Key Facts: South Sudan vs Iran Wages
- South Sudan Minimum Wage
- £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD)
- Iran Minimum Wage
- ﷼692,731/hr ($1.02 USD)
- South Sudan Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- £125,000 /mo ($27.23 USD)
- Iran Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ﷼400,000,000 /mo ($588.24 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / South Sudan Ministry of Labour (2026-02-25), Supreme Labour Council / ILO ILOSTAT. 2026 (Iranian year 1405) figure verified via WageIndicator (March 22, 2026 update) and Euronews coverage of 60% nominal increase amid sanctions pressure. (2026-05-04)
South Sudan 
Iran
Updated 2026-05-04
South Sudan, a low-income economy, and Iran, classified as lower-middle-income, take different approaches to wage policy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $27/mo in South Sudan versus $588/mo in Iran, a 21.6:1 ratio. Iran has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 8.3% compared to 12.4%.
South Sudan's unemployment rate is 12.4% compared to Iran's 8.3%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | South Sudan | Iran |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | — | ﷼692,731 $1.02 |
| Minimum wage /day | — | ﷼5,541,850 $8.15 |
| Minimum wage /mo | £7,000 $1.52 | ﷼166,255,500 $244.49 |
| Minimum wage /yr | — | ﷼1,995,066,000 $2,933.92 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | £125,000 /mo $27.23 | ﷼400,000,000 /mo $588.24 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | £112,000 /mo $24.40 | N/A/mo |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | ﷼1,440,000,000 /yr $2,117.65 |
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.
- Iran
-
44 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.4x pay
Article 51 of the Labour Law sets ordinary working hours at 44 hours per week (8 hours/day, 6 days, with 4 hours on the sixth day — or equivalent arrangements). Maximum including overtime is 48 hours/week. Overtime is compensated at 140% of the ordinary hourly rate. Friday is the official weekly rest day. Workers in hazardous conditions have reduced hours.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from Iran to South Sudan would see a 50% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: South Sudan mandates 40 hours while Iran mandates 44 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in South Sudan are $61 vs $45 in Iran.
See this comparison from Iran's perspective: Iran vs South Sudan
Compare South Sudan with...
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South Sudan vs China ¥ 25 /hr 
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South Sudan vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo 
South Sudan vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr 
South Sudan vs France € 12.02 /hr 
South Sudan vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
South Sudan vs Canada C$ 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 
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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 
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South Sudan vs Singapore Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in South Sudan or Iran?
In South Sudan, the minimum wage is £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD). In Iran, it is ﷼692,731/hr ($1.02 USD). South Sudan has the higher rate by 50% 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 Iran 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 Iran?
The average gross salary in South Sudan is £125,000/mo ($27.23 USD), compared to ﷼400,000,000/mo ($588.24 USD) in Iran. In USD terms, workers in South Sudan earn approximately 2060% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between South Sudan and Iran is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Iran 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 Iran?
Iran has a longer standard work week at 44 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.