Key Facts: Syria vs Netherlands Wages
- Syria Minimum Wage
- £S1,850/mo ($16.46 USD)
- Netherlands Minimum Wage
- €14.71/hr ($17.13 USD)
- Syria Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- £S13,500 /mo ($120.13 USD)
- Netherlands Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- €3,900 /mo ($4,541.75 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Syria Report economic analyses (2026-02-25), Rijksoverheid (Government of the Netherlands); 2026 monthly basis verified via Wikipedia EU member states by minimum wage table (40-hour workweek convention) (2026-05-27)
Syria
Netherlands
Updated 2026-05-27
Syria, a low-income economy, and Netherlands, classified as high-income, take different approaches to wage policy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $120/mo in Syria versus $4,542/mo in the Netherlands, a 37.8:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Netherlands is 18.1x that of Syria, underscoring the structural economic divide.
Syria has lower GDP per capita ($4,772 vs $86,174). Syria's unemployment rate is 13.6% compared to the Netherlands' 3.9%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Syria | Netherlands |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | — | €14.71 $17.13 |
| Minimum wage /mo | £S1,850 $16.46 | €2,549.73 $2,969.29 |
| Minimum wage /yr | — | €30,596.76 $35,631.49 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | £S13,500 /mo $120.13 | €3,900 /mo $4,541.75 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | £S12,000 /mo $106.78 | €2,750 /mo $3,202.52 |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | €36,500 /yr $42,506.11 |
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.
- Netherlands
-
36 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Standard workweek varies by sector: commonly 36, 38, or 40 hours. The Working Hours Act (Arbeidstijdenwet) limits working time to 12 hours per shift and 60 hours per week, averaged to a maximum of 48 hours over 16 weeks. Overtime compensation is determined by collective agreements or individual contracts.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker in Syria earns 4% less per hour in USD terms than one in the Netherlands. Standard work weeks differ: Syria mandates 48 hours while the Netherlands mandates 36 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Syria are $790 vs $617 in the Netherlands.
See this comparison from Netherlands's perspective: Netherlands vs Syria
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Syria or Netherlands?
In Syria, the minimum wage is £S1,850/mo ($16.46 USD). In the Netherlands, it is €14.71/hr ($17.13 USD). Netherlands has the higher rate by 4% 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 Syria 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 Netherlands?
The average gross salary in Syria is £S13,500/mo ($120.13 USD), compared to €3,900/mo ($4,541.75 USD) in the Netherlands. In USD terms, workers in Syria earn approximately 3681% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Syria and Netherlands is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in the Netherlands 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 Netherlands?
Syria has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 36 hours in the Netherlands. Workers in Syria work 48 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in the Netherlands 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 Netherlands?
While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Netherlands has the higher GDP per capita at $86,174, which is 18.1x 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.