Key Facts: South Sudan vs New Zealand Wages
- South Sudan Minimum Wage
- £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD)
- New Zealand Minimum Wage
- NZ$23.50/hr ($13.99 USD)
- South Sudan Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- £125,000 /mo ($27.23 USD)
- New Zealand Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- NZ$5,666.67 /mo ($3,374.22 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / South Sudan Ministry of Labour (2026-02-25), Employment New Zealand / Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (2026-03-02)
South Sudan 
New Zealand
Updated 2026-03-02
The minimum wage in South Sudan is roughly 9 times lower than in New Zealand 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 $3,374/mo in New Zealand, a 123.9:1 ratio. New Zealand has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 5.1% compared to 12.4%.
South Sudan's unemployment rate is 12.4% compared to New Zealand's 5.1%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | South Sudan | New Zealand |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | — | NZ$23.50 $13.99 |
| Minimum wage /mo | £7,000 $1.52 | NZ$4,073.83 $2,425.77 |
| Minimum wage /yr | — | NZ$48,880 $29,105.63 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | £125,000 /mo $27.23 | NZ$5,666.67 /mo $3,374.22 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | £112,000 /mo $24.40 | NZ$4,533.33 /mo $2,699.37 |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | NZ$61,828 /yr $36,815.53 |
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.
- New Zealand
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Overtime : 1.5x pay
No statutory maximum working hours, but employers must ensure reasonable working hours. Most employment agreements specify 40 hours/week. Overtime rates not mandated by statute but commonly 1.5x by agreement. Time-and-a-half and a day in lieu required for work on public holidays.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker in South Sudan earns 818% less per hour in USD terms than one in New Zealand.
See this comparison from New Zealand's perspective: New Zealand 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 New Zealand?
In South Sudan, the minimum wage is £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD). In New Zealand, it is NZ$23.50/hr ($13.99 USD). New Zealand has the higher rate by 818% 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 New Zealand?
The average gross salary in South Sudan is £125,000/mo ($27.23 USD), compared to NZ$5,666.67/mo ($3,374.22 USD) in New Zealand. In USD terms, workers in South Sudan earn approximately 12293% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between South Sudan and New Zealand is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in New Zealand 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 New Zealand?
Both South Sudan and New Zealand 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.