Key Facts: Sri Lanka vs Sweden Wages
- Sri Lanka Minimum Wage
- Rs135/hr ($0.45 USD)
- Sweden Minimum Wage
- No statutory minimum wage
- Sri Lanka Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Rs55,000 /mo ($183.95 USD)
- Sweden Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- kr40,000 /mo ($4,317.74 USD)
- Data Sources
- Department of Labour — Sri Lanka; 2025 figure verified via Wikipedia List of countries by minimum wage (eff 2025-04-01) (2026-05-04), Medlingsinstitutet (Swedish National Mediation Office) (2026-02-24)
Sri Lanka 
Sweden
Updated 2026-05-04
Unlike Sweden, which has no statutory minimum wage, Sri Lanka mandates a wage floor of $0/hr. Average gross salaries diverge further: $184/mo in Sri Lanka versus $4,318/mo in Sweden, a 23.5:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Sweden is 4.6x that of Sri Lanka, underscoring the structural economic divide.
Sri Lanka has lower GDP per capita ($15,633 vs $71,845). Sri Lanka's unemployment rate is 4.0% compared to Sweden's 8.7%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Sri Lanka | Sweden |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | Rs135 $0.45 | None |
| Minimum wage /day | Rs1,080 $3.61 | None |
| Minimum wage /mo | Rs27,000 $90.30 | None |
| Minimum wage /yr | Rs324,000 $1,083.61 | None |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | Rs55,000 /mo $183.95 | kr40,000 /mo $4,317.74 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | Rs49,500 /mo $165.55 | kr30,000 /mo $3,238.31 |
| Median individual income /yr | Rs420,000 /yr $1,404.68 | kr367,000 /yr $39,615.29 |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Sri Lanka is higher.
Work Week
- Sri Lanka
-
45 hrs/wk standard
Max 45 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Shop and Office Employees Act limits hours to 8 per day and 45 per week for commercial establishments. Factories Ordinance limits factory workers to similar hours. Overtime is paid at 1.5x the ordinary rate. Different rules apply to plantation workers and domestic workers. Public holidays: approximately 25 per year (Sri Lanka has one of the highest numbers of public holidays globally).
- Sweden
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Standard workweek is 40 hours (Working Hours Act / Arbetstidslagen). Maximum overtime is 48 hours over 4 weeks or 200 hours per calendar year. Overtime compensation is determined by collective agreements, not statute. Many agreements provide overtime at 150-200% of normal pay. EU Working Time Directive limits average to 48 hrs/week.
What This Means for Workers
Standard work weeks differ: Sri Lanka mandates 45 hours while Sweden mandates 40 hours.
See this comparison from Sweden's perspective: Sweden vs Sri Lanka
Compare Sri Lanka with...
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Sri Lanka vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr 
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Sri Lanka vs Norway Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Sri Lanka or Sweden?
In Sri Lanka, the minimum wage is Rs135/hr ($0.45 USD). In Sweden, it is no statutory minimum wage.
How much less does the average worker earn in Sri Lanka compared to Sweden?
The average gross salary in Sri Lanka is Rs55,000/mo ($183.95 USD), compared to kr40,000/mo ($4,317.74 USD) in Sweden. In USD terms, workers in Sri Lanka earn approximately 2247% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Sri Lanka and Sweden is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Sweden earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Sri Lanka.
How do work hours compare between Sri Lanka and Sweden?
Sri Lanka has a longer standard work week at 45 hours, compared to 40 hours in Sweden. Workers in Sri Lanka work 45 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Sweden 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 Sri Lanka and Sweden?
While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Sweden has the higher GDP per capita at $71,845, which is 4.6x that of Sri Lanka at $15,633. From Sri Lanka's perspective, this means goods and services are priced at a lower 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.