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Key Facts: Sweden vs Libya Wages

Sweden Minimum Wage
No statutory minimum wage
Libya Minimum Wage
LD450/mo ($92.59 USD)
Sweden Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
kr40,000 /mo ($4,317.74 USD)
Libya Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
LD1,800 /mo ($370.37 USD)
Data Sources
Medlingsinstitutet (Swedish National Mediation Office) (2026-02-24), ILO / Ministry of Labour and Rehabilitation (Libya) (2026-02-25)

Sweden flag Sweden Libya flag Libya

Updated 2026-02-25

Sweden flag Sweden

No statutory minimum wage

Avg. Gross Salary

kr40,000 /mo

Libya flag Libya

Minimum Wage

LD450 /mo

$92.59 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

LD1,800 /mo

Avg. salary: +1066% Sweden vs Libya

Sweden has no statutory minimum wage, while Libya sets a floor of $93/mo. Average gross salaries diverge further: $4,318/mo in Sweden versus $370/mo in Libya, a 11.7:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Sweden is 5.0x that of Libya, underscoring the structural economic divide.

Sweden has higher GDP per capita ($71,845 vs $14,304). Sweden's unemployment rate is 8.7% compared to Libya's 18.8%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Sweden and Libya
Metric Sweden Libya
Minimum wage /mo None LD450 $92.59
Avg. gross salary /mo kr40,000 /mo $4,317.74 LD1,800 /mo $370.37
Avg. net salary /mo kr30,000 /mo $3,238.31 N/A/mo
Median individual income /yr kr367,000 /yr $39,615.29 LD7,200 /yr $1,481.48

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

Work Week

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.

Libya

48 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.5x pay

Labour Law No. 12 (2010) sets standard at 48 hours/week (8 hrs/day, 6 days). Friday is the statutory rest day. During Ramadan, hours are reduced. Overtime paid at 1.5x. These regulations are inconsistently enforced given the political situation.

What This Means for Workers

Standard work weeks differ: Sweden mandates 40 hours while Libya mandates 48 hours.

See this comparison from Libya's perspective: Libya vs Sweden

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Sweden or Libya?

In Sweden, the minimum wage is no statutory minimum wage. In Libya, it is LD450/mo ($92.59 USD).

How much more does the average worker earn in Sweden compared to Libya?

The average gross salary in Sweden is kr40,000/mo ($4,317.74 USD), compared to LD1,800/mo ($370.37 USD) in Libya. In USD terms, workers in Sweden earn approximately 1066% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Sweden and Libya 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 Libya.

How do work hours compare between Sweden and Libya?

Libya has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in Sweden. Workers in Sweden work 40 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 Sweden and Libya?

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 5.0x that of Libya at $14,304. From Sweden'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.