Key Facts: Syria vs South Sudan Wages
- Syria Minimum Wage
- £S1,850/mo ($16.46 USD)
- South Sudan Minimum Wage
- £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD)
- Syria Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- £S13,500 /mo ($120.13 USD)
- South Sudan Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- £125,000 /mo ($27.23 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Syria Report economic analyses (2026-02-25), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / South Sudan Ministry of Labour (2026-02-25)
Syria
South Sudan
Updated 2026-02-25
The minimum wage in Syria is roughly 11 times higher than in South Sudan 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 $27/mo in South Sudan, a 4.4:1 ratio.
From Syria's perspective: adjusting for purchasing power, Syria's minimum wage buys less than South Sudan's. The PPP-adjusted hourly rate in Syria is $1 international dollars, compared to $55 in South Sudan. Syria's unemployment rate is 13.6% compared to South Sudan's 12.4%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Syria | South Sudan |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /mo | £S1,850 $16.46 | £7,000 $1.52 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | £S13,500 /mo $120.13 | £125,000 /mo $27.23 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | £S12,000 /mo $106.78 | £112,000 /mo $24.40 |
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.
- South Sudan
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Labour Act 2017 sets 40 hours/week as standard. Enforcement is effectively non-existent across most of the country due to ongoing conflict, institutional collapse, and absence of functioning labour inspectorates.
• WAGE TRAJECTORY (USD/mo)
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from South Sudan to Syria would see a 980% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. However, after adjusting for cost of living, South Sudan's minimum wage provides more purchasing power. Standard work weeks differ: Syria mandates 48 hours while South Sudan mandates 40 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Syria are $790 vs $61 in South Sudan.
See this comparison from South Sudan's perspective: South Sudan vs Syria
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Syria or South Sudan?
In Syria, the minimum wage is £S1,850/mo ($16.46 USD). In South Sudan, it is £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD). Syria has the higher rate by 980% 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 South Sudan 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 South Sudan?
The average gross salary in Syria is £S13,500/mo ($120.13 USD), compared to £125,000/mo ($27.23 USD) in South Sudan. In USD terms, workers in Syria earn approximately 341% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Syria and South Sudan 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 South Sudan.
Which country has better purchasing power for minimum wage workers, Syria or South Sudan?
After adjusting for local prices using purchasing power parity (PPP), minimum wage workers in South Sudan can afford more than those in Syria. The PPP-adjusted rate is $1 in Syria and $55 in South Sudan. PPP converts wages into equivalent US dollar buying power, accounting for what a unit of currency actually buys locally. The 5147% purchasing power gap means that even if the nominal wage in Syria appears competitive, minimum wage workers there face greater constraints on day-to-day spending.
How do work hours compare between Syria and South Sudan?
Syria has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in South Sudan. Workers in Syria work 48 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in South Sudan 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.