Key Facts: Rwanda vs South Sudan Wages
- Rwanda Minimum Wage
- FRw14.08/hr ($0.01 USD)
- South Sudan Minimum Wage
- £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD)
- Rwanda Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- FRw73,948 /mo ($50.61 USD)
- South Sudan Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- £125,000 /mo ($27.23 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministry of Public Service and Labour / ILO (2026-02-25), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / South Sudan Ministry of Labour (2026-02-25)
Rwanda 
South Sudan
Updated 2026-02-25
The minimum wage in Rwanda is roughly 158 times lower than in South Sudan in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a low-income and a low-income economy. Average salaries are higher in Rwanda at $51/mo compared to $27/mo in South Sudan.
Rwanda's unemployment rate is 11.4% compared to South Sudan's 12.4%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Rwanda | South Sudan |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | FRw14.08 $0.01 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | FRw2,440 $1.67 | £7,000 $1.52 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | FRw73,948 /mo $50.61 | £125,000 /mo $27.23 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | FRw62,000 /mo $42.44 | £112,000 /mo $24.40 |
| Median individual income /yr | FRw240,000 /yr $164.27 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Rwanda is higher.
Work Week
- Rwanda
-
45 hrs/wk standard
Max 55 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Standard workweek is 45 hours per Law No. 66/2018 Regulating Labor in Rwanda. Overtime limited to 2 hours/day and 10 hours/week (max 55 hours total). Overtime permitted for urgent, exceptional, or seasonal work. Overtime compensation varies by sector agreement. Daily working hours typically 9 hours over 5 days.
- 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 in Rwanda earns 15721% less per hour in USD terms than one in South Sudan. Standard work weeks differ: Rwanda mandates 45 hours while South Sudan mandates 40 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Rwanda are $0 vs $61 in South Sudan.
See this comparison from South Sudan's perspective: South Sudan vs Rwanda
Compare Rwanda with...
Rwanda vs United States $ 7.25 /hr 
Rwanda vs China ¥ 25 /hr 
Rwanda vs Germany € 13.9 /hr 
Rwanda vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr 
Rwanda vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo 
Rwanda vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr 
Rwanda vs France € 12.02 /hr 
Rwanda vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
Rwanda vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr 
Rwanda vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr 
Rwanda vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
Rwanda vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr 
Rwanda vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo 
Rwanda vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr 
Rwanda vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr 
Rwanda vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr 
Rwanda vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr 
Rwanda vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr 
Rwanda vs Switzerland 
Rwanda vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr 
Rwanda vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo 
Rwanda vs Sweden 
Rwanda vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr 
Rwanda vs Singapore Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Rwanda or South Sudan?
In Rwanda, the minimum wage is FRw14.08/hr ($0.01 USD). In South Sudan, it is £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD). South Sudan has the higher rate by 15721% 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 Rwanda may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much more does the average worker earn in Rwanda compared to South Sudan?
The average gross salary in Rwanda is FRw73,948/mo ($50.61 USD), compared to £125,000/mo ($27.23 USD) in South Sudan. In USD terms, workers in Rwanda earn approximately 86% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Rwanda and South Sudan is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Rwanda earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in South Sudan.
How do work hours compare between Rwanda and South Sudan?
Rwanda has a longer standard work week at 45 hours, compared to 40 hours in South Sudan. Workers in Rwanda work 45 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.