Key Facts: South Sudan vs Ghana Wages
- South Sudan Minimum Wage
- £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD)
- Ghana Minimum Wage
- GH₵2.72/hr ($0.18 USD)
- South Sudan Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- £125,000 /mo ($27.23 USD)
- Ghana Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- GH₵3,500 /mo ($235.69 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / South Sudan Ministry of Labour (2026-02-25), Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) / Ministry of Finance (MOFEP) / National Tripartite Committee; 2025-2026 daily rates per official gazettements (2026-05-27)
South Sudan
Ghana
Updated 2026-05-27
The minimum wage in South Sudan is roughly 8 times higher than in Ghana in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a low-income and a lower-middle-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $27/mo in South Sudan versus $236/mo in Ghana, a 8.7:1 ratio. Ghana has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 3.0% compared to 12.4%.
South Sudan's unemployment rate is 12.4% compared to Ghana's 3.0%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | South Sudan | Ghana |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | — | GH₵2.72 $0.18 |
| Minimum wage /day | — | GH₵21.77 $1.47 |
| Minimum wage /mo | £7,000 $1.52 | GH₵565.02 $38.05 |
| Minimum wage /yr | — | GH₵6,780.24 $456.58 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | £125,000 /mo $27.23 | GH₵3,500 /mo $235.69 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | £112,000 /mo $24.40 | GH₵3,000 /mo $202.02 |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | GH₵12,000 /yr $808.08 |
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.
- Ghana
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Labour Act 2003 (Act 651) sets standard working hours at 8 hours/day, 40 hours/week. Overtime must be paid at 1.5x the normal rate. Work on rest days or public holidays at 2x.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from Ghana to South Sudan would see a 732% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings.
See this comparison from Ghana's perspective: Ghana vs South Sudan
Compare South Sudan with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in South Sudan or Ghana?
In South Sudan, the minimum wage is £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD). In Ghana, it is GH₵2.72/hr ($0.18 USD). South Sudan has the higher rate by 732% 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 Ghana 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 Ghana?
The average gross salary in South Sudan is £125,000/mo ($27.23 USD), compared to GH₵3,500/mo ($235.69 USD) in Ghana. In USD terms, workers in South Sudan earn approximately 766% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between South Sudan and Ghana is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Ghana 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 Ghana?
Both South Sudan and Ghana 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.