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Key Facts: Syria vs Qatar Wages

Syria Minimum Wage
£S1,850/mo ($16.46 USD)
Qatar Minimum Wage
QAR5.21/hr ($1.43 USD)
Syria Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
£S13,500 /mo ($120.13 USD)
Qatar Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
QAR11,724 /mo ($3,220.88 USD)
Data Sources
ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Syria Report economic analyses (2026-02-25), Ministry of Labour (MOL) — State of Qatar (2026-02-24)

Syria flag Syria Qatar flag Qatar

Updated 2026-02-25

Syria flag Syria

Minimum Wage

£S1,850 /mo

$16.46 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

£S13,500 /mo

Qatar flag Qatar

Minimum Wage

QAR5.21 /hr

$1.43 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

QAR11,724 /mo

Min wage: +1050% Syria vs Qatar Avg. salary: -96% Syria vs Qatar

The minimum wage in Syria is roughly 12 times higher than in Qatar in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a low-income and a high-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $120/mo in Syria versus $3,221/mo in Qatar, a 26.8:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Qatar is 26.4x that of Syria, underscoring the structural economic divide.

Syria has lower GDP per capita ($4,772 vs $126,046). Syria's unemployment rate is 13.6% compared to Qatar's 0.1%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Syria and Qatar
Metric Syria Qatar
Minimum wage /hr QAR5.21 $1.43
Minimum wage /mo £S1,850 $16.46 QAR1,000 $274.73
Minimum wage /yr QAR12,000 $3,296.70
Avg. gross salary /mo £S13,500 /mo $120.13 QAR11,724 /mo $3,220.88
Avg. net salary /mo £S12,000 /mo $106.78 QAR11,724 /mo $3,220.88

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.

Qatar

48 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.25x pay

Standard workweek is 48 hours (8 hours/day, 6 days/week) under the Labour Law No. 14 of 2004. During Ramadan, working hours are reduced to 36 hours/week (6 hours/day). Overtime premium: 25% of basic wage. Work between 9pm and 6am attracts a 50% premium. Government sector typically works 35-40 hours/week.

What This Means for Workers

A minimum wage worker moving from Qatar to Syria would see a 1050% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings.

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

Compare Syria with...

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Syria or Qatar?

In Syria, the minimum wage is £S1,850/mo ($16.46 USD). In Qatar, it is QAR5.21/hr ($1.43 USD). Syria has the higher rate by 1050% 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 Qatar 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 Qatar?

The average gross salary in Syria is £S13,500/mo ($120.13 USD), compared to QAR11,724/mo ($3,220.88 USD) in Qatar. In USD terms, workers in Syria earn approximately 2581% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Syria and Qatar is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Qatar 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 Qatar?

Both Syria and Qatar 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 Qatar?

While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Qatar has the higher GDP per capita at $126,046, which is 26.4x 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.