Key Facts: South Africa vs South Sudan Wages
- South Africa Minimum Wage
- R30.23/hr ($1.84 USD)
- South Sudan Minimum Wage
- £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD)
- South Africa Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- R26,500 /mo ($1,612.55 USD)
- South Sudan Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- £125,000 /mo ($27.23 USD)
- Data Sources
- Department of Employment and Labour; 2026 figure cross-verified via Wikipedia List of countries by minimum wage (eff 2026-03-01) (2026-05-04), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / South Sudan Ministry of Labour (2026-02-25)
South Africa 
South Sudan
Updated 2026-05-04
South Africa, a upper-middle-income economy, and South Sudan, classified as low-income, take different approaches to wage policy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $1,613/mo in South Africa versus $27/mo in South Sudan, a 59.2:1 ratio. South Sudan has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 12.4% compared to 32.4%.
South Africa's unemployment rate is 32.4% compared to South Sudan's 12.4%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | South Africa | South Sudan |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | R30.23 $1.84 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | R5,239.87 $318.85 | £7,000 $1.52 |
| Minimum wage /yr | R62,878.40 $3,826.21 | — |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | R26,500 /mo $1,612.55 | £125,000 /mo $27.23 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | R21,500 /mo $1,308.30 | £112,000 /mo $24.40 |
| Median individual income /yr | R72,000 /yr $4,381.27 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means South Africa is higher.
Work Week
- South Africa
-
45 hrs/wk standard
Max 45 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Basic Conditions of Employment Act sets maximum ordinary hours at 45 per week (9 hrs/day for 5-day week, or 8 hrs/day for 6-day week). Overtime maximum of 10 additional hours per week. Overtime rate is 1.5x; Sunday/public holiday work is 2x.
- 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 South Africa would see a 21% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: South Africa mandates 45 hours while South Sudan mandates 40 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in South Africa are $83 vs $61 in South Sudan.
See this comparison from South Sudan's perspective: South Sudan vs South Africa
Compare South Africa with...
South Africa vs United States $ 7.25 /hr 
South Africa vs China ¥ 25 /hr 
South Africa vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr 
South Africa vs India ₹ 4,628 /mo 
South Africa vs France € 12.02 /hr 
South Africa vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr 
South Africa vs Australia A$ 26.44 /hr 
South Africa vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
South Africa vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo 
South Africa vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr 
South Africa vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr 
South Africa vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr 
South Africa vs Switzerland 
South Africa vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr 
South Africa vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr 
South Africa vs Singapore 
South Africa vs Norway 
South Africa vs Malaysia RM 8.72 /hr 
South Africa vs Israel ₪ 35.4 /hr 
South Africa vs New Zealand NZ$ 23.95 /hr 
South Africa vs Philippines ₱ 18,070 /mo 
South Africa vs Ireland € 14.15 /hr 
South Africa vs Colombia COP 7,295.44 /hr 
South Africa vs Chile CLP 2,994 /hr Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in South Africa or South Sudan?
In South Africa, the minimum wage is R30.23/hr ($1.84 USD). In South Sudan, it is £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD). South Africa has the higher rate by 21% 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 South Africa compared to South Sudan?
The average gross salary in South Africa is R26,500/mo ($1,612.55 USD), compared to £125,000/mo ($27.23 USD) in South Sudan. In USD terms, workers in South Africa earn approximately 5823% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between South Africa and South Sudan is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in South Africa earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in South Sudan.
How do work hours compare between South Africa and South Sudan?
South Africa has a longer standard work week at 45 hours, compared to 40 hours in South Sudan. Workers in South Africa 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.