Key Facts: South Sudan vs Iraq Wages
- South Sudan Minimum Wage
- £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD)
- Iraq Minimum Wage
- ع.د1,823/hr ($1.40 USD)
- South Sudan Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- £125,000 /mo ($27.23 USD)
- Iraq Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ع.د700,000 /mo ($536.40 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / South Sudan Ministry of Labour (2026-02-25), Iraqi Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs / ILO (2026-02-25)
South Sudan 
Iraq
Updated 2026-02-25
South Sudan, a low-income economy, and Iraq, classified as upper-middle-income, take different approaches to wage policy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $27/mo in South Sudan versus $536/mo in Iraq, a 19.7:1 ratio. South Sudan has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 12.4% compared to 15.5%.
South Sudan's unemployment rate is 12.4% compared to Iraq's 15.5%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | South Sudan | Iraq |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | — | ع.د1,823 $1.40 |
| Minimum wage /day | — | ع.د14,583 $11.17 |
| Minimum wage /mo | £7,000 $1.52 | ع.د350,000 $268.20 |
| Minimum wage /yr | — | ع.د4,200,000 $3,218.39 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | £125,000 /mo $27.23 | ع.د700,000 /mo $536.40 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | £112,000 /mo $24.40 | N/A/mo |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | ع.د3,360,000 /yr $2,574.71 |
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.
- Iraq
-
48 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Labour Law No. 37 of 2015 sets maximum ordinary working hours at 8 per day / 48 per week. Friday is the weekly rest day. Overtime is compensated at 150% of normal hourly rate. Work on official holidays is paid at 200%. Ramadan working hours are reduced. Public sector employees typically work ~40 hours/week in practice.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from Iraq to South Sudan would see a 9% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: South Sudan mandates 40 hours while Iraq mandates 48 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in South Sudan are $61 vs $67 in Iraq.
See this comparison from Iraq's perspective: Iraq vs South Sudan
Compare South Sudan with...
South Sudan vs United States $ 7.25 /hr 
South Sudan vs China ¥ 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 Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in South Sudan or Iraq?
In South Sudan, the minimum wage is £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD). In Iraq, it is ع.د1,823/hr ($1.40 USD). South Sudan has the higher rate by 9% 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 Iraq 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 Iraq?
The average gross salary in South Sudan is £125,000/mo ($27.23 USD), compared to ع.د700,000/mo ($536.40 USD) in Iraq. In USD terms, workers in South Sudan earn approximately 1870% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between South Sudan and Iraq is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Iraq 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 Iraq?
Iraq has a longer standard work week at 48 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.