Key Facts: Sweden vs South Sudan Wages
- Sweden Minimum Wage
- No statutory minimum wage
- South Sudan Minimum Wage
- £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD)
- Sweden Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- kr40,000 /mo ($4,317.74 USD)
- South Sudan Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- £125,000 /mo ($27.23 USD)
- Data Sources
- Medlingsinstitutet (Swedish National Mediation Office) (2026-02-24), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / South Sudan Ministry of Labour (2026-02-25)
Sweden
South Sudan
Updated 2026-02-25
Sweden has no statutory minimum wage, while South Sudan sets a floor of $2/mo. Average gross salaries diverge further: $4,318/mo in Sweden versus $27/mo in South Sudan, a 158.6:1 ratio. Sweden has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 8.7% compared to 12.4%.
Sweden's unemployment rate is 8.7% compared to South Sudan's 12.4%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Sweden | South Sudan |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /mo | None | £7,000 $1.52 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | kr40,000 /mo $4,317.74 | £125,000 /mo $27.23 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | kr30,000 /mo $3,238.31 | £112,000 /mo $24.40 |
| Median individual income /yr | kr367,000 /yr $39,615.29 | N/A/yr |
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.
- 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.
See this comparison from South Sudan's perspective: South Sudan vs Sweden
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Sweden or South Sudan?
In Sweden, the minimum wage is no statutory minimum wage. In South Sudan, it is £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD).
How much more does the average worker earn in Sweden compared to South Sudan?
The average gross salary in Sweden is kr40,000/mo ($4,317.74 USD), compared to £125,000/mo ($27.23 USD) in South Sudan. In USD terms, workers in Sweden earn approximately 15758% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Sweden and South Sudan 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 South Sudan.
How do work hours compare between Sweden and South Sudan?
Both Sweden and South Sudan mandate a similar standard work week of 40 hours. When work hours are equal, the country with the higher minimum wage delivers proportionally higher weekly earnings. Standard work week rules set the baseline; actual hours worked often differ based on industry norms and individual employment contracts.