Key Facts: South Sudan vs Portugal Wages
- South Sudan Minimum Wage
- £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD)
- Portugal Minimum Wage
- €5.31/hr ($6.18 USD)
- South Sudan Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- £125,000 /mo ($27.23 USD)
- Portugal Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- €1,550 /mo ($1,805.05 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / South Sudan Ministry of Labour (2026-02-25), Government of Portugal (Governo de Portugal); 2026 figure verified via Wikipedia EU member states by minimum wage table (eff 2026-01-01) (2026-05-04)
South Sudan 
Portugal
Updated 2026-05-04
The minimum wage in South Sudan is 75% lower than in Portugal in USD terms, though average salaries tell a different story. Average gross salaries diverge further: $27/mo in South Sudan versus $1,805/mo in Portugal, a 66.3:1 ratio. Portugal has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 6.2% compared to 12.4%.
South Sudan's unemployment rate is 12.4% compared to Portugal's 6.2%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | South Sudan | Portugal |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | — | €5.31 $6.18 |
| Minimum wage /mo | £7,000 $1.52 | €920 $1,071.39 |
| Minimum wage /yr | — | €12,880 $14,999.42 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | £125,000 /mo $27.23 | €1,550 /mo $1,805.05 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | £112,000 /mo $24.40 | €1,150 /mo $1,339.23 |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | €14,000 /yr $16,303.71 |
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.
- Portugal
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.25x pay
Standard workweek is 40 hours (Labour Code). The first hour of overtime on a working day is paid at 125%, subsequent hours at 137.5%. Overtime on rest days and public holidays is paid at 150%. Maximum 150 hours of overtime per year (can be increased to 200 by collective agreement). EU Working Time Directive limits average to 48 hrs/week.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker in South Sudan earns 306% less per hour in USD terms than one in Portugal.
See this comparison from Portugal's perspective: Portugal 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 Portugal?
In South Sudan, the minimum wage is £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD). In Portugal, it is €5.31/hr ($6.18 USD). Portugal has the higher rate by 306% 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 Portugal?
The average gross salary in South Sudan is £125,000/mo ($27.23 USD), compared to €1,550/mo ($1,805.05 USD) in Portugal. In USD terms, workers in South Sudan earn approximately 6530% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between South Sudan and Portugal is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Portugal 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 Portugal?
Both South Sudan and Portugal 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.