Key Facts: Syria vs Madagascar Wages
- Syria Minimum Wage
- £S1,850/mo ($16.46 USD)
- Madagascar Minimum Wage
- Ar1,202/hr ($0.27 USD)
- Syria Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- £S13,500 /mo ($120.13 USD)
- Madagascar Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Ar500,000 /mo ($112.36 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Syria Report economic analyses (2026-02-25), Malagasy Ministry of Labour and Social Laws / ILO (2026-02-25)
Syria
Madagascar
Updated 2026-02-25
The minimum wage in Syria is roughly 61 times higher than in Madagascar in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a low-income and a low-income economy. Average salaries are higher in Syria at $120/mo compared to $112/mo in Madagascar. GDP per capita (PPP) in Syria is 2.5x that of Madagascar, underscoring the structural economic divide.
Syria has higher GDP per capita ($4,772 vs $1,884). Syria's unemployment rate is 13.6% compared to Madagascar's 3.0%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Syria | Madagascar |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | — | Ar1,202 $0.27 |
| Minimum wage /day | — | Ar9,615 $2.16 |
| Minimum wage /mo | £S1,850 $16.46 | Ar250,000 $56.18 |
| Minimum wage /yr | — | Ar3,000,000 $674.16 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | £S13,500 /mo $120.13 | Ar500,000 /mo $112.36 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | £S12,000 /mo $106.78 | N/A/mo |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | Ar1,200,000 /yr $269.66 |
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.
- Madagascar
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.3x pay
Labour Code (Law No. 2003-044) sets standard hours at 40 per week (8 hrs/day, 5 days). Maximum including overtime is 48 hours/week. Overtime is compensated at 130% of normal rate (for the first 8 hours of overtime per week), then 160% (for subsequent hours), and 200% on Sundays and public holidays. Night work premium applies. EPZ workers may have different arrangements under zone-specific regulations.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from Madagascar to Syria would see a 5995% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Syria mandates 48 hours while Madagascar mandates 40 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Syria are $790 vs $11 in Madagascar.
See this comparison from Madagascar's perspective: Madagascar vs Syria
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Syria or Madagascar?
In Syria, the minimum wage is £S1,850/mo ($16.46 USD). In Madagascar, it is Ar1,202/hr ($0.27 USD). Syria has the higher rate by 5995% 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 Madagascar may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much more does the average worker earn in Syria compared to Madagascar?
The average gross salary in Syria is £S13,500/mo ($120.13 USD), compared to Ar500,000/mo ($112.36 USD) in Madagascar. In USD terms, workers in Syria earn approximately 7% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Syria and Madagascar is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Syria earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Madagascar.
How do work hours compare between Syria and Madagascar?
Syria has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in Madagascar. Workers in Syria work 48 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Madagascar 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 Madagascar?
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 2.5x that of Madagascar at $1,884. 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.