Key Facts: South Sudan vs Madagascar Wages
- South Sudan Minimum Wage
- £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD)
- Madagascar Minimum Wage
- Ar1,202/hr ($0.27 USD)
- South Sudan Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- £125,000 /mo ($27.23 USD)
- Madagascar Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Ar500,000 /mo ($112.36 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / South Sudan Ministry of Labour (2026-02-25), Malagasy Ministry of Labour and Social Laws / ILO (2026-02-25)
South Sudan 
Madagascar
Updated 2026-02-25
The minimum wage in South Sudan is roughly 6 times higher than in Madagascar in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a low-income and a low-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $27/mo in South Sudan versus $112/mo in Madagascar, a 4.1:1 ratio. Madagascar has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 3.0% compared to 12.4%.
South Sudan's unemployment rate is 12.4% compared to Madagascar's 3.0%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | South Sudan | Madagascar |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | — | Ar1,202 $0.27 |
| Minimum wage /day | — | Ar9,615 $2.16 |
| Minimum wage /mo | £7,000 $1.52 | Ar250,000 $56.18 |
| Minimum wage /yr | — | Ar3,000,000 $674.16 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | £125,000 /mo $27.23 | Ar500,000 /mo $112.36 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | £112,000 /mo $24.40 | N/A/mo |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | Ar1,200,000 /yr $269.66 |
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.
- Madagascar
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.3x pay
Labour Code (Law No. 2003-044) sets standard hours at 40 per week (8 hrs/day, 5 days). Maximum including overtime is 48 hours/week. Overtime is compensated at 130% of normal rate (for the first 8 hours of overtime per week), then 160% (for subsequent hours), and 200% on Sundays and public holidays. Night work premium applies. EPZ workers may have different arrangements under zone-specific regulations.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from Madagascar to South Sudan would see a 464% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings.
See this comparison from Madagascar's perspective: Madagascar 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 Madagascar?
In South Sudan, the minimum wage is £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD). In Madagascar, it is Ar1,202/hr ($0.27 USD). South Sudan has the higher rate by 464% 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 Madagascar 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 Madagascar?
The average gross salary in South Sudan is £125,000/mo ($27.23 USD), compared to Ar500,000/mo ($112.36 USD) in Madagascar. In USD terms, workers in South Sudan earn approximately 313% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between South Sudan and Madagascar is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Madagascar 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 Madagascar?
Both South Sudan and Madagascar 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.