Key Facts: Panama vs South Sudan Wages
- Panama Minimum Wage
- B/.1.69/hr ($1.69 USD)
- South Sudan Minimum Wage
- £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD)
- Panama Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- B/.1,100 /mo ($1,100 USD)
- South Sudan Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- £125,000 /mo ($27.23 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministerio de Trabajo y Desarrollo Laboral (MITRADEL) (2026-02-24), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / South Sudan Ministry of Labour (2026-02-25)
Panama 
South Sudan
Updated 2026-02-25
Panama, a upper-middle-income economy, and South Sudan, classified as low-income, take different approaches to wage policy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $1,100/mo in Panama versus $27/mo in South Sudan, a 40.4:1 ratio. Panama has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 8.4% compared to 12.4%.
Panama's unemployment rate is 8.4% compared to South Sudan's 12.4%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Panama | South Sudan |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | B/.1.69 $1.69 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | B/.326 $326 | £7,000 $1.52 |
| Minimum wage /yr | B/.4,238 $4,238 | — |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | B/.1,100 /mo $1,100 | £125,000 /mo $27.23 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | B/.990 /mo $990 | £112,000 /mo $24.40 |
| Median individual income /yr | B/.7,800 /yr $7,800 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Panama is higher.
Work Week
- Panama
-
48 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.25x pay
Labour Code sets maximum ordinary workday at 8 hours (daytime), 7 hours (mixed shift), and 6 hours (nighttime). Weekly maximum 48 hours for day work. Overtime: 25% surcharge for first 3 hours, 50% thereafter on regular days; 50% on holidays; and 75% on rest days (Sundays). Night work (6pm-6am) earns a 50% surcharge.
- 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 Panama would see a 11% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Panama mandates 48 hours while South Sudan mandates 40 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Panama are $81 vs $61 in South Sudan.
See this comparison from South Sudan's perspective: South Sudan vs Panama
Compare Panama with...
Panama vs United States $ 7.25 /hr 
Panama vs China ¥ 25 /hr 
Panama vs Germany € 13.9 /hr 
Panama vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr 
Panama vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo 
Panama vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr 
Panama vs France € 12.02 /hr 
Panama vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
Panama vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr 
Panama vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr 
Panama vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
Panama vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr 
Panama vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo 
Panama vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr 
Panama vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr 
Panama vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr 
Panama vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr 
Panama vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr 
Panama vs Switzerland 
Panama vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr 
Panama vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo 
Panama vs Sweden 
Panama vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr 
Panama vs Singapore Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Panama or South Sudan?
In Panama, the minimum wage is B/.1.69/hr ($1.69 USD). In South Sudan, it is £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD). Panama has the higher rate by 11% 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 Panama compared to South Sudan?
The average gross salary in Panama is B/.1,100/mo ($1,100 USD), compared to £125,000/mo ($27.23 USD) in South Sudan. In USD terms, workers in Panama earn approximately 3940% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Panama and South Sudan is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Panama earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in South Sudan.
How do work hours compare between Panama and South Sudan?
Panama has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in South Sudan. Workers in Panama 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.