Key Facts: South Sudan vs Mali Wages
- South Sudan Minimum Wage
- £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD)
- Mali Minimum Wage
- CFA192.30/hr ($0.35 USD)
- South Sudan Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- £125,000 /mo ($27.23 USD)
- Mali Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- CFA120,000 /mo ($215.44 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / South Sudan Ministry of Labour (2026-02-25), Mali Ministry of Labour and Civil Service / ILO (2026-02-25)
South Sudan 
Mali
Updated 2026-02-25
The minimum wage in South Sudan is 342% higher than in Mali when converted to USD. Average gross salaries diverge further: $27/mo in South Sudan versus $215/mo in Mali, a 7.9:1 ratio. Mali has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 2.8% compared to 12.4%.
South Sudan's unemployment rate is 12.4% compared to Mali's 2.8%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | South Sudan | Mali |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | — | CFA192.30 $0.35 |
| Minimum wage /day | — | CFA1,538 $2.76 |
| Minimum wage /mo | £7,000 $1.52 | CFA40,000 $71.81 |
| Minimum wage /yr | — | CFA480,000 $861.76 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | £125,000 /mo $27.23 | CFA120,000 /mo $215.44 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | £112,000 /mo $24.40 | N/A/mo |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | CFA360,000 /yr $646.32 |
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.
- Mali
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.15x pay
Labour Code (Law No. 92-020 of 23 September 1992, amended) sets standard hours at 40 per week (8 hrs/day, 5 days). Maximum including overtime is 48 hours/week. Overtime rates: 115% for day hours; 130% for hours between 21:00 and 05:00 on weekdays; 150% for Sunday daytime; 200% for night hours on Sundays/holidays. Workers are entitled to 2.5 days of paid leave per month worked (30 days/year). Friday prayers (Jumu'ah) are accommodated — Mali is ~90% Muslim.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from Mali to South Sudan would see a 342% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings.
See this comparison from Mali's perspective: Mali 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 Mali?
In South Sudan, the minimum wage is £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD). In Mali, it is CFA192.30/hr ($0.35 USD). South Sudan has the higher rate by 342% 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 Mali 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 Mali?
The average gross salary in South Sudan is £125,000/mo ($27.23 USD), compared to CFA120,000/mo ($215.44 USD) in Mali. In USD terms, workers in South Sudan earn approximately 691% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between South Sudan and Mali is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Mali 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 Mali?
Both South Sudan and Mali 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.