According to a new International Labour Organization-based analysis, Sri Lanka's purchasing power-adjusted minimum wage of USD 200 monthly places it among the world's lowest, ranking 120th out of 130 countries surveyed.
Sri Lanka has been positioned 120th out of 130 countries in a global minimum wage ranking compiled by Visual Capitalist using International Labour Organization data. The analysis, which adjusts wages for purchasing power parity rather than converting direct currency values, shows Sri Lanka's monthly minimum wage equivalent to approximately USD 200. This figure places the country at the bottom tier of wage earners globally and lowest among South Asian nations included in the study.
Among regional comparators, Sri Lanka significantly trails other South Asian economies. Pakistan ranks 68th with a purchasing power-adjusted minimum wage of USD 570, followed by Nepal at 78th place with USD 490, Bangladesh at 89th with USD 379, and India at 111th with USD 233. Within Asia more broadly, South Korea leads the region at 11th place globally with USD 2,362, while Japan ranks 16th with USD 1,839.
Globally, Switzerland tops the index with a minimum wage equivalent to USD 3,804 in purchasing power terms. Other leading nations include Germany (USD 2,928), the United Kingdom (USD 2,902), the Netherlands (USD 2,876), Australia (USD 2,819), Belgium (USD 2,752), Iceland (USD 2,730), New Zealand (USD 2,673), France (USD 2,465), and Ireland (USD 2,433). Only ten countries ranked below Sri Lanka, with Gambia recording the lowest minimum wage equivalent at USD 67.
The report notes that these figures represent adjusted purchasing power rather than nominal wages, and exclude taxes and supplementary allowances from calculations.
