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Key Facts: Syria vs Burkina Faso Wages

Syria Minimum Wage
£S1,850/mo ($16.46 USD)
Burkina Faso Minimum Wage
CFA259.62/hr ($0.47 USD)
Syria Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
£S13,500 /mo ($120.13 USD)
Burkina Faso Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
CFA89,000 /mo ($159.78 USD)
Data Sources
ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Syria Report economic analyses (2026-02-25), Ministere du Travail (Ministry of Labour) / Decree No. 2023-1450 (2026-02-25)

Syria flag Syria Burkina Faso flag Burkina Faso

Updated 2026-02-25

Syria flag Syria

Minimum Wage

£S1,850 /mo

$16.46 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

£S13,500 /mo

Burkina Faso flag Burkina Faso

Minimum Wage

CFA259.62 /hr

$0.47 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

CFA89,000 /mo

Min wage: +3432% Syria vs Burkina Faso Avg. salary: -25% Syria vs Burkina Faso

The minimum wage in Syria is roughly 35 times higher than in Burkina Faso in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a low-income and a low-income economy. Average salaries are lower in Syria at $120/mo compared to $160/mo in Burkina Faso. GDP per capita (PPP) in Syria is 1.6x that of Burkina Faso, underscoring the structural economic divide.

Syria has higher GDP per capita ($4,772 vs $2,896). Syria's unemployment rate is 13.6% compared to Burkina Faso's 3.5%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Syria and Burkina Faso
Metric Syria Burkina Faso
Minimum wage /hr CFA259.62 $0.47
Minimum wage /mo £S1,850 $16.46 CFA45,000 $80.79
Minimum wage /yr CFA540,000 $969.48
Avg. gross salary /mo £S13,500 /mo $120.13 CFA89,000 /mo $159.78
Avg. net salary /mo £S12,000 /mo $106.78 CFA75,000 /mo $134.65
Median individual income /yr N/A/yr CFA360,000 /yr $646.32

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

Work Week

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.

Burkina Faso

40 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.15x pay

Standard workweek is 40 hours (8 hours/day, Monday-Friday). First 8 overtime hours paid at 115% of normal rate; subsequent hours at 135%. Nighttime overtime earns 150% premium. Work on Sundays/public holidays at 160% (nighttime: 220%).

What This Means for Workers

A minimum wage worker moving from Burkina Faso to Syria would see a 3432% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Syria mandates 48 hours while Burkina Faso mandates 40 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Syria are $790 vs $19 in Burkina Faso.

See this comparison from Burkina Faso's perspective: Burkina Faso vs Syria

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Syria or Burkina Faso?

In Syria, the minimum wage is £S1,850/mo ($16.46 USD). In Burkina Faso, it is CFA259.62/hr ($0.47 USD). Syria has the higher rate by 3432% 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 Burkina Faso may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.

How much less does the average worker earn in Syria compared to Burkina Faso?

The average gross salary in Syria is £S13,500/mo ($120.13 USD), compared to CFA89,000/mo ($159.78 USD) in Burkina Faso. In USD terms, workers in Syria earn approximately 33% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Syria and Burkina Faso is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Burkina Faso earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Syria.

How do work hours compare between Syria and Burkina Faso?

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

While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Syria has the higher GDP per capita at $4,772, which is 1.6x that of Burkina Faso at $2,896. From Syria'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.