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Key Facts: Syria vs Ukraine Wages

Syria Minimum Wage
£S1,850/mo ($16.46 USD)
Ukraine Minimum Wage
₴48/hr ($1.15 USD)
Syria Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
£S13,500 /mo ($120.13 USD)
Ukraine Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
₴20,000 /mo ($478.47 USD)
Data Sources
ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Syria Report economic analyses (2026-02-25), Ministry of Economy of Ukraine / State Statistics Service (2026-02-24)

Syria flag Syria Ukraine flag Ukraine

Updated 2026-02-25

Syria flag Syria

Minimum Wage

£S1,850 /mo

$16.46 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

£S13,500 /mo

Ukraine flag Ukraine

Minimum Wage

₴48 /hr

$1.15 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

₴20,000 /mo

Min wage: +1334% Syria vs Ukraine Avg. salary: -75% Syria vs Ukraine

The minimum wage in Syria is roughly 14 times higher than in Ukraine in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a low-income and a lower-middle-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $120/mo in Syria versus $478/mo in Ukraine, a 4.0:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Ukraine is 3.9x that of Syria, underscoring the structural economic divide.

Syria has lower GDP per capita ($4,772 vs $18,550). Syria's unemployment rate is 13.6% compared to Ukraine's 9.8%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Syria and Ukraine
Metric Syria Ukraine
Minimum wage /hr ₴48 $1.15
Minimum wage /day ₴266.67 $6.38
Minimum wage /mo £S1,850 $16.46 ₴8,000 $191.39
Minimum wage /yr ₴96,000 $2,296.65
Avg. gross salary /mo £S13,500 /mo $120.13 ₴20,000 /mo $478.47
Avg. net salary /mo £S12,000 /mo $106.78 ₴16,400 /mo $392.34
Median individual income /yr N/A/yr ₴120,000 /yr $2,870.81

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.

Ukraine

40 hrs/wk standard

Max 40 hrs/wk

Overtime : 2x pay

Labour Code sets standard working time at 40 hours/week. Overtime is compensated at double the normal rate and limited to 4 hours over 2 consecutive days, 120 hours/year. Under martial law (from Feb 2022), employers may increase working hours to 60/week and suspend certain labour protections with government approval.

What This Means for Workers

A minimum wage worker moving from Ukraine to Syria would see a 1334% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Syria mandates 48 hours while Ukraine mandates 40 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Syria are $790 vs $46 in Ukraine.

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

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Syria or Ukraine?

In Syria, the minimum wage is £S1,850/mo ($16.46 USD). In Ukraine, it is ₴48/hr ($1.15 USD). Syria has the higher rate by 1334% 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 Ukraine 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 Ukraine?

The average gross salary in Syria is £S13,500/mo ($120.13 USD), compared to ₴20,000/mo ($478.47 USD) in Ukraine. In USD terms, workers in Syria earn approximately 298% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Syria and Ukraine is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Ukraine 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 Ukraine?

Syria has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in Ukraine. Workers in Syria work 48 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Ukraine 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 Ukraine?

While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Ukraine has the higher GDP per capita at $18,550, which is 3.9x 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.