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Key Facts: Gabon vs Somalia Wages

Gabon Minimum Wage
FCFA865.38/hr ($1.55 USD)
Somalia Minimum Wage
No statutory minimum wage
Gabon Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
FCFA555,000 /mo ($996.41 USD)
Somalia Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
Sh150,000 /mo ($262.70 USD)
Data Sources
Ministry of Labour, Employment and Vocational Training / Labour Code of Gabon (2026-02-25), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / UN OCHA Somalia (2026-02-25)

Gabon flag Gabon Somalia flag Somalia

Updated 2026-02-25

Gabon flag Gabon

Minimum Wage

FCFA865.38 /hr

$1.55 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

FCFA555,000 /mo

Somalia flag Somalia

No statutory minimum wage

Avg. Gross Salary

Sh150,000 /mo

Avg. salary: +279% Gabon vs Somalia

Unlike Somalia, which has no statutory minimum wage, Gabon mandates a wage floor of $2/hr. Average gross salaries diverge further: $996/mo in Gabon versus $263/mo in Somalia, a 3.8:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Gabon is 13.4x that of Somalia, underscoring the structural economic divide.

Gabon has higher GDP per capita ($21,510 vs $1,602). Gabon's unemployment rate is 20.1% compared to Somalia's 18.9%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Gabon and Somalia
Metric Gabon Somalia
Minimum wage /hr FCFA865.38 $1.55 None
Minimum wage /mo FCFA150,000 $269.30 None
Minimum wage /yr FCFA1,800,000 $3,231.60 None
Avg. gross salary /mo FCFA555,000 /mo $996.41 Sh150,000 /mo $262.70
Avg. net salary /mo FCFA430,000 /mo $771.99 Sh140,000 /mo $245.18
Median individual income /yr FCFA2,400,000 /yr $4,308.80 N/A/yr

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

Work Week

Gabon

40 hrs/wk standard

Max 60 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.25x pay

Standard workweek is 40 hours (8 hours/day, 5 days). Overtime capped at 20 hours/week, permitted only for exceptional, urgent, or seasonal work. Weekday overtime at 125% of normal rate; Sundays/public holidays at 150-200%. Employees entitled to 10 consecutive hours of daily rest and one full day of weekly rest (usually Sunday). Governed by the Labour Code (Code du Travail).

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: Gabon mandates 40 hours while Somalia mandates 48 hours.

See this comparison from Somalia's perspective: Somalia vs Gabon

Compare Gabon with...

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Gabon or Somalia?

In Gabon, the minimum wage is FCFA865.38/hr ($1.55 USD). In Somalia, it is no statutory minimum wage.

How much more does the average worker earn in Gabon compared to Somalia?

The average gross salary in Gabon is FCFA555,000/mo ($996.41 USD), compared to Sh150,000/mo ($262.70 USD) in Somalia. In USD terms, workers in Gabon earn approximately 279% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Gabon and Somalia is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Gabon earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Somalia.

How do work hours compare between Gabon and Somalia?

Somalia has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 40 hours in Gabon. Workers in Gabon work 40 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Gabon 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 Gabon and Somalia?

While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Gabon has the higher GDP per capita at $21,510, which is 13.4x that of Somalia at $1,602. From Gabon'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.