Key Facts: Nigeria vs Syria Wages
- Nigeria Minimum Wage
- ₦404/hr ($0.26 USD)
- Syria Minimum Wage
- £S1,850/mo ($16.46 USD)
- Nigeria Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ₦339,000 /mo ($220.42 USD)
- Syria Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- £S13,500 /mo ($120.13 USD)
- Data Sources
- National Minimum Wage Amendment Act 2024 (2026-02-24), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Syria Report economic analyses (2026-02-25)
Nigeria
Syria
Updated 2026-02-25
The minimum wage in Nigeria is roughly 63 times lower than in Syria in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a lower-middle-income and a low-income economy. Average salaries are higher in Nigeria at $220/mo compared to $120/mo in Syria. GDP per capita (PPP) in Nigeria is 1.9x that of Syria, underscoring the structural economic divide.
Nigeria has higher GDP per capita ($9,087 vs $4,772). Nigeria's unemployment rate is 3.1% compared to Syria's 13.6%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Nigeria | Syria |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | ₦404 $0.26 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | ₦70,000 $45.51 | £S1,850 $16.46 |
| Minimum wage /yr | ₦840,000 $546.16 | — |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | ₦339,000 /mo $220.42 | £S13,500 /mo $120.13 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | ₦290,000 /mo $188.56 | £S12,000 /mo $106.78 |
| Median individual income /yr | ₦1,200,000 /yr $780.23 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Nigeria is higher.
Work Week
- Nigeria
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Labour Act sets standard at 40 hours/week. Overtime rates set by individual employment contracts. No statutory overtime multiplier.
- 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 in Nigeria earns 6167% less per hour in USD terms than one in Syria. Standard work weeks differ: Nigeria mandates 40 hours while Syria mandates 48 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Nigeria are $11 vs $790 in Syria.
See this comparison from Syria's perspective: Syria vs Nigeria
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Nigeria or Syria?
In Nigeria, the minimum wage is ₦404/hr ($0.26 USD). In Syria, it is £S1,850/mo ($16.46 USD). Syria has the higher rate by 6167% 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 Nigeria may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much more does the average worker earn in Nigeria compared to Syria?
The average gross salary in Nigeria is ₦339,000/mo ($220.42 USD), compared to £S13,500/mo ($120.13 USD) in Syria. In USD terms, workers in Nigeria earn approximately 83% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Nigeria and Syria is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Nigeria earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Syria.
How do work hours compare between Nigeria and Syria?
Syria has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in Nigeria. Workers in Nigeria work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Nigeria 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 Nigeria and Syria?
While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Nigeria has the higher GDP per capita at $9,087, which is 1.9x that of Syria at $4,772. From Nigeria'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.