Key Facts: South Sudan vs Ukraine Wages
- South Sudan Minimum Wage
- £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD)
- Ukraine Minimum Wage
- ₴48/hr ($1.15 USD)
- South Sudan Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- £125,000 /mo ($27.23 USD)
- Ukraine Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ₴20,000 /mo ($478.47 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / South Sudan Ministry of Labour (2026-02-25), Ministry of Economy of Ukraine / State Statistics Service (2026-02-24)
South Sudan 
Ukraine
Updated 2026-02-25
South Sudan, a low-income economy, and Ukraine, classified as lower-middle-income, take different approaches to wage policy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $27/mo in South Sudan versus $478/mo in Ukraine, a 17.6:1 ratio. Ukraine has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 9.8% compared to 12.4%.
South Sudan's unemployment rate is 12.4% compared to Ukraine's 9.8%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | South Sudan | Ukraine |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | — | ₴48 $1.15 |
| Minimum wage /day | — | ₴266.67 $6.38 |
| Minimum wage /mo | £7,000 $1.52 | ₴8,000 $191.39 |
| Minimum wage /yr | — | ₴96,000 $2,296.65 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | £125,000 /mo $27.23 | ₴20,000 /mo $478.47 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | £112,000 /mo $24.40 | ₴16,400 /mo $392.34 |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | ₴120,000 /yr $2,870.81 |
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.
- Ukraine
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 40 hrs/wk
Overtime : 2x pay
Labour Code sets standard working time at 40 hours/week. Overtime is compensated at double the normal rate and limited to 4 hours over 2 consecutive days, 120 hours/year. Under martial law (from Feb 2022), employers may increase working hours to 60/week and suspend certain labour protections with government approval.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from Ukraine to South Sudan would see a 33% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings.
See this comparison from Ukraine's perspective: Ukraine 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 Ukraine?
In South Sudan, the minimum wage is £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD). In Ukraine, it is ₴48/hr ($1.15 USD). South Sudan has the higher rate by 33% 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 Ukraine 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 Ukraine?
The average gross salary in South Sudan is £125,000/mo ($27.23 USD), compared to ₴20,000/mo ($478.47 USD) in Ukraine. In USD terms, workers in South Sudan earn approximately 1657% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between South Sudan and Ukraine is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Ukraine 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 Ukraine?
Both South Sudan and Ukraine 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.