Key Facts: Syria vs Tanzania Wages
- Syria Minimum Wage
- £S1,850/mo ($16.46 USD)
- Tanzania Minimum Wage
- TZS1,010/hr ($0.38 USD)
- Syria Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- £S13,500 /mo ($120.13 USD)
- Tanzania Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- TZS650,000 /mo ($244.36 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Syria Report economic analyses (2026-02-25), Ministry of Labour, Youth, Employment and Persons with Disabilities; Labour Institutions (Minimum Wage for Private Sector) Order, 2025 — Government Notice No. 605A, gazetted 13 October 2025, eff 1 January 2026 (kazi.go.tz PDF) (2026-05-27)
Syria
Tanzania
Updated 2026-05-27
The minimum wage in Syria is roughly 43 times higher than in Tanzania 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 $244/mo in Tanzania, a 2.0:1 ratio. Tanzania has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 1.6% compared to 13.6%.
Syria has higher GDP per capita ($4,772 vs $4,221). Syria's unemployment rate is 13.6% compared to Tanzania's 1.6%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Syria | Tanzania |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | — | TZS1,010 $0.38 |
| Minimum wage /day | — | TZS5,833 $2.19 |
| Minimum wage /mo | £S1,850 $16.46 | TZS175,000 $65.79 |
| Minimum wage /yr | — | TZS2,100,000 $789.47 |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | £S13,500 /mo $120.13 | TZS650,000 /mo $244.36 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | £S12,000 /mo $106.78 | TZS520,000 /mo $195.49 |
| Median individual income /yr | N/A/yr | TZS2,400,000 /yr $902.26 |
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.
- Tanzania
-
45 hrs/wk standard
Max 45 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Employment and Labour Relations Act sets ordinary working hours at 45 per week (9 hours/day for 5-day week, or various combinations not exceeding 45). Overtime: 150% of normal rate. Public holiday work: 200%. Maximum overtime is 50 hours in any 4-week cycle. Night work restrictions apply to pregnant women and young persons.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from Tanzania to Syria would see a 4236% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Syria mandates 48 hours while Tanzania mandates 45 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Syria are $790 vs $17 in Tanzania.
See this comparison from Tanzania's perspective: Tanzania vs Syria
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Syria or Tanzania?
In Syria, the minimum wage is £S1,850/mo ($16.46 USD). In Tanzania, it is TZS1,010/hr ($0.38 USD). Syria has the higher rate by 4236% 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 Tanzania 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 Tanzania?
The average gross salary in Syria is £S13,500/mo ($120.13 USD), compared to TZS650,000/mo ($244.36 USD) in Tanzania. In USD terms, workers in Syria earn approximately 103% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Syria and Tanzania is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Tanzania 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 Tanzania?
Syria has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 45 hours in Tanzania. Workers in Syria work 48 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Tanzania 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 Tanzania?
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 1.1x that of Tanzania at $4,221. 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.