Key Facts: Norway vs South Sudan Wages
- Norway Minimum Wage
- No statutory minimum wage
- South Sudan Minimum Wage
- £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD)
- Norway Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- kr55,150 /mo ($5,953.34 USD)
- South Sudan Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- £125,000 /mo ($27.23 USD)
- Data Sources
- Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority (Arbeidstilsynet) (2026-05-28), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / South Sudan Ministry of Labour (2026-02-25)
Norway 
South Sudan
Updated 2026-05-28
Norway has no statutory minimum wage, while South Sudan sets a floor of $2/mo. Average gross salaries diverge further: $5,953/mo in Norway versus $27/mo in South Sudan, a 218.7:1 ratio. Norway has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 4.6% compared to 12.4%.
Norway's unemployment rate is 4.6% compared to South Sudan's 12.4%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Norway | South Sudan |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /mo | None | £7,000 $1.52 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | kr55,150 /mo $5,953.34 | £125,000 /mo $27.23 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | kr38,600 /mo $4,166.80 | £112,000 /mo $24.40 |
| Median individual income /yr | kr570,000 /yr $61,530.49 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Norway is higher.
Work Week
- Norway
-
37.5 hrs/wk standard
Max 40 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.4x pay
The Working Environment Act sets a maximum of 40 hours/week, but most collective agreements specify 37.5 hours. Overtime premium minimum 40% by law. Maximum overtime: 10 hrs/week, 25 hrs over 4 consecutive weeks, 200 hrs/year. Night and Sunday work requires additional premiums by agreement.
- South Sudan
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Labour Act 2017 sets 40 hours/week as standard. Enforcement is effectively non-existent across most of the country due to ongoing conflict, institutional collapse, and absence of functioning labour inspectorates.
What This Means for Workers
Standard work weeks differ: Norway mandates 37.5 hours while South Sudan mandates 40 hours.
See this comparison from South Sudan's perspective: South Sudan vs Norway
Compare Norway with...
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Norway vs China ¥ 25 /hr 
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Norway vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr 
Norway vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo 
Norway vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr 
Norway vs France € 12.02 /hr 
Norway vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
Norway vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr 
Norway vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr 
Norway vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
Norway vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr 
Norway vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo 
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Norway vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr 
Norway vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr 
Norway vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr 
Norway vs Switzerland 
Norway vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr 
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Norway vs Singapore Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Norway or South Sudan?
In Norway, the minimum wage is no statutory minimum wage. In South Sudan, it is £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD).
How much more does the average worker earn in Norway compared to South Sudan?
The average gross salary in Norway is kr55,150/mo ($5,953.34 USD), compared to £125,000/mo ($27.23 USD) in South Sudan. In USD terms, workers in Norway earn approximately 21765% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Norway and South Sudan is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Norway earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in South Sudan.
How do work hours compare between Norway and South Sudan?
South Sudan has a longer standard work week at 40 hours, compared to 37.5 hours in Norway. Workers in Norway work 37.5 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Norway 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.