Key Facts: South Sudan vs Netherlands Wages
- South Sudan Minimum Wage
- £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD)
- Netherlands Minimum Wage
- €14.71/hr ($17.13 USD)
- South Sudan Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- £125,000 /mo ($27.23 USD)
- Netherlands Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- €3,900 /mo ($4,541.75 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / South Sudan Ministry of Labour (2026-02-25), Rijksoverheid (Government of the Netherlands); 2026 monthly basis verified via Wikipedia EU member states by minimum wage table (40-hour workweek convention) (2026-05-27)
South Sudan 
Netherlands
Updated 2026-05-27
The minimum wage in South Sudan is roughly 11 times lower than in the Netherlands in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a low-income and a high-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $27/mo in South Sudan versus $4,542/mo in the Netherlands, a 166.8:1 ratio. Netherlands has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 3.9% compared to 12.4%.
South Sudan's unemployment rate is 12.4% compared to the Netherlands' 3.9%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | South Sudan | Netherlands |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | — | €14.71 $17.13 |
| Minimum wage /mo | £7,000 $1.52 | €2,549.73 $2,969.29 |
| Minimum wage /yr | — | €30,596.76 $35,631.49 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | £125,000 /mo $27.23 | €3,900 /mo $4,541.75 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | £112,000 /mo $24.40 | €2,750 /mo $3,202.52 |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | €36,500 /yr $42,506.11 |
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.
- Netherlands
-
36 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Standard workweek varies by sector: commonly 36, 38, or 40 hours. The Working Hours Act (Arbeidstijdenwet) limits working time to 12 hours per shift and 60 hours per week, averaged to a maximum of 48 hours over 16 weeks. Overtime compensation is determined by collective agreements or individual contracts.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker in South Sudan earns 1024% less per hour in USD terms than one in the Netherlands. Standard work weeks differ: South Sudan mandates 40 hours while the Netherlands mandates 36 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in South Sudan are $61 vs $617 in the Netherlands.
See this comparison from Netherlands's perspective: Netherlands vs South Sudan
Compare South Sudan with...
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South Sudan vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr 
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South Sudan vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr 
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South Sudan vs Norway Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in South Sudan or Netherlands?
In South Sudan, the minimum wage is £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD). In the Netherlands, it is €14.71/hr ($17.13 USD). Netherlands has the higher rate by 1024% 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 Netherlands?
The average gross salary in South Sudan is £125,000/mo ($27.23 USD), compared to €3,900/mo ($4,541.75 USD) in the Netherlands. In USD terms, workers in South Sudan earn approximately 16581% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between South Sudan and Netherlands is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in the Netherlands 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 Netherlands?
South Sudan has a longer standard work week at 40 hours, compared to 36 hours in the Netherlands. Workers in South Sudan work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in the Netherlands 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.