Key Facts: Sierra Leone vs South Sudan Wages
- Sierra Leone Minimum Wage
- Le600/mo ($25.97 USD)
- South Sudan Minimum Wage
- £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD)
- Sierra Leone Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Le2,500 /mo ($108.23 USD)
- South Sudan Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- £125,000 /mo ($27.23 USD)
- Data Sources
- 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), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / South Sudan Ministry of Labour (2026-02-25)
Sierra Leone
South Sudan
Updated 2026-05-04
The minimum wage in Sierra Leone is roughly 17 times higher than in South Sudan in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a low-income and a low-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $108/mo in Sierra Leone versus $27/mo in South Sudan, a 4.0:1 ratio. Sierra Leone has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 3.1% compared to 12.4%.
From Sierra Leone's perspective: adjusting for purchasing power, Sierra Leone's minimum wage buys more than South Sudan's. The PPP-adjusted hourly rate in Sierra Leone is $116 international dollars, compared to $55 in South Sudan. Sierra Leone's unemployment rate is 3.1% compared to South Sudan's 12.4%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Sierra Leone | South Sudan |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /mo | Le600 $25.97 | £7,000 $1.52 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | Le2,500 /mo $108.23 | £125,000 /mo $27.23 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | N/A/mo | £112,000 /mo $24.40 |
| Median individual income /yr | Le4,200 /yr $181.82 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Sierra Leone is higher.
Work Week
- 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.
- 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.
• WAGE TRAJECTORY (USD/mo)
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from South Sudan to Sierra Leone would see a 1604% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings.
See this comparison from South Sudan's perspective: South Sudan vs Sierra Leone
Compare Sierra Leone with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Sierra Leone or South Sudan?
In Sierra Leone, the minimum wage is Le600/mo ($25.97 USD). In South Sudan, it is £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD). Sierra Leone has the higher rate by 1604% 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 Sierra Leone compared to South Sudan?
The average gross salary in Sierra Leone is Le2,500/mo ($108.23 USD), compared to £125,000/mo ($27.23 USD) in South Sudan. In USD terms, workers in Sierra Leone earn approximately 297% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Sierra Leone and South Sudan is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Sierra Leone earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in South Sudan.
Which country has better purchasing power for minimum wage workers, Sierra Leone or South Sudan?
After adjusting for local prices using purchasing power parity (PPP), minimum wage workers in Sierra Leone can afford more than those in South Sudan. The PPP-adjusted rate is $116 in Sierra Leone and $55 in South Sudan. PPP converts wages into equivalent US dollar buying power, accounting for what a unit of currency actually buys locally. The 110% purchasing power gap means that even if the nominal wage in South Sudan appears competitive, minimum wage workers there face greater constraints on day-to-day spending.
How do work hours compare between Sierra Leone and South Sudan?
Both Sierra Leone 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.