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Key Facts: Syria vs United Kingdom Wages

Syria Minimum Wage
£S1,850/mo ($16.46 USD)
United Kingdom Minimum Wage
£12.71/hr ($17.11 USD)
Syria Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
£S13,500 /mo ($120.13 USD)
United Kingdom Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
£3,253 /mo ($4,379.96 USD)
Data Sources
ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Syria Report economic analyses (2026-02-25), UK Government / Low Pay Commission (2026-06-01)

Syria flag Syria United Kingdom flag United Kingdom

Updated 2026-06-01

Syria flag Syria

Minimum Wage

£S1,850 /mo

$16.46 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

£S13,500 /mo

United Kingdom flag United Kingdom

Minimum Wage

£12.71 /hr

$17.11 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

£3,253 /mo

Min wage: -4% Syria vs United Kingdom Avg. salary: -97% Syria vs United Kingdom

Syria, a low-income economy, and United Kingdom, classified as high-income, take different approaches to wage policy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $120/mo in Syria versus $4,380/mo in the United Kingdom, a 36.5:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in United Kingdom is 13.0x that of Syria, underscoring the structural economic divide.

Syria has lower GDP per capita ($4,772 vs $62,009). Syria's unemployment rate is 13.6% compared to the United Kingdom's 4.8%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Syria and United Kingdom
Metric Syria United Kingdom
Minimum wage /hr £12.71 $17.11
Minimum wage /mo £S1,850 $16.46 £2,203.07 $2,966.30
Minimum wage /yr £26,436.80 $35,595.53
Avg. gross salary /mo £S13,500 /mo $120.13 £3,253 /mo $4,379.96
Avg. net salary /mo £S12,000 /mo $106.78 £2,636 /mo $3,549.21
Median individual income /yr N/A/yr £28,000 /yr $37,700.28

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.

United Kingdom

40 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Working Time Regulations limit average to 48 hrs/week (opt-out available). No statutory overtime rate; overtime pay is set by contract.

What This Means for Workers

A minimum wage worker in Syria earns 4% less per hour in USD terms than one in the United Kingdom. Standard work weeks differ: Syria mandates 48 hours while the United Kingdom mandates 40 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Syria are $790 vs $685 in the United Kingdom.

See this comparison from United Kingdom's perspective: United Kingdom vs Syria

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Syria or United Kingdom?

In Syria, the minimum wage is £S1,850/mo ($16.46 USD). In the United Kingdom, it is £12.71/hr ($17.11 USD). United Kingdom has the higher rate by 4% 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 United Kingdom?

The average gross salary in Syria is £S13,500/mo ($120.13 USD), compared to £3,253/mo ($4,379.96 USD) in the United Kingdom. In USD terms, workers in Syria earn approximately 3546% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Syria and United Kingdom is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in the United Kingdom 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 United Kingdom?

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

While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. United Kingdom has the higher GDP per capita at $62,009, which is 13.0x 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.