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Key Facts: Netherlands vs Syria Wages

Netherlands Minimum Wage
€14.71/hr ($17.13 USD)
Syria Minimum Wage
£S1,850/mo ($16.46 USD)
Netherlands Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
€3,900 /mo ($4,541.75 USD)
Syria Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
£S13,500 /mo ($120.13 USD)
Data Sources
Rijksoverheid (Government of the Netherlands); 2026 monthly basis verified via Wikipedia EU member states by minimum wage table (40-hour workweek convention) (2026-05-27), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Syria Report economic analyses (2026-02-25)

Netherlands flag Netherlands Syria flag Syria

Updated 2026-05-27

Netherlands flag Netherlands

Minimum Wage

€14.71 /hr

$17.13 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

€3,900 /mo

Syria flag Syria

Minimum Wage

£S1,850 /mo

$16.46 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

£S13,500 /mo

Min wage: +4% Netherlands vs Syria Avg. salary: +3681% Netherlands vs Syria

The Netherlands, a high-income economy, and Syria, classified as low-income, take different approaches to wage policy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $4,542/mo in the Netherlands versus $120/mo in Syria, a 37.8:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Netherlands is 18.1x that of Syria, underscoring the structural economic divide.

The Netherlands has higher GDP per capita ($86,174 vs $4,772). The Netherlands' unemployment rate is 3.9% compared to Syria's 13.6%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Netherlands and Syria
Metric Netherlands Syria
Minimum wage /hr €14.71 $17.13
Minimum wage /mo €2,549.73 $2,969.29 £S1,850 $16.46
Minimum wage /yr €30,596.76 $35,631.49
Avg. gross salary /mo €3,900 /mo $4,541.75 £S13,500 /mo $120.13
Avg. net salary /mo €2,750 /mo $3,202.52 £S12,000 /mo $106.78
Median individual income /yr €36,500 /yr $42,506.11 N/A/yr

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

Work Week

Netherlands

36 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Standard workweek varies by sector: commonly 36, 38, or 40 hours. The Working Hours Act (Arbeidstijdenwet) limits working time to 12 hours per shift and 60 hours per week, averaged to a maximum of 48 hours over 16 weeks. Overtime compensation is determined by collective agreements or individual contracts.

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.

What This Means for Workers

A minimum wage worker moving from Syria to the Netherlands would see a 4% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: the Netherlands mandates 36 hours while Syria mandates 48 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in the Netherlands are $617 vs $790 in Syria.

See this comparison from Syria's perspective: Syria vs Netherlands

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Netherlands or Syria?

In the Netherlands, the minimum wage is €14.71/hr ($17.13 USD). In Syria, it is £S1,850/mo ($16.46 USD). Netherlands has the higher rate by 4% 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 Netherlands compared to Syria?

The average gross salary in the Netherlands is €3,900/mo ($4,541.75 USD), compared to £S13,500/mo ($120.13 USD) in Syria. In USD terms, workers in the Netherlands earn approximately 3681% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Netherlands and Syria is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in the Netherlands earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Syria.

How do work hours compare between Netherlands and Syria?

Syria has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 36 hours in the Netherlands. Workers in the Netherlands work 36 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in the Netherlands 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 Netherlands and Syria?

While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Netherlands has the higher GDP per capita at $86,174, which is 18.1x that of Syria at $4,772. From the Netherlands' 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.