Key Facts: Turkey vs South Sudan Wages
- Turkey Minimum Wage
- ₺164.94/hr ($3.59 USD)
- South Sudan Minimum Wage
- £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD)
- Turkey Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ₺25,482 /mo ($555.24 USD)
- South Sudan Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- £125,000 /mo ($27.23 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministry of Labour and Social Security (Çalışma ve Sosyal Güvenlik Bakanlığı); 2026 figure announced by Minister Vedat Işıkhan, verified via Daily Sabah (dailysabah.com) (2026-05-04), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / South Sudan Ministry of Labour (2026-02-25)
Turkey
South Sudan
Updated 2026-05-04
The minimum wage in Turkey is 136% higher than in South Sudan when converted to USD. Average gross salaries diverge further: $555/mo in Turkey versus $27/mo in South Sudan, a 20.4:1 ratio. Turkey has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 8.5% compared to 12.4%.
Turkey's unemployment rate is 8.5% compared to South Sudan's 12.4%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Turkey | South Sudan |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | ₺164.94 $3.59 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | ₺33,030 $719.70 | £7,000 $1.52 |
| Minimum wage /yr | ₺396,360 $8,636.42 | — |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | ₺25,482 /mo $555.24 | £125,000 /mo $27.23 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | ₺20,021 /mo $436.24 | £112,000 /mo $24.40 |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Turkey is higher.
Work Week
- Turkey
-
45 hrs/wk standard
Max 45 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Standard workweek is 45 hours under the Labour Act (No. 4857). Can be distributed unevenly across days of the week, but no more than 11 hours/day. Overtime is limited to 270 hours/year. Overtime premium is 50%; weekend/holiday work is at 100% premium if the worker does not get a substitute rest day.
- 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.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker moving from South Sudan to Turkey would see a 136% increase in USD-equivalent hourly earnings. Standard work weeks differ: Turkey mandates 45 hours while South Sudan mandates 40 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Turkey are $162 vs $61 in South Sudan.
See this comparison from South Sudan's perspective: South Sudan vs Turkey
Compare Turkey with...
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Turkey or South Sudan?
In Turkey, the minimum wage is ₺164.94/hr ($3.59 USD). In South Sudan, it is £7,000/mo ($1.52 USD). Turkey has the higher rate by 136% 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 Turkey compared to South Sudan?
The average gross salary in Turkey is ₺25,482/mo ($555.24 USD), compared to £125,000/mo ($27.23 USD) in South Sudan. In USD terms, workers in Turkey earn approximately 1939% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Turkey and South Sudan is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Turkey earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in South Sudan.
How do work hours compare between Turkey and South Sudan?
Turkey has a longer standard work week at 45 hours, compared to 40 hours in South Sudan. Workers in Turkey work 45 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in South 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.