Key Facts: Syria vs Sudan Wages
- Syria Minimum Wage
- £S1,850/mo ($16.46 USD)
- Sudan Minimum Wage
- ج.س.30,000/mo ($49.59 USD)
- Syria Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- £S13,500 /mo ($120.13 USD)
- Sudan Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ج.س.85,000 /mo ($140.50 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Syria Report economic analyses (2026-02-25), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Sudan Labour Code (2026-02-25)
Syria
Sudan
Updated 2026-02-25
The minimum wage in Syria is 67% lower than in Sudan in USD terms, though average salaries tell a different story. Average salaries are lower in Syria at $120/mo compared to $140/mo in Sudan. GDP per capita (PPP) in Syria is 2.3x that of Sudan, underscoring the structural economic divide.
From Syria's perspective: adjusting for purchasing power, Syria's minimum wage buys less than Sudan's. The PPP-adjusted hourly rate in Syria is $1 international dollars, compared to $41 in Sudan. Syria has higher GDP per capita ($4,772 vs $2,116). Syria's unemployment rate is 13.6% compared to Sudan's 7.5%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Syria | Sudan |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /mo | £S1,850 $16.46 | ج.س.30,000 $49.59 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | £S13,500 /mo $120.13 | ج.س.85,000 /mo $140.50 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | £S12,000 /mo $106.78 | N/A/mo |
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.
- Sudan
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Labour Act of 2017 sets standard hours at 8 per day / 40 per week. Maximum with overtime is 48 hours/week. Friday is the weekly rest day (Islamic calendar). These provisions apply to formal employment only and enforcement has been severely disrupted by the 2023 conflict.
• WAGE TRAJECTORY (USD/mo)
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker in Syria earns 201% less per hour in USD terms than one in Sudan. Standard work weeks differ: Syria mandates 48 hours while Sudan mandates 40 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Syria are $790 vs $1,983 in Sudan.
See this comparison from Sudan's perspective: Sudan vs Syria
Compare Syria with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Syria or Sudan?
In Syria, the minimum wage is £S1,850/mo ($16.46 USD). In Sudan, it is ج.س.30,000/mo ($49.59 USD). Sudan has the higher rate by 201% 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 Syria 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 Sudan?
The average gross salary in Syria is £S13,500/mo ($120.13 USD), compared to ج.س.85,000/mo ($140.50 USD) in Sudan. In USD terms, workers in Syria earn approximately 17% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Syria and Sudan is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Sudan earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Syria.
Which country has better purchasing power for minimum wage workers, Syria or Sudan?
After adjusting for local prices using purchasing power parity (PPP), minimum wage workers in Sudan can afford more than those in Syria. The PPP-adjusted rate is $1 in Syria and $41 in Sudan. PPP converts wages into equivalent US dollar buying power, accounting for what a unit of currency actually buys locally. The 3807% 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 Sudan?
Syria has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in Sudan. Workers in Syria work 48 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in 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.
What is the cost of living difference between Syria and Sudan?
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 2.3x that of Sudan at $2,116. 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.