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Key Facts: Syria vs Rwanda Wages

Syria Minimum Wage
£S1,850/mo ($16.46 USD)
Rwanda Minimum Wage
FRw14.08/hr ($0.01 USD)
Syria Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
£S13,500 /mo ($120.13 USD)
Rwanda Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
FRw73,948 /mo ($50.61 USD)
Data Sources
ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Syria Report economic analyses (2026-02-25), Ministry of Public Service and Labour / ILO (2026-02-25)

Syria flag Syria Rwanda flag Rwanda

Updated 2026-02-25

Syria flag Syria

Minimum Wage

£S1,850 /mo

$16.46 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

£S13,500 /mo

Rwanda flag Rwanda

Minimum Wage

FRw14.08 /hr

$0.01 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

FRw73,948 /mo

Min wage: +170717% Syria vs Rwanda Avg. salary: +137% Syria vs Rwanda

The minimum wage in Syria is roughly 1708 times higher than in Rwanda in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a low-income and a low-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $120/mo in Syria versus $51/mo in Rwanda, a 2.4:1 ratio. Rwanda has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 11.4% compared to 13.6%.

Syria has higher GDP per capita ($4,772 vs $3,711). Syria's unemployment rate is 13.6% compared to Rwanda's 11.4%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Syria and Rwanda
Metric Syria Rwanda
Minimum wage /hr FRw14.08 $0.01
Minimum wage /mo £S1,850 $16.46 FRw2,440 $1.67
Avg. gross salary /mo £S13,500 /mo $120.13 FRw73,948 /mo $50.61
Avg. net salary /mo £S12,000 /mo $106.78 FRw62,000 /mo $42.44
Median individual income /yr N/A/yr FRw240,000 /yr $164.27

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.

Rwanda

45 hrs/wk standard

Max 55 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.5x pay

Standard workweek is 45 hours per Law No. 66/2018 Regulating Labor in Rwanda. Overtime limited to 2 hours/day and 10 hours/week (max 55 hours total). Overtime permitted for urgent, exceptional, or seasonal work. Overtime compensation varies by sector agreement. Daily working hours typically 9 hours over 5 days.

What This Means for Workers

A minimum wage worker moving from Rwanda to Syria would see a 170717% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Syria mandates 48 hours while Rwanda mandates 45 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Syria are $790 vs $0 in Rwanda.

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

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Syria or Rwanda?

In Syria, the minimum wage is £S1,850/mo ($16.46 USD). In Rwanda, it is FRw14.08/hr ($0.01 USD). Syria has the higher rate by 170717% 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 Rwanda 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 Rwanda?

The average gross salary in Syria is £S13,500/mo ($120.13 USD), compared to FRw73,948/mo ($50.61 USD) in Rwanda. In USD terms, workers in Syria earn approximately 137% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Syria and Rwanda 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 Rwanda.

How do work hours compare between Syria and Rwanda?

Syria has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 45 hours in Rwanda. Workers in Syria work 48 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Rwanda 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 Rwanda?

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 1.3x that of Rwanda at $3,711. 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.