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Key Facts: Uruguay vs Syria Wages

Uruguay Minimum Wage
$U92.80/hr ($2.15 USD)
Syria Minimum Wage
£S1,850/mo ($16.46 USD)
Uruguay Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
$U55,000 /mo ($1,273.15 USD)
Syria Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
£S13,500 /mo ($120.13 USD)
Data Sources
Ministerio de Trabajo y Seguridad Social (MTSS) (2026-02-24), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Syria Report economic analyses (2026-02-25)

Uruguay flag Uruguay Syria flag Syria

Updated 2026-02-25

Uruguay flag Uruguay

Minimum Wage

$U92.80 /hr

$2.15 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

$U55,000 /mo

Syria flag Syria

Minimum Wage

£S1,850 /mo

$16.46 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

£S13,500 /mo

Min wage: -87% Uruguay vs Syria Avg. salary: +960% Uruguay vs Syria

The minimum wage in Uruguay is roughly 8 times lower than in Syria in USD terms, reflecting the gap between a high-income and a low-income economy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $1,273/mo in Uruguay versus $120/mo in Syria, a 10.6:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Uruguay is 7.6x that of Syria, underscoring the structural economic divide.

Uruguay has higher GDP per capita ($36,418 vs $4,772). Uruguay's unemployment rate is 7.5% compared to Syria's 13.6%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Uruguay and Syria
Metric Uruguay Syria
Minimum wage /hr $U92.80 $2.15
Minimum wage /mo $U22,268 $515.46 £S1,850 $16.46
Minimum wage /yr $U290,484 $6,724.17
Avg. gross salary /mo $U55,000 /mo $1,273.15 £S13,500 /mo $120.13
Avg. net salary /mo $U42,350 /mo $980.32 £S12,000 /mo $106.78
Median individual income /yr $U468,000 /yr $10,833.33 N/A/yr

Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Uruguay is higher.

Work Week

Uruguay

44 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Overtime : 2x pay

Standard workweek is 44 hours for commerce and 48 hours for industry (Law 5,350 of 1915 and Law 7,318 of 1920). In practice, most workers work 40-44 hours. Overtime is paid at double the normal rate (100% premium). Night work (after 10pm) also attracts premium pay.

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.

What This Means for Workers

A minimum wage worker in Uruguay earns 666% less per hour in USD terms than one in Syria. Standard work weeks differ: Uruguay mandates 44 hours while Syria mandates 48 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Uruguay are $95 vs $790 in Syria.

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

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Uruguay or Syria?

In Uruguay, the minimum wage is $U92.80/hr ($2.15 USD). In Syria, it is £S1,850/mo ($16.46 USD). Syria has the higher rate by 666% 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 Uruguay may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.

How much more does the average worker earn in Uruguay compared to Syria?

The average gross salary in Uruguay is $U55,000/mo ($1,273.15 USD), compared to £S13,500/mo ($120.13 USD) in Syria. In USD terms, workers in Uruguay earn approximately 960% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Uruguay and Syria is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Uruguay earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Syria.

How do work hours compare between Uruguay and Syria?

Syria has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 44 hours in Uruguay. Workers in Uruguay work 44 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Uruguay 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 Uruguay and Syria?

While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Uruguay has the higher GDP per capita at $36,418, which is 7.6x that of Syria at $4,772. From Uruguay'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.