Key Facts: Rwanda vs Syria Wages
- Rwanda Minimum Wage
- FRw14.08/hr ($0.01 USD)
- Syria Minimum Wage
- £S1,850/mo ($16.46 USD)
- Rwanda Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- FRw73,948 /mo ($50.61 USD)
- Syria Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- £S13,500 /mo ($120.13 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministry of Public Service and Labour / ILO (2026-02-25), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Syria Report economic analyses (2026-02-25)
Rwanda
Syria
Updated 2026-02-25
The minimum wage in Rwanda is roughly 1708 times lower than in Syria in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a low-income and a low-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $51/mo in Rwanda versus $120/mo in Syria, a 2.4:1 ratio. Rwanda has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 11.4% compared to 13.6%.
Rwanda has lower GDP per capita ($3,711 vs $4,772). Rwanda's unemployment rate is 11.4% compared to Syria's 13.6%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Rwanda | Syria |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | FRw14.08 $0.01 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | FRw2,440 $1.67 | £S1,850 $16.46 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | FRw73,948 /mo $50.61 | £S13,500 /mo $120.13 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | FRw62,000 /mo $42.44 | £S12,000 /mo $106.78 |
| 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.
- Syria
-
48 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Labour Law No. 17 of 2010 set 48 hours/week as the standard. Friday is the weekly rest day. Enforcement is impossible across most of the country due to conflict. Government employees in Damascus and other major cities are the primary remaining formal workforce.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker in Rwanda earns 170717% less per hour in USD terms than one in Syria. Standard work weeks differ: Rwanda mandates 45 hours while Syria mandates 48 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Rwanda are $0 vs $790 in Syria.
See this comparison from Syria's perspective: Syria vs Rwanda
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Rwanda or Syria?
In Rwanda, the minimum wage is FRw14.08/hr ($0.01 USD). In Syria, it is £S1,850/mo ($16.46 USD). Syria has the higher rate by 170717% 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 less does the average worker earn in Rwanda compared to Syria?
The average gross salary in Rwanda is FRw73,948/mo ($50.61 USD), compared to £S13,500/mo ($120.13 USD) in Syria. In USD terms, workers in Rwanda earn approximately 137% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Rwanda and Syria is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Syria earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Rwanda.
How do work hours compare between Rwanda and Syria?
Syria has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 45 hours in Rwanda. Workers in Rwanda work 45 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Rwanda 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 Rwanda and Syria?
While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Syria has the higher GDP per capita at $4,772, which is 1.3x that of Rwanda at $3,711. From Rwanda'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.