Key Facts: Palestine vs Sweden Wages
- Palestine Minimum Wage
- ₪1,880/mo ($667.73 USD)
- Sweden Minimum Wage
- No statutory minimum wage
- Palestine Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ₪3,200 /mo ($1,136.57 USD)
- Sweden Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- kr40,000 /mo ($4,317.74 USD)
- Data Sources
- Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) / ILO (2026-02-25), Medlingsinstitutet (Swedish National Mediation Office) (2026-02-24)
Palestine
Sweden
Updated 2026-02-25
Unlike Sweden, which has no statutory minimum wage, Palestine mandates a wage floor of $668/mo. Average gross salaries diverge further: $1,137/mo in Palestine versus $4,318/mo in Sweden, a 3.8:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Sweden is 16.4x that of Palestine, underscoring the structural economic divide.
Palestine has lower GDP per capita ($4,371 vs $71,845). Palestine's unemployment rate is 24.4% compared to Sweden's 8.7%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Palestine | Sweden |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /day | ₪86 $30.55 | None |
| Minimum wage /mo | ₪1,880 $667.73 | None |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | ₪3,200 /mo $1,136.57 | kr40,000 /mo $4,317.74 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | N/A/mo | kr30,000 /mo $3,238.31 |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | kr367,000 /yr $39,615.29 |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Palestine is higher.
Work Week
- Palestine
-
45 hrs/wk standard
Max 54 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.25x pay
Palestinian Labour Law sets 45 hours/week maximum ordinary time (8 hours/day, 6 days). Overtime payable at 1.25x. Friday is the weekly rest day. Workers employed in Israel work under Israeli labour law (which has different provisions). The conflict beginning October 2023 has fundamentally disrupted normal labour conditions across the territory.
- Sweden
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Standard workweek is 40 hours (Working Hours Act / Arbetstidslagen). Maximum overtime is 48 hours over 4 weeks or 200 hours per calendar year. Overtime compensation is determined by collective agreements, not statute. Many agreements provide overtime at 150-200% of normal pay. EU Working Time Directive limits average to 48 hrs/week.
What This Means for Workers
Standard work weeks differ: Palestine mandates 45 hours while Sweden mandates 40 hours.
See this comparison from Sweden's perspective: Sweden vs Palestine
Compare Palestine with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Palestine or Sweden?
In Palestine, the minimum wage is ₪1,880/mo ($667.73 USD). In Sweden, it is no statutory minimum wage.
How much less does the average worker earn in Palestine compared to Sweden?
The average gross salary in Palestine is ₪3,200/mo ($1,136.57 USD), compared to kr40,000/mo ($4,317.74 USD) in Sweden. In USD terms, workers in Palestine earn approximately 280% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Palestine and Sweden is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Sweden earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Palestine.
How do work hours compare between Palestine and Sweden?
Palestine has a longer standard work week at 45 hours, compared to 40 hours in Sweden. Workers in Palestine work 45 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Sweden 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 Palestine and Sweden?
While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Sweden has the higher GDP per capita at $71,845, which is 16.4x that of Palestine at $4,371. From Palestine's perspective, this means goods and services are priced at a lower 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.