Key Facts: South Sudan vs Saudi Arabia Wages
- South Sudan Minimum Wage
- £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD)
- Saudi Arabia Minimum Wage
- ﷼23.08/hr ($6.15 USD)
- South Sudan Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- £125,000 /mo ($27.23 USD)
- Saudi Arabia Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ﷼10,500 /mo ($2,800 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / South Sudan Ministry of Labour (2026-02-25), Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development; minimum wage for Saudi nationals at SAR 4,000/mo unchanged since March 2021 Nitaqat reforms (2026-05-04)
South Sudan
Saudi Arabia
Updated 2026-05-04
The minimum wage in South Sudan is 75% lower than in Saudi Arabia in USD terms, though average salaries tell a different story. Average gross salaries diverge further: $27/mo in South Sudan versus $2,800/mo in Saudi Arabia, a 102.8:1 ratio. Saudi Arabia has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 3.0% compared to 12.4%.
South Sudan's unemployment rate is 12.4% compared to Saudi Arabia's 3.0%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | South Sudan | Saudi Arabia |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | — | ﷼23.08 $6.15 |
| Minimum wage /mo | £7,000 $1.52 | ﷼4,000 $1,066.67 |
| Minimum wage /yr | — | ﷼48,000 $12,800 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | £125,000 /mo $27.23 | ﷼10,500 /mo $2,800 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | £112,000 /mo $24.40 | ﷼10,500 /mo $2,800 |
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.
- Saudi Arabia
-
48 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Saudi Labour Law sets 8 hrs/day, 48 hrs/week (6-day week). During Ramadan, reduced to 6 hrs/day, 36 hrs/week for Muslim employees. Overtime capped at 2 hrs/day. Overtime paid at base hourly rate + 50%. Friday is the standard weekly rest day. Government sector works 35 hrs/week (Sun-Thu).
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker in South Sudan earns 304% less per hour in USD terms than one in Saudi Arabia. Standard work weeks differ: South Sudan mandates 40 hours while Saudi Arabia mandates 48 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in South Sudan are $61 vs $295 in Saudi Arabia.
See this comparison from Saudi Arabia's perspective: Saudi Arabia vs South Sudan
Compare South Sudan with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in South Sudan or Saudi Arabia?
In South Sudan, the minimum wage is £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD). In Saudi Arabia, it is ﷼23.08/hr ($6.15 USD). Saudi Arabia has the higher rate by 304% 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 Saudi Arabia?
The average gross salary in South Sudan is £125,000/mo ($27.23 USD), compared to ﷼10,500/mo ($2,800 USD) in Saudi Arabia. In USD terms, workers in South Sudan earn approximately 10184% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between South Sudan and Saudi Arabia is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Saudi Arabia 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 Saudi Arabia?
Saudi Arabia 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.