Key Facts: Eritrea vs Somalia Wages
- Eritrea Minimum Wage
- Nfk600/mo ($40 USD)
- Somalia Minimum Wage
- No statutory minimum wage
- Eritrea Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Nfk6,000 /mo ($400 USD)
- Somalia Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Sh150,000 /mo ($262.70 USD)
- Data Sources
- ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / OHCHR Eritrea reports (2026-02-25), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / UN OCHA Somalia (2026-02-25)
Eritrea 
Somalia
Updated 2026-02-25
Unlike Somalia, which has no statutory minimum wage, Eritrea mandates a wage floor of $40/mo. Average salaries are higher in Eritrea at $400/mo compared to $263/mo in Somalia. Eritrea has the tighter labor market, with unemployment at 6.0% compared to 18.9%.
Eritrea's unemployment rate is 6.0% compared to Somalia's 18.9%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Eritrea | Somalia |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /mo | Nfk600 $40 | None |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | Nfk6,000 /mo $400 | Sh150,000 /mo $262.70 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | Nfk5,400 /mo $360 | Sh140,000 /mo $245.18 |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Eritrea is higher.
Work Week
- Eritrea
-
44 hrs/wk standard
Labour Law sets 44 hours/week for civilian workers (8 hours/day, 5.5 days). However, the national service program operates under military regulations outside normal labour law. No reliable enforcement or monitoring data is available.
- 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: Eritrea mandates 44 hours while Somalia mandates 48 hours.
See this comparison from Somalia's perspective: Somalia vs Eritrea
Compare Eritrea with...
Eritrea vs United States $ 7.25 /hr 
Eritrea vs China ¥ 25 /hr 
Eritrea vs Germany € 13.9 /hr 
Eritrea vs United Kingdom £ 12.71 /hr 
Eritrea vs India ₹ 4,576 /mo 
Eritrea vs Japan ¥ 1,121 /hr 
Eritrea vs France € 12.02 /hr 
Eritrea vs South Korea ₩ 10,320 /hr 
Eritrea vs Canada C$ 18.1 /hr 
Eritrea vs Australia A$ 24.95 /hr 
Eritrea vs Brazil R$ 7.37 /hr 
Eritrea vs Russia ₽ 156.31 /hr 
Eritrea vs Mexico MX$ 9,583.52 /mo 
Eritrea vs Indonesia Rp 33,058 /hr 
Eritrea vs Netherlands € 14.71 /hr 
Eritrea vs Saudi Arabia ﷼ 23.08 /hr 
Eritrea vs Turkey ₺ 164.94 /hr 
Eritrea vs Taiwan NT$ 190 /hr 
Eritrea vs Switzerland 
Eritrea vs Poland zł 31.4 /hr 
Eritrea vs Thailand ฿ 10,400 /mo 
Eritrea vs Sweden 
Eritrea vs Argentina ARS 1,762 /hr 
Eritrea vs Singapore Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Eritrea or Somalia?
In Eritrea, the minimum wage is Nfk600/mo ($40 USD). In Somalia, it is no statutory minimum wage.
How much more does the average worker earn in Eritrea compared to Somalia?
The average gross salary in Eritrea is Nfk6,000/mo ($400 USD), compared to Sh150,000/mo ($262.70 USD) in Somalia. In USD terms, workers in Eritrea earn approximately 52% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Eritrea and Somalia is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Eritrea earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Somalia.
How do work hours compare between Eritrea and Somalia?
Somalia has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 44 hours in Eritrea. Workers in Eritrea work 44 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Eritrea 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.