Key Facts: New Zealand vs South Sudan Wages
- New Zealand Minimum Wage
- NZ$23.50/hr ($13.99 USD)
- South Sudan Minimum Wage
- £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD)
- New Zealand Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- NZ$5,666.67 /mo ($3,374.22 USD)
- South Sudan Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- £125,000 /mo ($27.23 USD)
- Data Sources
- Employment New Zealand / Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (2026-03-02), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / South Sudan Ministry of Labour (2026-02-25)
New Zealand 
South Sudan
Updated 2026-03-02
The minimum wage in New Zealand is roughly 9 times higher than in South Sudan in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a high-income and a low-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $3,374/mo in New Zealand versus $27/mo in South Sudan, a 123.9:1 ratio. New Zealand has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 5.1% compared to 12.4%.
New Zealand's unemployment rate is 5.1% compared to South Sudan's 12.4%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | New Zealand | South Sudan |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | NZ$23.50 $13.99 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | NZ$4,073.83 $2,425.77 | £7,000 $1.52 |
| Minimum wage /yr | NZ$48,880 $29,105.63 | — |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | NZ$5,666.67 /mo $3,374.22 | £125,000 /mo $27.23 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | NZ$4,533.33 /mo $2,699.37 | £112,000 /mo $24.40 |
| Median individual income /yr | NZ$61,828 /yr $36,815.53 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means New Zealand is higher.
Work Week
- New Zealand
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Overtime : 1.5x pay
No statutory maximum working hours, but employers must ensure reasonable working hours. Most employment agreements specify 40 hours/week. Overtime rates not mandated by statute but commonly 1.5x by agreement. Time-and-a-half and a day in lieu required for work on public holidays.
- 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 moving from South Sudan to New Zealand would see a 818% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings.
See this comparison from South Sudan's perspective: South Sudan vs New Zealand
Compare New Zealand with...
New Zealand vs United States $ 7.25 /hr 
New Zealand vs China ¥ 25 /hr 
New Zealand vs Germany € 13.9 /hr 
New Zealand vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr 
New Zealand vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo 
New Zealand vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr 
New Zealand vs France € 12.02 /hr 
New Zealand vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
New Zealand vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr 
New Zealand vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr 
New Zealand vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
New Zealand vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr 
New Zealand vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo 
New Zealand vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr 
New Zealand vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr 
New Zealand vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr 
New Zealand vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr 
New Zealand vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr 
New Zealand vs Switzerland 
New Zealand vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr 
New Zealand vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo 
New Zealand vs Sweden 
New Zealand vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr 
New Zealand vs Singapore Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in New Zealand or South Sudan?
In New Zealand, the minimum wage is NZ$23.50/hr ($13.99 USD). In South Sudan, it is £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD). New Zealand has the higher rate by 818% 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 New Zealand compared to South Sudan?
The average gross salary in New Zealand is NZ$5,666.67/mo ($3,374.22 USD), compared to £125,000/mo ($27.23 USD) in South Sudan. In USD terms, workers in New Zealand earn approximately 12293% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between New Zealand and South Sudan is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in New Zealand earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in South Sudan.
How do work hours compare between New Zealand and South Sudan?
Both New Zealand 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.