Key Facts: Namibia vs South Sudan Wages
- Namibia Minimum Wage
- N$18/hr ($1.13 USD)
- South Sudan Minimum Wage
- £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD)
- Namibia Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- N$13,500 /mo ($845.34 USD)
- South Sudan Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- £125,000 /mo ($27.23 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministry of Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment Creation / Wage Order 2024 (2026-02-25), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / South Sudan Ministry of Labour (2026-02-25)
Namibia
South Sudan
Updated 2026-02-25
Namibia, a upper-middle-income economy, and South Sudan, classified as low-income, take different approaches to wage policy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $845/mo in Namibia versus $27/mo in South Sudan, a 31.0:1 ratio. South Sudan has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 12.4% compared to 19.3%.
Namibia's unemployment rate is 19.3% compared to South Sudan's 12.4%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Namibia | South Sudan |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | N$18 $1.13 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | N$3,510 $219.79 | £7,000 $1.52 |
| Minimum wage /yr | N$42,120 $2,637.45 | — |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | N$13,500 /mo $845.34 | £125,000 /mo $27.23 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | N$11,000 /mo $688.79 | £112,000 /mo $24.40 |
| Median individual income /yr | N$48,000 /yr $3,005.64 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Namibia is higher.
Work Week
- Namibia
-
45 hrs/wk standard
Max 45 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Labour Act sets maximum ordinary hours at 45 per week (9 hrs/day for 5-day week, 8 hrs/day for 6-day week). Overtime limited to 10 hours/week and 3 hours/day. Overtime paid at 1.5x normal rate. Rest days at 2x. Daily rest period of at least 12 consecutive hours. Weekly rest of at least 36 consecutive hours (ideally including Sunday). Annual leave: 20 working days for 5-day week.
- 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 Namibia earns 35% less per hour in USD terms than one in South Sudan. Standard work weeks differ: Namibia mandates 45 hours while South Sudan mandates 40 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Namibia are $51 vs $61 in South Sudan.
See this comparison from South Sudan's perspective: South Sudan vs Namibia
Compare Namibia with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Namibia or South Sudan?
In Namibia, the minimum wage is N$18/hr ($1.13 USD). In South Sudan, it is £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD). South Sudan has the higher rate by 35% 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 Namibia may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much more does the average worker earn in Namibia compared to South Sudan?
The average gross salary in Namibia is N$13,500/mo ($845.34 USD), compared to £125,000/mo ($27.23 USD) in South Sudan. In USD terms, workers in Namibia earn approximately 3005% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Namibia and South Sudan is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Namibia earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in South Sudan.
How do work hours compare between Namibia and South Sudan?
Namibia has a longer standard work week at 45 hours, compared to 40 hours in South Sudan. Workers in Namibia 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.