Key Facts: South Sudan vs Pakistan Wages
- South Sudan Minimum Wage
- £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD)
- Pakistan Minimum Wage
- ₨160/hr ($0.57 USD)
- South Sudan Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- £125,000 /mo ($27.23 USD)
- Pakistan Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ₨39,042 /mo ($140.19 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / South Sudan Ministry of Labour (2026-02-25), Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development; FY2025-26 federal budget confirmed minimum wage UNCHANGED at PKR 37,000/month (no increase despite high inflation; Federal Government Grade 1-16 employees received separate 10% pay rise that does not affect minimum wage). Verified via Brecorder (brecorder.com/news/minimum-wage-to-remain-unchanged-at-rs37000-in-fy26). (2026-05-04)
South Sudan
Pakistan
Updated 2026-05-04
The minimum wage in South Sudan is 165% higher than in Pakistan when converted to USD. Average gross salaries diverge further: $27/mo in South Sudan versus $140/mo in Pakistan, a 5.1:1 ratio. Pakistan has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 5.4% compared to 12.4%.
South Sudan's unemployment rate is 12.4% compared to Pakistan's 5.4%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | South Sudan | Pakistan |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | — | ₨160 $0.57 |
| Minimum wage /mo | £7,000 $1.52 | ₨37,000 $132.85 |
| Minimum wage /yr | — | ₨444,000 $1,594.25 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | £125,000 /mo $27.23 | ₨39,042 /mo $140.19 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | £112,000 /mo $24.40 | ₨35,138 /mo $126.17 |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | ₨403,200 /yr $1,447.76 |
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.
- Pakistan
-
48 hrs/wk standard
Max 56 hrs/wk
Overtime : 2x pay
Factories Act 1934 sets standard at 48 hours/week (9 hrs/day). Maximum 56 hours including overtime. Overtime paid at double the ordinary rate. Shops and Establishments ordinances vary by province.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from Pakistan to South Sudan would see a 165% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: South Sudan mandates 40 hours while Pakistan mandates 48 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in South Sudan are $61 vs $28 in Pakistan.
See this comparison from Pakistan's perspective: Pakistan vs South Sudan
Compare South Sudan with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in South Sudan or Pakistan?
In South Sudan, the minimum wage is £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD). In Pakistan, it is ₨160/hr ($0.57 USD). South Sudan has the higher rate by 165% 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 Pakistan 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 Pakistan?
The average gross salary in South Sudan is £125,000/mo ($27.23 USD), compared to ₨39,042/mo ($140.19 USD) in Pakistan. In USD terms, workers in South Sudan earn approximately 415% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between South Sudan and Pakistan is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Pakistan 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 Pakistan?
Pakistan 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.