo $27.23 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | N/A/mo | £112,000 /mo $24.40 |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Mauritania is higher.
Work Week
- Mauritania
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Labour Code sets 40 hours/week, with Friday as the rest day. Arabic is the official language; French widely used in business. Some sectors may observe Thursday–Friday weekends.
- 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)
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from South Sudan to Mauritania would see a 49089% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings.
See this comparison from South Sudan's perspective: South Sudan vs Mauritania
Compare Mauritania with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Mauritania or South Sudan?
In Mauritania, the minimum wage is UM30,000/mo ($750 USD). In South Sudan, it is £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD). Mauritania has the higher rate by 49089% 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 Mauritania compared to South Sudan?
The average gross salary in Mauritania is UM65,000/mo ($1,625 USD), compared to £125,000/mo ($27.23 USD) in South Sudan. In USD terms, workers in Mauritania earn approximately 5868% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Mauritania and South Sudan is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Mauritania 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, Mauritania or South Sudan?
After adjusting for local prices using purchasing power parity (PPP), minimum wage workers in Mauritania can afford more than those in South Sudan. The PPP-adjusted rate is $2,646 in Mauritania 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 4690% 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 Mauritania and South Sudan?
Both Mauritania and South Sudan mandate a similar standard work week of 40 hours. When work hours are equal, the country with the higher minimum wage delivers proportionally higher weekly earnings. Standard work week rules set the baseline; actual hours worked often differ based on industry norms and individual employment contracts.