Key Facts: Timor-Leste vs South Sudan Wages
- Timor-Leste Minimum Wage
- $115/mo
- South Sudan Minimum Wage
- £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD)
- Timor-Leste Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- $350 /mo ($350 USD)
- South Sudan Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- £125,000 /mo ($27.23 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Environment — Timor-Leste / ILO (2026-02-25), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / South Sudan Ministry of Labour (2026-02-25)
Timor-Leste
South Sudan
Updated 2026-02-25
The minimum wage in Timor-Leste is roughly 75 times higher than in South Sudan in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a lower-middle-income and a low-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $350/mo in Timor-Leste versus $27/mo in South Sudan, a 12.9:1 ratio. Timor-Leste has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 1.6% compared to 12.4%.
From Timor-Leste's perspective: adjusting for purchasing power, Timor-Leste's minimum wage buys more than South Sudan's. The PPP-adjusted hourly rate in Timor-Leste is $383 international dollars, compared to $55 in South Sudan. Timor-Leste's unemployment rate is 1.6% compared to South Sudan's 12.4%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Timor-Leste | South Sudan |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /mo | $115 | £7,000 $1.52 |
| Minimum wage /yr | $1,380 | — |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | $350 /mo | £125,000 /mo $27.23 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | $330 /mo | £112,000 /mo $24.40 |
| Median individual income /yr | $1,500 /yr | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Timor-Leste is higher.
Work Week
- Timor-Leste
-
40 hrs/wk standard
Max 52 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Timor-Leste Labour Code sets a standard workweek of 40 hours (8 hours/day, 5 days). Maximum including overtime is 52 hours. Overtime is compensated at 1.5x the normal rate. Work on public holidays and Sundays is at 2x.
- 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 Timor-Leste would see a 7442% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings.
See this comparison from South Sudan's perspective: South Sudan vs Timor-Leste
Compare Timor-Leste with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Timor-Leste or South Sudan?
In Timor-Leste, the minimum wage is $115/mo. In South Sudan, it is £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD). Timor-Leste has the higher rate by 7442% 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 Timor-Leste compared to South Sudan?
The average gross salary in Timor-Leste is $350/mo, compared to £125,000/mo ($27.23 USD) in South Sudan. In USD terms, workers in Timor-Leste earn approximately 1185% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Timor-Leste and South Sudan is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Timor-Leste 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, Timor-Leste or South Sudan?
After adjusting for local prices using purchasing power parity (PPP), minimum wage workers in Timor-Leste can afford more than those in South Sudan. The PPP-adjusted rate is $383 in Timor-Leste 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 594% purchasing power gap means that even if the nominal wage in South Sudan appears competitive, minimum wage workers there face greater constraints on day-to-day spending.
How do work hours compare between Timor-Leste and South Sudan?
Both Timor-Leste and South Sudan mandate a similar standard work week of 40 hours. When work hours are equal, the country with the higher minimum wage delivers proportionally higher weekly earnings. Standard work week rules set the baseline; actual hours worked often differ based on industry norms and individual employment contracts.