Key Facts: South Sudan vs China Wages
- South Sudan Minimum Wage
- £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD)
- China Minimum Wage
- ¥25/hr ($3.70 USD)
- South Sudan Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- £125,000 /mo ($27.23 USD)
- China Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ¥10,343 /mo ($1,528.88 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / South Sudan Ministry of Labour (2026-02-25), Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (MOHRSS); regional rates verified via china-briefing.com aggregator (April 2026) (2026-05-04)
South Sudan 
China
Updated 2026-05-04
The minimum wage in South Sudan is 59% lower than in China in USD terms, though average salaries tell a different story. Average gross salaries diverge further: $27/mo in South Sudan versus $1,529/mo in China, a 56.2:1 ratio. China has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 4.6% compared to 12.4%.
South Sudan's unemployment rate is 12.4% compared to China's 4.6%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | South Sudan | China |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | — | ¥25 $3.70 |
| Minimum wage /mo | £7,000 $1.52 | ¥2,740 $405.02 |
| Minimum wage /yr | — | ¥32,880 $4,860.24 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | £125,000 /mo $27.23 | ¥10,343 /mo $1,528.88 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | £112,000 /mo $24.40 | ¥8,274 /mo $1,223.04 |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | ¥34,707 /yr $5,130.30 |
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.
- China
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 44 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Labour Law sets 40 hours/week standard (8 hrs/day, 5 days). Overtime limited to 36 hours/month. Weekday overtime: 150%, rest day overtime: 200%, statutory holiday overtime: 300%. The '996' culture (9am-9pm, 6 days/week) is widespread in tech but was ruled illegal by the Supreme People's Court in 2021.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker in South Sudan earns 142% less per hour in USD terms than one in China.
See this comparison from China's perspective: China vs South Sudan
Compare South Sudan with...
South Sudan vs United States $ 7.25 /hr 
South Sudan vs Germany € 13.9 /hr 
South Sudan vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr 
South Sudan vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo 
South Sudan vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr 
South Sudan vs France € 12.02 /hr 
South Sudan vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
South Sudan vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr 
South Sudan vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr 
South Sudan vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
South Sudan vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr 
South Sudan vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo 
South Sudan vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr 
South Sudan vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr 
South Sudan vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr 
South Sudan vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr 
South Sudan vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr 
South Sudan vs Switzerland 
South Sudan vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr 
South Sudan vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo 
South Sudan vs Sweden 
South Sudan vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr 
South Sudan vs Singapore 
South Sudan vs Norway Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in South Sudan or China?
In South Sudan, the minimum wage is £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD). In China, it is ¥25/hr ($3.70 USD). China has the higher rate by 142% 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 China?
The average gross salary in South Sudan is £125,000/mo ($27.23 USD), compared to ¥10,343/mo ($1,528.88 USD) in China. In USD terms, workers in South Sudan earn approximately 5515% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between South Sudan and China is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in China 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 China?
Both South Sudan and China 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.