Key Facts: South Sudan vs Burundi Wages
- South Sudan Minimum Wage
- £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD)
- Burundi Minimum Wage
- FBu4,160/mo ($1.40 USD)
- South Sudan Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- £125,000 /mo ($27.23 USD)
- Burundi Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- FBu60,000 /mo ($20.19 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / South Sudan Ministry of Labour (2026-02-25), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Ministère de la Fonction Publique du Burundi (2026-02-25)
South Sudan
Burundi
Updated 2026-02-25
Both low-income economies, South Sudan and Burundi set comparable minimum wage floors in USD terms. Average salaries are higher in South Sudan at $27/mo compared to $20/mo in Burundi. Burundi has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 0.9% compared to 12.4%.
From South Sudan's perspective: adjusting for purchasing power, South Sudan's minimum wage buys more than Burundi's. The PPP-adjusted hourly rate in South Sudan is $55 international dollars, compared to $5 in Burundi. South Sudan's unemployment rate is 12.4% compared to Burundi's 0.9%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | South Sudan | Burundi |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /day | — | FBu160 $0.05 |
| Minimum wage /mo | £7,000 $1.52 | FBu4,160 $1.40 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | £125,000 /mo $27.23 | FBu60,000 /mo $20.19 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | £112,000 /mo $24.40 | N/A/mo |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means South Sudan is higher.
Work 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.
- Burundi
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 45 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Labour Code sets 40 hours/week as the standard. The Code du Travail is French-language, reflecting Belgian colonial heritage. Overtime capped at 45 hours total. Enforcement is minimal outside the formal sector.
• WAGE TRAJECTORY (USD/mo)
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from Burundi to South Sudan would see a 9% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings.
See this comparison from Burundi's perspective: Burundi vs South Sudan
Compare South Sudan with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in South Sudan or Burundi?
In South Sudan, the minimum wage is £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD). In Burundi, it is FBu4,160/mo ($1.40 USD). South Sudan has the higher rate by 9% 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 Burundi may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much more does the average worker earn in South Sudan compared to Burundi?
The average gross salary in South Sudan is £125,000/mo ($27.23 USD), compared to FBu60,000/mo ($20.19 USD) in Burundi. In USD terms, workers in South Sudan earn approximately 35% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between South Sudan and Burundi is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in South Sudan earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Burundi.
Which country has better purchasing power for minimum wage workers, South Sudan or Burundi?
After adjusting for local prices using purchasing power parity (PPP), minimum wage workers in South Sudan can afford more than those in Burundi. The PPP-adjusted rate is $55 in South Sudan and $5 in Burundi. PPP converts wages into equivalent US dollar buying power, accounting for what a unit of currency actually buys locally. The 1063% purchasing power gap means that even if the nominal wage in Burundi appears competitive, minimum wage workers there face greater constraints on day-to-day spending.
How do work hours compare between South Sudan and Burundi?
Both South Sudan and Burundi 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.