Key Facts: South Sudan vs Rwanda Wages
- South Sudan Minimum Wage
- £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD)
- Rwanda Minimum Wage
- FRw14.08/hr ($0.01 USD)
- South Sudan Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- £125,000 /mo ($27.23 USD)
- Rwanda Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- FRw73,948 /mo ($50.61 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / South Sudan Ministry of Labour (2026-02-25), Ministry of Public Service and Labour / ILO (2026-02-25)
South Sudan 
Rwanda
Updated 2026-02-25
The minimum wage in South Sudan is roughly 158 times higher than in Rwanda in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a low-income and a low-income economy. Average salaries are lower in South Sudan at $27/mo compared to $51/mo in Rwanda.
South Sudan's unemployment rate is 12.4% compared to Rwanda's 11.4%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | South Sudan | Rwanda |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | — | FRw14.08 $0.01 |
| Minimum wage /mo | £7,000 $1.52 | FRw2,440 $1.67 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | £125,000 /mo $27.23 | FRw73,948 /mo $50.61 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | £112,000 /mo $24.40 | FRw62,000 /mo $42.44 |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | FRw240,000 /yr $164.27 |
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.
- Rwanda
-
45 hrs/wk standard
Max 55 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Standard workweek is 45 hours per Law No. 66/2018 Regulating Labor in Rwanda. Overtime limited to 2 hours/day and 10 hours/week (max 55 hours total). Overtime permitted for urgent, exceptional, or seasonal work. Overtime compensation varies by sector agreement. Daily working hours typically 9 hours over 5 days.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from Rwanda to South Sudan would see a 15721% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: South Sudan mandates 40 hours while Rwanda mandates 45 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in South Sudan are $61 vs $0 in Rwanda.
See this comparison from Rwanda's perspective: Rwanda 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 Rwanda?
In South Sudan, the minimum wage is £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD). In Rwanda, it is FRw14.08/hr ($0.01 USD). South Sudan has the higher rate by 15721% 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 Rwanda 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 Rwanda?
The average gross salary in South Sudan is £125,000/mo ($27.23 USD), compared to FRw73,948/mo ($50.61 USD) in Rwanda. In USD terms, workers in South Sudan earn approximately 86% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between South Sudan and Rwanda is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Rwanda 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 Rwanda?
Rwanda has a longer standard work week at 45 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.