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Key Facts: South Sudan vs Zambia Wages

South Sudan Minimum Wage
£7,000/mo ($1.52 USD)
Zambia Minimum Wage
ZK6.25/hr ($0.33 USD)
South Sudan Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
£125,000 /mo ($27.23 USD)
Zambia Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
ZK7,000 /mo ($369.20 USD)
Data Sources
ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / South Sudan Ministry of Labour (2026-02-25), Ministry of Labour and Social Security / Minimum Wages and Conditions of Employment Act (2026-02-25)

South Sudan flag South Sudan Zambia flag Zambia

Updated 2026-02-25

South Sudan flag South Sudan

Minimum Wage

£7,000 /mo

$1.52 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

£125,000 /mo

Zambia flag Zambia

Minimum Wage

ZK6.25 /hr

$0.33 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

ZK7,000 /mo

Min wage: +363% South Sudan vs Zambia Avg. salary: -93% South Sudan vs Zambia

The minimum wage in South Sudan is 363% higher than in Zambia when converted to USD. Average gross salaries diverge further: $27/mo in South Sudan versus $369/mo in Zambia, a 13.6:1 ratio. Zambia has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 5.9% compared to 12.4%.

South Sudan's unemployment rate is 12.4% compared to Zambia's 5.9%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between South Sudan and Zambia
Metric South Sudan Zambia
Minimum wage /hr ZK6.25 $0.33
Minimum wage /mo £7,000 $1.52 ZK1,300 $68.57
Minimum wage /yr ZK15,600 $822.78
Avg. gross salary /mo £125,000 /mo $27.23 ZK7,000 /mo $369.20
Avg. net salary /mo £112,000 /mo $24.40 ZK5,800 /mo $305.91
Median individual income /yr N/A/yr ZK28,000 /yr $1,476.79

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.

Zambia

48 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.5x pay

Standard workweek is 48 hours (8 hours/day, 6 days). Overtime paid at 1.5x normal rate on regular days, 2x on Sundays and public holidays. Governed by the Employment Code Act, 2019.

What This Means for Workers

A minimum wage worker moving from Zambia to South Sudan would see a 363% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: South Sudan mandates 40 hours while Zambia mandates 48 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in South Sudan are $61 vs $16 in Zambia.

See this comparison from Zambia's perspective: Zambia vs South Sudan

Compare South Sudan with...

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in South Sudan or Zambia?

In South Sudan, the minimum wage is £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD). In Zambia, it is ZK6.25/hr ($0.33 USD). South Sudan has the higher rate by 363% 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 Zambia 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 Zambia?

The average gross salary in South Sudan is £125,000/mo ($27.23 USD), compared to ZK7,000/mo ($369.20 USD) in Zambia. In USD terms, workers in South Sudan earn approximately 1256% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between South Sudan and Zambia is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Zambia 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 Zambia?

Zambia 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.