Key Facts: South Sudan vs Uruguay Wages
- South Sudan Minimum Wage
- £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD)
- Uruguay Minimum Wage
- $U92.80/hr ($2.15 USD)
- South Sudan Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- £125,000 /mo ($27.23 USD)
- Uruguay Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- $U55,000 /mo ($1,273.15 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / South Sudan Ministry of Labour (2026-02-25), Ministerio de Trabajo y Seguridad Social (MTSS) (2026-02-24)
South Sudan
Uruguay
Updated 2026-02-25
South Sudan, a low-income economy, and Uruguay, classified as high-income, take different approaches to wage policy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $27/mo in South Sudan versus $1,273/mo in Uruguay, a 46.8:1 ratio. Uruguay has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 7.5% compared to 12.4%.
South Sudan's unemployment rate is 12.4% compared to Uruguay's 7.5%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | South Sudan | Uruguay |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | — | $U92.80 $2.15 |
| Minimum wage /mo | £7,000 $1.52 | $U22,268 $515.46 |
| Minimum wage /yr | — | $U290,484 $6,724.17 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | £125,000 /mo $27.23 | $U55,000 /mo $1,273.15 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | £112,000 /mo $24.40 | $U42,350 /mo $980.32 |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | $U468,000 /yr $10,833.33 |
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.
- Uruguay
-
44 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 2x pay
Standard workweek is 44 hours for commerce and 48 hours for industry (Law 5,350 of 1915 and Law 7,318 of 1920). In practice, most workers work 40-44 hours. Overtime is paid at double the normal rate (100% premium). Night work (after 10pm) also attracts premium pay.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker in South Sudan earns 41% less per hour in USD terms than one in Uruguay. Standard work weeks differ: South Sudan mandates 40 hours while Uruguay mandates 44 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in South Sudan are $61 vs $95 in Uruguay.
See this comparison from Uruguay's perspective: Uruguay vs South Sudan
Compare South Sudan with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in South Sudan or Uruguay?
In South Sudan, the minimum wage is £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD). In Uruguay, it is $U92.80/hr ($2.15 USD). Uruguay has the higher rate by 41% 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 Uruguay?
The average gross salary in South Sudan is £125,000/mo ($27.23 USD), compared to $U55,000/mo ($1,273.15 USD) in Uruguay. In USD terms, workers in South Sudan earn approximately 4576% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between South Sudan and Uruguay is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Uruguay 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 Uruguay?
Uruguay has a longer standard work week at 44 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.