Key Facts: South Sudan vs France Wages
- South Sudan Minimum Wage
- £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD)
- France Minimum Wage
- €12.02/hr ($14.00 USD)
- South Sudan Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- £125,000 /mo ($27.23 USD)
- France Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- €3,500 /mo ($4,075.93 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / South Sudan Ministry of Labour (2026-02-25), French Ministry of Labour (2026-03-02)
South Sudan
France
Updated 2026-03-02
The minimum wage in South Sudan is roughly 9 times lower than in France in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a low-income and a high-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $27/mo in South Sudan versus $4,076/mo in France, a 149.7:1 ratio. France has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 7.5% compared to 12.4%.
South Sudan's unemployment rate is 12.4% compared to France's 7.5%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | South Sudan | France |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | — | €12.02 $14.00 |
| Minimum wage /mo | £7,000 $1.52 | €1,823.03 $2,123.01 |
| Minimum wage /yr | — | €21,876.36 $25,476.14 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | £125,000 /mo $27.23 | €3,500 /mo $4,075.93 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | £112,000 /mo $24.40 | €2,700 /mo $3,144.29 |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | €24,000 /yr $27,949.23 |
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.
- France
-
35 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.25x pay
Legal workweek is 35 hours. Overtime: 25% premium for hours 36-43, 50% premium beyond 43 hours. Annual maximum 220 overtime hours unless collective agreement states otherwise.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker in South Sudan earns 818% less per hour in USD terms than one in France. Standard work weeks differ: South Sudan mandates 40 hours while France mandates 35 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in South Sudan are $61 vs $490 in France.
See this comparison from France's perspective: France vs South Sudan
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in South Sudan or France?
In South Sudan, the minimum wage is £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD). In France, it is €12.02/hr ($14.00 USD). France has the higher rate by 818% 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 France?
The average gross salary in South Sudan is £125,000/mo ($27.23 USD), compared to €3,500/mo ($4,075.93 USD) in France. In USD terms, workers in South Sudan earn approximately 14870% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between South Sudan and France is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in France 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 France?
South Sudan has a longer standard work week at 40 hours, compared to 35 hours in France. Workers in South Sudan work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in France 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.