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Key Facts: South Sudan vs Sierra Leone Wages

South Sudan Minimum Wage
£7,000/mo ($1.52 USD)
Sierra Leone Minimum Wage
Le600/mo ($25.97 USD)
South Sudan Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
£125,000 /mo ($27.23 USD)
Sierra Leone Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
Le2,500 /mo ($108.23 USD)
Data Sources
ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / South Sudan Ministry of Labour (2026-02-25), ILO / Ministry of Labour and Social Security (Sierra Leone). Note: snapshot diff flags 'currency mismatch' against Wikipedia (which still uses old SLL 500,000) — our SLE 600 reflects the post-2022 redenomination (1 SLE = 1,000 SLL) and is the correct current notation (2026-05-04)

South Sudan flag South Sudan Sierra Leone flag Sierra Leone

Updated 2026-05-04

South Sudan flag South Sudan

Minimum Wage

£7,000 /mo

$1.52 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

£125,000 /mo

Sierra Leone flag Sierra Leone

Minimum Wage

Le600 /mo

$25.97 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

Le2,500 /mo

Min wage: -94% South Sudan vs Sierra Leone Avg. salary: -75% South Sudan vs Sierra Leone

The minimum wage in South Sudan is roughly 17 times lower than in Sierra Leone in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a low-income and a low-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $27/mo in South Sudan versus $108/mo in Sierra Leone, a 4.0:1 ratio. Sierra Leone has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 3.1% compared to 12.4%.

From South Sudan's perspective: adjusting for purchasing power, South Sudan's minimum wage buys less than Sierra Leone's. The PPP-adjusted hourly rate in South Sudan is $55 international dollars, compared to $116 in Sierra Leone. South Sudan's unemployment rate is 12.4% compared to Sierra Leone's 3.1%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between South Sudan and Sierra Leone
Metric South Sudan Sierra Leone
Minimum wage /mo £7,000 $1.52 Le600 $25.97
Avg. gross salary /mo £125,000 /mo $27.23 Le2,500 /mo $108.23
Avg. net salary /mo £112,000 /mo $24.40 N/A/mo
Median individual income /yr N/A/yr Le4,200 /yr $181.82

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.

Sierra Leone

40 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.5x pay

The Regulation of Wages and Industrial Relations Act sets standard hours at 40 per week for office workers and 48 for industrial workers. Overtime compensated at 1.5x for the first additional 8 hours. These rules apply to the limited formal sector.

• WAGE TRAJECTORY (USD/mo)

South Sudan Sierra Leone Source: wage.is · USD equivalent/mo

What This Means for Workers

A minimum wage worker in South Sudan earns 1604% less per hour in USD terms than one in Sierra Leone.

See this comparison from Sierra Leone's perspective: Sierra Leone vs South Sudan

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in South Sudan or Sierra Leone?

In South Sudan, the minimum wage is £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD). In Sierra Leone, it is Le600/mo ($25.97 USD). Sierra Leone has the higher rate by 1604% 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 Sierra Leone?

The average gross salary in South Sudan is £125,000/mo ($27.23 USD), compared to Le2,500/mo ($108.23 USD) in Sierra Leone. In USD terms, workers in South Sudan earn approximately 297% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between South Sudan and Sierra Leone is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Sierra Leone earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in South Sudan.

Which country has better purchasing power for minimum wage workers, South Sudan or Sierra Leone?

After adjusting for local prices using purchasing power parity (PPP), minimum wage workers in Sierra Leone can afford more than those in South Sudan. The PPP-adjusted rate is $55 in South Sudan and $116 in Sierra Leone. PPP converts wages into equivalent US dollar buying power, accounting for what a unit of currency actually buys locally. The 110% purchasing power gap means that even if the nominal wage in South Sudan appears competitive, minimum wage workers there face greater constraints on day-to-day spending.

How do work hours compare between South Sudan and Sierra Leone?

Both South Sudan and Sierra Leone 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.