Key Facts: Nicaragua vs South Sudan Wages
- Nicaragua Minimum Wage
- C$55.48/hr ($1.51 USD)
- South Sudan Minimum Wage
- £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD)
- Nicaragua Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- C$15,000 /mo ($407.61 USD)
- South Sudan Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- £125,000 /mo ($27.23 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministerio del Trabajo (Ministry of Labour) / National Minimum Wage Commission — Nicaragua (2026-02-25), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / South Sudan Ministry of Labour (2026-02-25)
Nicaragua 
South Sudan
Updated 2026-02-25
Nicaragua, a lower-middle-income economy, and South Sudan, classified as low-income, take different approaches to wage policy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $408/mo in Nicaragua versus $27/mo in South Sudan, a 15.0:1 ratio. Nicaragua has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 5.0% compared to 12.4%.
Nicaragua's unemployment rate is 5.0% compared to South Sudan's 12.4%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Nicaragua | South Sudan |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | C$55.48 $1.51 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | C$13,315.61 $361.84 | £7,000 $1.52 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | C$15,000 /mo $407.61 | £125,000 /mo $27.23 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | C$12,000 /mo $326.09 | £112,000 /mo $24.40 |
| Median individual income /yr | C$72,000 /yr $1,956.52 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Nicaragua is higher.
Work Week
- Nicaragua
-
48 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 2x pay
Standard workweek is 48 hours (8 hours/day, 6 days/week). Night work is limited to 45 hours/week (7.5 hours/day). Mixed shifts limited to 7 hours/day. Overtime is paid at 2x the regular rate. Workers are entitled to one mandatory rest day per week. Governed by the Código del Trabajo (Labour Code).
- 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 Nicaragua earns 1% less per hour in USD terms than one in South Sudan. Standard work weeks differ: Nicaragua mandates 48 hours while South Sudan mandates 40 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Nicaragua are $72 vs $61 in South Sudan.
See this comparison from South Sudan's perspective: South Sudan vs Nicaragua
Compare Nicaragua with...
Nicaragua vs United States $ 7.25 /hr 
Nicaragua vs China ¥ 25 /hr 
Nicaragua vs Germany € 13.9 /hr 
Nicaragua vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr 
Nicaragua vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo 
Nicaragua vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr 
Nicaragua vs France € 12.02 /hr 
Nicaragua vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
Nicaragua vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr 
Nicaragua vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr 
Nicaragua vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
Nicaragua vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr 
Nicaragua vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo 
Nicaragua vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr 
Nicaragua vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr 
Nicaragua vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr 
Nicaragua vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr 
Nicaragua vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr 
Nicaragua vs Switzerland 
Nicaragua vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr 
Nicaragua vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo 
Nicaragua vs Sweden 
Nicaragua vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr 
Nicaragua vs Singapore Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Nicaragua or South Sudan?
In Nicaragua, the minimum wage is C$55.48/hr ($1.51 USD). In South Sudan, it is £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD). South Sudan has the higher rate by 1% 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 Nicaragua may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much more does the average worker earn in Nicaragua compared to South Sudan?
The average gross salary in Nicaragua is C$15,000/mo ($407.61 USD), compared to £125,000/mo ($27.23 USD) in South Sudan. In USD terms, workers in Nicaragua earn approximately 1397% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Nicaragua and South Sudan is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Nicaragua earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in South Sudan.
How do work hours compare between Nicaragua and South Sudan?
Nicaragua has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in South Sudan. Workers in Nicaragua work 48 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.