Key Facts: South Sudan vs Yemen Wages
- South Sudan Minimum Wage
- £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD)
- Yemen Minimum Wage
- ﷼21,000/mo ($88.07 USD)
- South Sudan Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- £125,000 /mo ($27.23 USD)
- Yemen Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ﷼85,000 /mo ($356.45 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / South Sudan Ministry of Labour (2026-02-25), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Yemen economic monitors (2026-02-25)
South Sudan
Yemen
Updated 2026-02-25
The minimum wage in South Sudan is roughly 58 times lower than in Yemen 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 $356/mo in Yemen, a 13.1:1 ratio. South Sudan has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 12.4% compared to 17.3%.
South Sudan's unemployment rate is 12.4% compared to Yemen's 17.3%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | South Sudan | Yemen |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /mo | £7,000 $1.52 | ﷼21,000 $88.07 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | £125,000 /mo $27.23 | ﷼85,000 /mo $356.45 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | £112,000 /mo $24.40 | ﷼75,000 /mo $314.52 |
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.
- Yemen
-
48 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Labour Law sets 48 hours/week. Thursday–Friday is the traditional weekend. Normal labour law enforcement has effectively ceased. Informal employment — petty trade, agriculture, and subsistence activities — dominates the economy.
• WAGE TRAJECTORY (USD/mo)
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker in South Sudan earns 5676% less per hour in USD terms than one in Yemen. Standard work weeks differ: South Sudan mandates 40 hours while Yemen mandates 48 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in South Sudan are $61 vs $4,227 in Yemen.
See this comparison from Yemen's perspective: Yemen vs South Sudan
Compare South Sudan with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in South Sudan or Yemen?
In South Sudan, the minimum wage is £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD). In Yemen, it is ﷼21,000/mo ($88.07 USD). Yemen has the higher rate by 5676% 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 Yemen?
The average gross salary in South Sudan is £125,000/mo ($27.23 USD), compared to ﷼85,000/mo ($356.45 USD) in Yemen. In USD terms, workers in South Sudan earn approximately 1209% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between South Sudan and Yemen is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Yemen 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 Yemen?
Yemen 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.