Key Facts: Cuba vs Somalia Wages
- Cuba Minimum Wage
- $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD)
- Somalia Minimum Wage
- No statutory minimum wage
- Cuba Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- $MN6,649 /mo ($16.22 USD)
- Somalia Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Sh150,000 /mo ($262.70 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministerio de Trabajo y Seguridad Social (MTSS) — Cuba (2026-02-25), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / UN OCHA Somalia (2026-02-25)
Cuba 
Somalia
Updated 2026-02-25
Unlike Somalia, which has no statutory minimum wage, Cuba mandates a wage floor of $0/hr. Average gross salaries diverge further: $16/mo in Cuba versus $263/mo in Somalia, a 16.2:1 ratio. Cuba has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 1.8% compared to 18.9%.
Cuba's unemployment rate is 1.8% compared to Somalia's 18.9%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Cuba | Somalia |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | $MN12.12 $0.03 | None |
| Minimum wage /mo | $MN2,100 $5.12 | None |
| Minimum wage /yr | $MN25,200 $61.46 | None |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | $MN6,649 /mo $16.22 | Sh150,000 /mo $262.70 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | $MN6,300 /mo $15.37 | Sh140,000 /mo $245.18 |
| Median individual income /yr | $MN48,000 /yr $117.07 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Cuba is higher.
Work Week
- Cuba
-
44 hrs/wk standard
Max 44 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.25x pay
Labour Code sets standard working hours at 8 hours/day and 44 hours/week. Overtime is paid at 125% of normal rate. Some sectors work 40 hours/week.
- Somalia
-
48 hrs/wk standard
No reliable standardised workweek provisions are enforced. Friday is the weekly rest day. Labour conditions vary widely between sectors — from formal NGO employment with international standards to highly exploitative informal arrangements. Somaliland and Puntland have some locally administered labour rules.
What This Means for Workers
Standard work weeks differ: Cuba mandates 44 hours while Somalia mandates 48 hours.
See this comparison from Somalia's perspective: Somalia vs Cuba
Compare Cuba with...
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Cuba vs China ¥ 25 /hr 
Cuba vs Germany € 13.9 /hr 
Cuba vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr 
Cuba vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo 
Cuba vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr 
Cuba vs France € 12.02 /hr 
Cuba vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
Cuba vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr 
Cuba vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr 
Cuba vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
Cuba vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr 
Cuba vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo 
Cuba vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr 
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Cuba vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr 
Cuba vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr 
Cuba vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr 
Cuba vs Switzerland 
Cuba vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr 
Cuba vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo 
Cuba vs Sweden 
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Cuba vs Singapore Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Cuba or Somalia?
In Cuba, the minimum wage is $MN12.12/hr ($0.03 USD). In Somalia, it is no statutory minimum wage.
How much less does the average worker earn in Cuba compared to Somalia?
The average gross salary in Cuba is $MN6,649/mo ($16.22 USD), compared to Sh150,000/mo ($262.70 USD) in Somalia. In USD terms, workers in Cuba earn approximately 1520% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Cuba and Somalia is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Somalia earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Cuba.
How do work hours compare between Cuba and Somalia?
Somalia has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 44 hours in Cuba. Workers in Cuba work 44 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Cuba 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.