South Sudan has been ranked the worst country to work in across Africa, with workers taking home an average of just $70 (approximately KSh 9,100) per month after taxes. Picture of a man in the office used for illustration. The figures represent estimated take-home pay following mandatory deductions and cover all 54 African nations. According to the 2026 salary data compiled by LiveGDP.com, 35 of those countries report average monthly net salaries below $200, underscoring the depth of the income gap across the continent. The countries clustered at the bottom of the ranking share several structural weaknesses. Conflict and political instability have disrupted investment and displaced workforces in nations such as Sudan, which has been gripped by civil war since 2023, and Burkina Faso, Mali, and Guinea-Bissau, all of which have experienced coups in recent years. Eritrea’s international isolation and sanctions have compounded its economic difficulties. Beyond conflict, a heavy dependence on subsistence agriculture, weak institutional capacity, and limited industrial development have constrained the creation of formal, well-paying jobs across these economies. Africa’s 10 lowest-paying countries South Sudan, the world’s youngest nation, has been battered by civil conflict, political instability, and economic mismanagement since gaining independence in 2011. Its oil-dependent economy has consistently failed to generate adequate revenue for public sector wages, and persistent inflation has further stripped workers of purchasing power. The country’s $70 monthly salary is approximately 40.5 times lower than that of Djibouti, Africa’s highest-paying country.
Burundi, at $75 per month, follows closely. Decades of political turmoil and ethnic conflict have left its economy heavily reliant on subsistence agriculture, with formal employment remaining scarce. Sierra Leone, which emerged from a devastating civil war in 2002, earns third-worst despite holding significant mineral wealth in diamonds, bauxite, and iron ore. The ten worst-paying countries, ranked by monthly average net salary, are as follows: Rank Country Monthly Average Net Salary (USD) Global Rank 1 South Sudan $70 196 2 Burundi $75 195 3 Sierra Leone $80 194 4 Gambia $85 193 5 Malawi $90 191 6 Sudan $90 192 7 Eritrea $100 189 8 Burkina Faso $110 186 9 Mali $110 187 10 Guinea-Bissau $115 183 For workers earning between $70 and $115 per month, these figures are rarely sufficient to meet basic needs, including food, shelter, and healthcare. Many supplement their incomes through informal work, remittances from family members abroad, or small-scale farming. The persistently low wages also drive skilled workers to emigrate, creating a brain drain that further slows economic recovery and development in the affected countries.
