Key Facts: Syria vs Guatemala Wages
- Syria Minimum Wage
- £S1,850/mo ($16.46 USD)
- Guatemala Minimum Wage
- Q15.34/hr ($2 USD)
- Syria Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- £S13,500 /mo ($120.13 USD)
- Guatemala Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Q5,800 /mo ($756.19 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Syria Report economic analyses (2026-02-25), Ministerio de Trabajo y Previsión Social — Guatemala (2026-02-25)
Syria
Guatemala
Updated 2026-02-25
The minimum wage in Syria is roughly 8 times higher than in Guatemala in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a low-income and a upper-middle-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $120/mo in Syria versus $756/mo in Guatemala, a 6.3:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Guatemala is 3.0x that of Syria, underscoring the structural economic divide.
Syria has lower GDP per capita ($4,772 vs $14,369). Syria's unemployment rate is 13.6% compared to Guatemala's 2.6%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Syria | Guatemala |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | — | Q15.34 $2 |
| Minimum wage /mo | £S1,850 $16.46 | Q3,681 $479.92 |
| Minimum wage /yr | — | Q44,172 $5,759.06 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | £S13,500 /mo $120.13 | Q5,800 /mo $756.19 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | £S12,000 /mo $106.78 | Q5,200 /mo $677.97 |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | Q28,000 /yr $3,650.59 |
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.
- Guatemala
-
48 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Labour Code sets maximum ordinary work at 8 hours/day (daytime), 6 hours/day (nighttime), for a maximum of 48 hours/week (daytime) or 36 hours/week (nighttime). Overtime paid at 150% of regular rate.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from Guatemala to Syria would see a 723% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings.
See this comparison from Guatemala's perspective: Guatemala vs Syria
Compare Syria with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Syria or Guatemala?
In Syria, the minimum wage is £S1,850/mo ($16.46 USD). In Guatemala, it is Q15.34/hr ($2 USD). Syria has the higher rate by 723% 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 Guatemala 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 Guatemala?
The average gross salary in Syria is £S13,500/mo ($120.13 USD), compared to Q5,800/mo ($756.19 USD) in Guatemala. In USD terms, workers in Syria earn approximately 529% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Syria and Guatemala is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Guatemala 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 Guatemala?
Both Syria and Guatemala mandate a similar standard work week of 48 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.
What is the cost of living difference between Syria and Guatemala?
While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Guatemala has the higher GDP per capita at $14,369, which is 3.0x that of Syria at $4,772. From Syria'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.