Key Facts: South Sudan vs Laos Wages
- South Sudan Minimum Wage
- £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD)
- Laos Minimum Wage
- ₭10,417/hr ($0.48 USD)
- South Sudan Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- £125,000 /mo ($27.23 USD)
- Laos Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ₭4,000,000 /mo ($185.79 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / South Sudan Ministry of Labour (2026-02-25), Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare — Lao PDR (2026-02-25)
South Sudan 
Laos
Updated 2026-02-25
The minimum wage in South Sudan is 215% higher than in Laos when converted to USD. Average gross salaries diverge further: $27/mo in South Sudan versus $186/mo in Laos, a 6.8:1 ratio. Laos has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 1.2% compared to 12.4%.
South Sudan's unemployment rate is 12.4% compared to Laos' 1.2%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | South Sudan | Laos |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | — | ₭10,417 $0.48 |
| Minimum wage /mo | £7,000 $1.52 | ₭2,500,000 $116.12 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | £125,000 /mo $27.23 | ₭4,000,000 /mo $185.79 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | £112,000 /mo $24.40 | ₭3,600,000 /mo $167.21 |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | ₭18,000,000 /yr $836.04 |
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.
- Laos
-
48 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Standard workweek is 48 hours (8 hours/day, 6 days/week). Workers in dangerous conditions are limited to 6 hours/day or 36 hours/week. Overtime is limited to 45 hours/month or 3 hours/day. Overtime compensation: 1.5x regular rate on normal days, 2.5x on weekly rest days during daytime, 3x on rest days at night. Governed by the Labour Law.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from Laos to South Sudan would see a 215% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: South Sudan mandates 40 hours while Laos mandates 48 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in South Sudan are $61 vs $23 in Laos.
See this comparison from Laos's perspective: Laos 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 Laos?
In South Sudan, the minimum wage is £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD). In Laos, it is ₭10,417/hr ($0.48 USD). South Sudan has the higher rate by 215% 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 Laos 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 Laos?
The average gross salary in South Sudan is £125,000/mo ($27.23 USD), compared to ₭4,000,000/mo ($185.79 USD) in Laos. In USD terms, workers in South Sudan earn approximately 582% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between South Sudan and Laos is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Laos 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 Laos?
Laos 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.