Key Facts: Mauritania vs Syria Wages
- Mauritania Minimum Wage
- UM30,000/mo ($750 USD)
- Syria Minimum Wage
- £S1,850/mo ($16.46 USD)
- Mauritania Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- UM65,000 /mo ($1,625 USD)
- Syria Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- £S13,500 /mo ($120.13 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Ministère du Travail de Mauritanie (2026-02-25), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Syria Report economic analyses (2026-02-25)
Mauritania
Syria
Updated 2026-02-25
The minimum wage in Mauritania is roughly 46 times higher than in Syria 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 $120/mo in Syria, a 13.5:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Mauritania is 1.5x that of Syria, underscoring the structural economic divide.
From Mauritania's perspective: adjusting for purchasing power, Mauritania's minimum wage buys more than Syria's. The PPP-adjusted hourly rate in Mauritania is $2,646 international dollars, compared to $1 in Syria. Mauritania has higher GDP per capita ($7,369 vs $4,772). Mauritania's unemployment rate is 10.3% compared to Syria's 13.6%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Mauritania | Syria |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /day | UM1,200 $30 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | UM30,000 $750 | £S1,850 $16.46 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | UM65,000 /mo $1,625 | £S13,500 /mo $120.13 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | N/A/mo | £S12,000 /mo $106.78 |
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.
- 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.
• WAGE TRAJECTORY (USD/mo)
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from Syria to Mauritania would see a 4456% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Mauritania mandates 40 hours while Syria mandates 48 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Mauritania are $30,000 vs $790 in Syria.
See this comparison from Syria's perspective: Syria vs Mauritania
Compare Mauritania with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Mauritania or Syria?
In Mauritania, the minimum wage is UM30,000/mo ($750 USD). In Syria, it is £S1,850/mo ($16.46 USD). Mauritania has the higher rate by 4456% 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 Syria 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 Syria?
The average gross salary in Mauritania is UM65,000/mo ($1,625 USD), compared to £S13,500/mo ($120.13 USD) in Syria. In USD terms, workers in Mauritania earn approximately 1253% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Mauritania and Syria 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 Syria.
Which country has better purchasing power for minimum wage workers, Mauritania or Syria?
After adjusting for local prices using purchasing power parity (PPP), minimum wage workers in Mauritania can afford more than those in Syria. The PPP-adjusted rate is $2,646 in Mauritania and $1 in Syria. PPP converts wages into equivalent US dollar buying power, accounting for what a unit of currency actually buys locally. The 251226% purchasing power gap means that even if the nominal wage in Syria appears competitive, minimum wage workers there face greater constraints on day-to-day spending.
How do work hours compare between Mauritania and Syria?
Syria has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in Mauritania. Workers in Mauritania work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Mauritania 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 Mauritania and Syria?
While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Mauritania has the higher GDP per capita at $7,369, which is 1.5x that of Syria at $4,772. From Mauritania's perspective, this means goods and services are priced at a higher 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.