Key Facts: Portugal vs South Sudan Wages
- Portugal Minimum Wage
- €5.31/hr ($6.18 USD)
- South Sudan Minimum Wage
- £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD)
- Portugal Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- €1,550 /mo ($1,805.05 USD)
- South Sudan Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- £125,000 /mo ($27.23 USD)
- Data Sources
- Government of Portugal (Governo de Portugal); 2026 figure verified via Wikipedia EU member states by minimum wage table (eff 2026-01-01) (2026-05-04), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / South Sudan Ministry of Labour (2026-02-25)
Portugal 
South Sudan
Updated 2026-05-04
The minimum wage in Portugal is 306% higher than in South Sudan when converted to USD. Average gross salaries diverge further: $1,805/mo in Portugal versus $27/mo in South Sudan, a 66.3:1 ratio. Portugal has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 6.2% compared to 12.4%.
Portugal's unemployment rate is 6.2% compared to South Sudan's 12.4%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Portugal | South Sudan |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | €5.31 $6.18 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | €920 $1,071.39 | £7,000 $1.52 |
| Minimum wage /yr | €12,880 $14,999.42 | — |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | €1,550 /mo $1,805.05 | £125,000 /mo $27.23 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | €1,150 /mo $1,339.23 | £112,000 /mo $24.40 |
| Median individual income /yr | €14,000 /yr $16,303.71 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Portugal is higher.
Work Week
- Portugal
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.25x pay
Standard workweek is 40 hours (Labour Code). The first hour of overtime on a working day is paid at 125%, subsequent hours at 137.5%. Overtime on rest days and public holidays is paid at 150%. Maximum 150 hours of overtime per year (can be increased to 200 by collective agreement). EU Working Time Directive limits average to 48 hrs/week.
- 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 Portugal would see a 306% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings.
See this comparison from South Sudan's perspective: South Sudan vs Portugal
Compare Portugal with...
Portugal vs United States $ 7.25 /hr 
Portugal vs China ¥ 25 /hr 
Portugal vs Germany € 13.9 /hr 
Portugal vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr 
Portugal vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo 
Portugal vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr 
Portugal vs France € 12.02 /hr 
Portugal vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
Portugal vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr 
Portugal vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr 
Portugal vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
Portugal vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr 
Portugal vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo 
Portugal vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr 
Portugal vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr 
Portugal vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr 
Portugal vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr 
Portugal vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr 
Portugal vs Switzerland 
Portugal vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr 
Portugal vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo 
Portugal vs Sweden 
Portugal vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr 
Portugal vs Singapore Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Portugal or South Sudan?
In Portugal, the minimum wage is €5.31/hr ($6.18 USD). In South Sudan, it is £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD). Portugal has the higher rate by 306% 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 Portugal compared to South Sudan?
The average gross salary in Portugal is €1,550/mo ($1,805.05 USD), compared to £125,000/mo ($27.23 USD) in South Sudan. In USD terms, workers in Portugal earn approximately 6530% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Portugal and South Sudan is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Portugal earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in South Sudan.
How do work hours compare between Portugal and South Sudan?
Both Portugal and South Sudan mandate a similar standard work week of 40 hours. When work hours are equal, the country with the higher minimum wage delivers proportionally higher weekly earnings. Standard work week rules set the baseline; actual hours worked often differ based on industry norms and individual employment contracts.