Key Facts: South Sudan vs Chile Wages
- South Sudan Minimum Wage
- £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD)
- Chile Minimum Wage
- CLP2,994/hr ($3.26 USD)
- South Sudan Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- £125,000 /mo ($27.23 USD)
- Chile Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- CLP750,000 /mo ($816.99 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / South Sudan Ministry of Labour (2026-02-25), Dirección del Trabajo / Ministerio del Trabajo y Previsión Social; 2026 rate per Ley 21.751 (eff 2026-01-01) (2026-05-27)
South Sudan
Chile
Updated 2026-05-27
The minimum wage in South Sudan is 53% lower than in Chile in USD terms, though average salaries tell a different story. Average gross salaries diverge further: $27/mo in South Sudan versus $817/mo in Chile, a 30.0:1 ratio. Chile has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 9.0% compared to 12.4%.
South Sudan's unemployment rate is 12.4% compared to Chile's 9.0%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | South Sudan | Chile |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | — | CLP2,994 $3.26 |
| Minimum wage /mo | £7,000 $1.52 | CLP539,000 $587.15 |
| Minimum wage /yr | — | CLP7,007,000 $7,632.90 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | £125,000 /mo $27.23 | CLP750,000 /mo $816.99 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | £112,000 /mo $24.40 | CLP622,500 /mo $678.10 |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | CLP6,000,000 /yr $6,535.95 |
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.
- Chile
-
43 hrs/wk standard
Max 43 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Ley de 40 horas (Ley 21.561) is reducing the workweek in steps: 45h → 44h (April 2024) → 43h (April 2026) → 40h (April 2028). As of April 26, 2026 the standard is 43h. Final reduction to 40h takes effect April 2028. Overtime paid at 50% premium, maximum 2 hours/day. Distributed across 5 or 6 working days.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker in South Sudan earns 114% less per hour in USD terms than one in Chile. Standard work weeks differ: South Sudan mandates 40 hours while Chile mandates 43 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in South Sudan are $61 vs $140 in Chile.
See this comparison from Chile's perspective: Chile vs South Sudan
Compare South Sudan with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in South Sudan or Chile?
In South Sudan, the minimum wage is £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD). In Chile, it is CLP2,994/hr ($3.26 USD). Chile has the higher rate by 114% 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 less does the average worker earn in South Sudan compared to Chile?
The average gross salary in South Sudan is £125,000/mo ($27.23 USD), compared to CLP750,000/mo ($816.99 USD) in Chile. In USD terms, workers in South Sudan earn approximately 2901% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between South Sudan and Chile is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Chile 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 Sudan and Chile?
Chile has a longer standard work week at 43 hours, compared to 40 hours in South Sudan. Workers in South Sudan work 40 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.