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Key Facts: Syria vs Norway Wages

Syria Minimum Wage
£S1,850/mo ($16.46 USD)
Norway Minimum Wage
No statutory minimum wage
Syria Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
£S13,500 /mo ($120.13 USD)
Norway Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
kr55,150 /mo ($5,953.34 USD)
Data Sources
ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Syria Report economic analyses (2026-02-25), Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority (Arbeidstilsynet) (2026-05-28)

Syria flag Syria Norway flag Norway

Updated 2026-05-28

Syria flag Syria

Minimum Wage

£S1,850 /mo

$16.46 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

£S13,500 /mo

Norway flag Norway

No statutory minimum wage

Avg. Gross Salary

kr55,150 /mo

Avg. salary: -98% Syria vs Norway

Unlike Norway, which has no statutory minimum wage, Syria mandates a wage floor of $16/mo. Average gross salaries diverge further: $120/mo in Syria versus $5,953/mo in Norway, a 49.6:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Norway is 21.4x that of Syria, underscoring the structural economic divide.

Syria has lower GDP per capita ($4,772 vs $102,038). Syria's unemployment rate is 13.6% compared to Norway's 4.6%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Syria and Norway
Metric Syria Norway
Minimum wage /mo £S1,850 $16.46 None
Avg. gross salary /mo £S13,500 /mo $120.13 kr55,150 /mo $5,953.34
Avg. net salary /mo £S12,000 /mo $106.78 kr38,600 /mo $4,166.80
Median individual income /yr N/A/yr kr570,000 /yr $61,530.49

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.

Norway

37.5 hrs/wk standard

Max 40 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.4x pay

The Working Environment Act sets a maximum of 40 hours/week, but most collective agreements specify 37.5 hours. Overtime premium minimum 40% by law. Maximum overtime: 10 hrs/week, 25 hrs over 4 consecutive weeks, 200 hrs/year. Night and Sunday work requires additional premiums by agreement.

What This Means for Workers

Standard work weeks differ: Syria mandates 48 hours while Norway mandates 37.5 hours.

See this comparison from Norway's perspective: Norway vs Syria

Compare Syria with...

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Syria or Norway?

In Syria, the minimum wage is £S1,850/mo ($16.46 USD). In Norway, it is no statutory minimum wage.

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

The average gross salary in Syria is £S13,500/mo ($120.13 USD), compared to kr55,150/mo ($5,953.34 USD) in Norway. In USD terms, workers in Syria earn approximately 4856% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Syria and Norway is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Norway 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 Norway?

Syria has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 37.5 hours in Norway. Workers in Syria work 48 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Norway 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 Norway?

While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Norway has the higher GDP per capita at $102,038, which is 21.4x 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.