Key Facts: South Sudan vs Malawi Wages
- South Sudan Minimum Wage
- £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD)
- Malawi Minimum Wage
- MK240.40/hr ($0.14 USD)
- South Sudan Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- £125,000 /mo ($27.23 USD)
- Malawi Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- MK120,000 /mo ($69.16 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / South Sudan Ministry of Labour (2026-02-25), Malawi Ministry of Labour / Minimum Wages Board / ILO (2026-02-25)
South Sudan 
Malawi
Updated 2026-02-25
The minimum wage in South Sudan is roughly 11 times higher than in Malawi 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 $69/mo in Malawi, a 2.5:1 ratio. Malawi has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 5.1% compared to 12.4%.
South Sudan's unemployment rate is 12.4% compared to Malawi's 5.1%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | South Sudan | Malawi |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | — | MK240.40 $0.14 |
| Minimum wage /day | — | MK1,923 $1.11 |
| Minimum wage /mo | £7,000 $1.52 | MK50,000 $28.82 |
| Minimum wage /yr | — | MK600,000 $345.82 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | £125,000 /mo $27.23 | MK120,000 /mo $69.16 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | £112,000 /mo $24.40 | N/A/mo |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | MK360,000 /yr $207.49 |
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.
- Malawi
-
48 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Employment Act (Cap 55:02) sets maximum ordinary working hours at 48 per week (8 hrs/day, 6 days) or 45 hours over 5 days. Overtime is compensated at 150% of normal hourly rate. Night work (6pm–6am) attracts a premium. Public holidays are compensated at double time if worked. Workers are entitled to 15 days of paid annual leave after 12 months.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from Malawi to South Sudan would see a 1000% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: South Sudan mandates 40 hours while Malawi mandates 48 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in South Sudan are $61 vs $7 in Malawi.
See this comparison from Malawi's perspective: Malawi 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 Malawi?
In South Sudan, the minimum wage is £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD). In Malawi, it is MK240.40/hr ($0.14 USD). South Sudan has the higher rate by 1000% 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 Malawi 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 Malawi?
The average gross salary in South Sudan is £125,000/mo ($27.23 USD), compared to MK120,000/mo ($69.16 USD) in Malawi. In USD terms, workers in South Sudan earn approximately 154% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between South Sudan and Malawi is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Malawi 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 Malawi?
Malawi 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.