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Key Facts: Paraguay vs Sierra Leone Wages

Paraguay Minimum Wage
₲14,574/hr ($1.94 USD)
Sierra Leone Minimum Wage
Le600/mo ($25.97 USD)
Paraguay Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
₲4,500,000 /mo ($598.40 USD)
Sierra Leone Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
Le2,500 /mo ($108.23 USD)
Data Sources
Ministerio de Trabajo, Empleo y Seguridad Social (MTESS); 2024 figure corrected via Wikipedia List of countries by minimum wage (eff 2024-07-01) (2026-05-04), ILO / Ministry of Labour and Social Security (Sierra Leone). Note: snapshot diff flags 'currency mismatch' against Wikipedia (which still uses old SLL 500,000) — our SLE 600 reflects the post-2022 redenomination (1 SLE = 1,000 SLL) and is the correct current notation (2026-05-04)

Paraguay flag Paraguay Sierra Leone flag Sierra Leone

Updated 2026-05-04

Paraguay flag Paraguay

Minimum Wage

₲14,574 /hr

$1.94 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

₲4,500,000 /mo

Sierra Leone flag Sierra Leone

Minimum Wage

Le600 /mo

$25.97 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

Le2,500 /mo

Min wage: -93% Paraguay vs Sierra Leone Avg. salary: +453% Paraguay vs Sierra Leone

The minimum wage in Paraguay is roughly 13 times lower than in Sierra Leone in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a upper-middle-income and a low-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $598/mo in Paraguay versus $108/mo in Sierra Leone, a 5.5:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Paraguay is 5.3x that of Sierra Leone, underscoring the structural economic divide.

Paraguay has higher GDP per capita ($18,524 vs $3,522). Paraguay's unemployment rate is 4.8% compared to Sierra Leone's 3.1%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Paraguay and Sierra Leone
Metric Paraguay Sierra Leone
Minimum wage /hr ₲14,574 $1.94
Minimum wage /day ₲93,277 $12.40
Minimum wage /mo ₲2,798,309 $372.12 Le600 $25.97
Minimum wage /yr ₲33,579,708 $4,465.39
Avg. gross salary /mo ₲4,500,000 /mo $598.40 Le2,500 /mo $108.23
Avg. net salary /mo ₲4,050,000 /mo $538.56 N/A/mo
Median individual income /yr ₲26,400,000 /yr $3,510.64 Le4,200 /yr $181.82

Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Paraguay is higher.

Work Week

Paraguay

48 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.5x pay

Labour Code (Código del Trabajo) sets maximum at 48 hours/week for daytime work, 42 hours for night work, and 45 for mixed shifts. Overtime: 50% surcharge for daytime, 100% for night/holiday overtime. Weekly rest on Sunday is mandatory.

Sierra Leone

40 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.5x pay

The Regulation of Wages and Industrial Relations Act sets standard hours at 40 per week for office workers and 48 for industrial workers. Overtime compensated at 1.5x for the first additional 8 hours. These rules apply to the limited formal sector.

What This Means for Workers

A minimum wage worker in Paraguay earns 1240% less per hour in USD terms than one in Sierra Leone. Standard work weeks differ: Paraguay mandates 48 hours while Sierra Leone mandates 40 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Paraguay are $93 vs $1,039 in Sierra Leone.

See this comparison from Sierra Leone's perspective: Sierra Leone vs Paraguay

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Paraguay or Sierra Leone?

In Paraguay, the minimum wage is ₲14,574/hr ($1.94 USD). In Sierra Leone, it is Le600/mo ($25.97 USD). Sierra Leone has the higher rate by 1240% 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 Paraguay may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.

How much more does the average worker earn in Paraguay compared to Sierra Leone?

The average gross salary in Paraguay is ₲4,500,000/mo ($598.40 USD), compared to Le2,500/mo ($108.23 USD) in Sierra Leone. In USD terms, workers in Paraguay earn approximately 453% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Paraguay and Sierra Leone is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Paraguay earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Sierra Leone.

How do work hours compare between Paraguay and Sierra Leone?

Paraguay has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in Sierra Leone. Workers in Paraguay work 48 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Sierra Leone 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 Paraguay and Sierra Leone?

While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Paraguay has the higher GDP per capita at $18,524, which is 5.3x that of Sierra Leone at $3,522. From Paraguay'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.