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Key Facts: Syria vs Panama Wages

Syria Minimum Wage
£S1,850/mo ($16.46 USD)
Panama Minimum Wage
B/.1.69/hr ($1.69 USD)
Syria Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
£S13,500 /mo ($120.13 USD)
Panama Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
B/.1,100 /mo ($1,100 USD)
Data Sources
ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Syria Report economic analyses (2026-02-25), Ministerio de Trabajo y Desarrollo Laboral (MITRADEL) (2026-02-24)

Syria flag Syria Panama flag Panama

Updated 2026-02-25

Syria flag Syria

Minimum Wage

£S1,850 /mo

$16.46 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

£S13,500 /mo

Panama flag Panama

Minimum Wage

B/.1.69 /hr

$1.69 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

B/.1,100 /mo

Min wage: +874% Syria vs Panama Avg. salary: -89% Syria vs Panama

The minimum wage in Syria is roughly 10 times higher than in Panama 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 $1,100/mo in Panama, a 9.2:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Panama is 8.7x that of Syria, underscoring the structural economic divide.

Syria has lower GDP per capita ($4,772 vs $41,369). Syria's unemployment rate is 13.6% compared to Panama's 8.4%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Syria and Panama
Metric Syria Panama
Minimum wage /hr B/.1.69 $1.69
Minimum wage /mo £S1,850 $16.46 B/.326 $326
Minimum wage /yr B/.4,238 $4,238
Avg. gross salary /mo £S13,500 /mo $120.13 B/.1,100 /mo $1,100
Avg. net salary /mo £S12,000 /mo $106.78 B/.990 /mo $990
Median individual income /yr N/A/yr B/.7,800 /yr $7,800

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.

Panama

48 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.25x pay

Labour Code sets maximum ordinary workday at 8 hours (daytime), 7 hours (mixed shift), and 6 hours (nighttime). Weekly maximum 48 hours for day work. Overtime: 25% surcharge for first 3 hours, 50% thereafter on regular days; 50% on holidays; and 75% on rest days (Sundays). Night work (6pm-6am) earns a 50% surcharge.

What This Means for Workers

A minimum wage worker moving from Panama to Syria would see a 874% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings.

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

Compare Syria with...

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Syria or Panama?

In Syria, the minimum wage is £S1,850/mo ($16.46 USD). In Panama, it is B/.1.69/hr ($1.69 USD). Syria has the higher rate by 874% 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 Panama 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 Panama?

The average gross salary in Syria is £S13,500/mo ($120.13 USD), compared to B/.1,100/mo ($1,100 USD) in Panama. In USD terms, workers in Syria earn approximately 816% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Syria and Panama is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Panama 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 Panama?

Both Syria and Panama 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 Panama?

While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Panama has the higher GDP per capita at $41,369, which is 8.7x 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.