Key Facts: South Sudan vs Lebanon Wages
- South Sudan Minimum Wage
- £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD)
- Lebanon Minimum Wage
- L£161,600/hr ($1.81 USD)
- South Sudan Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- £125,000 /mo ($27.23 USD)
- Lebanon Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- L£27,000,000 /mo ($301.68 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / South Sudan Ministry of Labour (2026-02-25), Ministry of Labour — Lebanon (2026-02-25)
South Sudan
Lebanon
Updated 2026-02-25
South Sudan, a low-income economy, and Lebanon, classified as lower-middle-income, take different approaches to wage policy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $27/mo in South Sudan versus $302/mo in Lebanon, a 11.1:1 ratio.
South Sudan's unemployment rate is 12.4% compared to Lebanon's 11.0%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | South Sudan | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | — | L£161,600 $1.81 |
| Minimum wage /mo | £7,000 $1.52 | L£28,000,000 $312.85 |
| Minimum wage /yr | — | L£336,000,000 $3,754.19 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | £125,000 /mo $27.23 | L£27,000,000 /mo $301.68 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | £112,000 /mo $24.40 | L£24,000,000 /mo $268.16 |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | L£144,000,000 /yr $1,608.94 |
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.
- Lebanon
-
48 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Labour Code sets maximum working hours at 48 per week. Overtime is paid at 150% of normal rate. Overtime on holidays at 200%. In practice, many workers work longer hours due to the economic crisis.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker in South Sudan earns 18% less per hour in USD terms than one in Lebanon. Standard work weeks differ: South Sudan mandates 40 hours while Lebanon mandates 48 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in South Sudan are $61 vs $87 in Lebanon.
See this comparison from Lebanon's perspective: Lebanon vs South Sudan
Compare South Sudan with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in South Sudan or Lebanon?
In South Sudan, the minimum wage is £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD). In Lebanon, it is L£161,600/hr ($1.81 USD). Lebanon has the higher rate by 18% 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 Lebanon?
The average gross salary in South Sudan is £125,000/mo ($27.23 USD), compared to L£27,000,000/mo ($301.68 USD) in Lebanon. In USD terms, workers in South Sudan earn approximately 1008% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between South Sudan and Lebanon is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Lebanon 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 Lebanon?
Lebanon 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.