Key Facts: Switzerland vs South Sudan Wages
- Switzerland Minimum Wage
- No statutory minimum wage
- South Sudan Minimum Wage
- £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD)
- Switzerland Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- CHF7,800 /mo ($9,951.52 USD)
- South Sudan Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- £125,000 /mo ($27.23 USD)
- Data Sources
- Swiss Federal Statistical Office (BFS) (2026-02-24), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / South Sudan Ministry of Labour (2026-02-25)
Switzerland 
South Sudan
Updated 2026-02-25
Switzerland has no statutory minimum wage, while South Sudan sets a floor of $2/mo. Average gross salaries diverge further: $9,952/mo in Switzerland versus $27/mo in South Sudan, a 365.5:1 ratio. Switzerland has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 4.9% compared to 12.4%.
Switzerland's unemployment rate is 4.9% compared to South Sudan's 12.4%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Switzerland | South Sudan |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /mo | None | £7,000 $1.52 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | CHF7,800 /mo $9,951.52 | £125,000 /mo $27.23 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | CHF6,396 /mo $8,160.24 | £112,000 /mo $24.40 |
| Median individual income /yr | CHF81,456 /yr $103,924.47 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Switzerland is higher.
Work Week
- Switzerland
-
42 hrs/wk standard
Max 45 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.25x pay
No single statutory standard; typical contractual hours are 40-42/week depending on sector. Maximum legal hours: 45/week for industrial, office, and retail workers; 50/week for others. Overtime premium is 25% (can be compensated with time off by agreement). Swiss Labour Act (Arbeitsgesetz) governs working time.
- 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.
What This Means for Workers
Standard work weeks differ: Switzerland mandates 42 hours while South Sudan mandates 40 hours.
See this comparison from South Sudan's perspective: South Sudan vs Switzerland
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Switzerland vs Norway Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Switzerland or South Sudan?
In Switzerland, 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 Switzerland compared to South Sudan?
The average gross salary in Switzerland is CHF7,800/mo ($9,951.52 USD), compared to £125,000/mo ($27.23 USD) in South Sudan. In USD terms, workers in Switzerland earn approximately 36450% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Switzerland and South Sudan is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Switzerland earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in South Sudan.
How do work hours compare between Switzerland and South Sudan?
Switzerland has a longer standard work week at 42 hours, compared to 40 hours in South Sudan. Workers in Switzerland work 42 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.