Key Facts: Ireland vs Somalia Wages
- Ireland Minimum Wage
- €14.15/hr ($16.48 USD)
- Somalia Minimum Wage
- No statutory minimum wage
- Ireland Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- €4,350 /mo ($5,065.80 USD)
- Somalia Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Sh150,000 /mo ($262.70 USD)
- Data Sources
- Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) (2026-03-02), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / UN OCHA Somalia (2026-02-25)
Ireland
Somalia
Updated 2026-03-02
Unlike Somalia, which has no statutory minimum wage, Ireland mandates a wage floor of $16/hr. Average gross salaries diverge further: $5,066/mo in Ireland versus $263/mo in Somalia, a 19.3:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Ireland is 83.3x that of Somalia, underscoring the structural economic divide.
Ireland has higher GDP per capita ($133,437 vs $1,602). Ireland's unemployment rate is 4.6% compared to Somalia's 18.9%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Ireland | Somalia |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | €14.15 $16.48 | None |
| Minimum wage /mo | €2,452.62 $2,856.20 | None |
| Minimum wage /yr | €29,432 $34,275.07 | None |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | €4,350 /mo $5,065.80 | Sh150,000 /mo $262.70 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | €3,100 /mo $3,610.11 | Sh140,000 /mo $245.18 |
| Median individual income /yr | €40,000 /yr $46,582.04 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Ireland is higher.
Work Week
- Ireland
-
39 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
There is no single statutory standard workweek; 39 hours is the most common. The Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 limits average weekly hours to 48 over a 4-month reference period. There is no statutory overtime rate; overtime pay is determined by employment contract or collective agreement.
- 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: Ireland mandates 39 hours while Somalia mandates 48 hours.
See this comparison from Somalia's perspective: Somalia vs Ireland
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Ireland or Somalia?
In Ireland, the minimum wage is €14.15/hr ($16.48 USD). In Somalia, it is no statutory minimum wage.
How much more does the average worker earn in Ireland compared to Somalia?
The average gross salary in Ireland is €4,350/mo ($5,065.80 USD), compared to Sh150,000/mo ($262.70 USD) in Somalia. In USD terms, workers in Ireland earn approximately 1828% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Ireland and Somalia is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Ireland earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Somalia.
How do work hours compare between Ireland and Somalia?
Somalia has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 39 hours in Ireland. Workers in Ireland work 39 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Ireland 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 Ireland and Somalia?
While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Ireland has the higher GDP per capita at $133,437, which is 83.3x that of Somalia at $1,602. From Ireland'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.