Skip to main content

Key Facts: Spain vs Syria Wages

Spain Minimum Wage
€7.96/hr ($9.27 USD)
Syria Minimum Wage
£S1,850/mo ($16.46 USD)
Spain Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
€2,450 /mo ($2,853.15 USD)
Syria Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
£S13,500 /mo ($120.13 USD)
Data Sources
Ministerio de Trabajo y Economía Social (2026-03-02), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Syria Report economic analyses (2026-02-25)

Spain flag Spain Syria flag Syria

Updated 2026-03-02

Spain flag Spain

Minimum Wage

€7.96 /hr

$9.27 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

€2,450 /mo

Syria flag Syria

Minimum Wage

£S1,850 /mo

$16.46 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

£S13,500 /mo

Min wage: -44% Spain vs Syria Avg. salary: +2275% Spain vs Syria

The minimum wage in Spain is 44% lower than in Syria in USD terms, though average salaries tell a different story. Average gross salaries diverge further: $2,853/mo in Spain versus $120/mo in Syria, a 23.8:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Spain is 12.1x that of Syria, underscoring the structural economic divide.

Spain has higher GDP per capita ($57,965 vs $4,772). Spain's unemployment rate is 10.4% compared to Syria's 13.6%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Spain and Syria
Metric Spain Syria
Minimum wage /hr €7.96 $9.27
Minimum wage /mo €1,221 $1,421.92 £S1,850 $16.46
Minimum wage /yr €17,094 $19,906.84
Avg. gross salary /mo €2,450 /mo $2,853.15 £S13,500 /mo $120.13
Avg. net salary /mo €1,900 /mo $2,212.65 £S12,000 /mo $106.78
Median individual income /yr €22,000 /yr $25,620.12 N/A/yr

Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Spain is higher.

Work Week

Spain

40 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Standard workweek is 40 hours (Workers' Statute, Article 34). Maximum 80 hours of overtime per year. Overtime compensation is set by collective agreement or individual contract, with a minimum of regular hourly rate or equivalent time off. EU Working Time Directive caps average weekly hours at 48.

Syria

48 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.5x pay

Labour Law No. 17 of 2010 set 48 hours/week as the standard. Friday is the weekly rest day. Enforcement is impossible across most of the country due to conflict. Government employees in Damascus and other major cities are the primary remaining formal workforce.

What This Means for Workers

A minimum wage worker in Spain earns 78% less per hour in USD terms than one in Syria. Standard work weeks differ: Spain mandates 40 hours while Syria mandates 48 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Spain are $371 vs $790 in Syria.

See this comparison from Syria's perspective: Syria vs Spain

Compare Spain with...

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Spain or Syria?

In Spain, the minimum wage is €7.96/hr ($9.27 USD). In Syria, it is £S1,850/mo ($16.46 USD). Syria has the higher rate by 78% 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 Spain may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.

How much more does the average worker earn in Spain compared to Syria?

The average gross salary in Spain is €2,450/mo ($2,853.15 USD), compared to £S13,500/mo ($120.13 USD) in Syria. In USD terms, workers in Spain earn approximately 2275% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Spain and Syria is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Spain earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Syria.

How do work hours compare between Spain and Syria?

Syria has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in Spain. Workers in Spain work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Spain 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.

What is the cost of living difference between Spain and Syria?

While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Spain has the higher GDP per capita at $57,965, which is 12.1x that of Syria at $4,772. From Spain's perspective, this means goods and services are priced at a higher economic level. A higher GDP per capita generally correlates with higher wages, higher consumer prices, and greater availability of goods and services. Workers moving between these two countries should expect significant differences in rent, food, and transportation costs.