Mali Somalia

Updated 2026-02-25

Mali

Minimum Wage

CFA192.30 /hr

$0.35 USD

Avg. Gross Salary

CFA120,000 /mo

Somalia

No statutory minimum wage

Avg. Gross Salary

Sh150,000 /mo

Avg. salary: -18% Mali vs Somalia

Unlike Somalia, which has no statutory minimum wage, Mali mandates a wage floor of $0/hr. Average salaries are lower in Mali at $215/mo compared to $263/mo in Somalia. GDP per capita (PPP) in Mali is 2.1x that of Somalia, underscoring the structural economic divide.

Mali has higher GDP per capita ($3,315 vs $1,602). Mali's unemployment rate is 2.8% compared to Somalia's 18.9%.

Detailed Comparison

Detailed wage comparison between Mali and Somalia
Metric	Mali	Somalia	Diff
Minimum wage /hr	CFA192.30 $0.35	None	—
Minimum wage /day	CFA1,538 $2.76	None	—
Minimum wage /mo	CFA40,000 $71.81	None	—
Minimum wage /yr	CFA480,000 $861.76	None	—
Avg. gross salary /mo	CFA120,000 /mo $215.44	Sh150,000 /mo $262.70	-18.0%
Avg. net salary /mo	N/A/mo	Sh140,000 /mo $245.18	—
Median individual income /yr	CFA360,000 /yr $646.32	N/A/yr	—

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

Work Week

Mali: 40 hrs/wk standard

Max 48 hrs/wk

Overtime : 1.15x pay

Labour Code (Law No. 92-020 of 23 September 1992, amended) sets standard hours at 40 per week (8 hrs/day, 5 days). Maximum including overtime is 48 hours/week. Overtime rates: 115% for day hours; 130% for hours between 21:00 and 05:00 on weekdays; 150% for Sunday daytime; 200% for night hours on Sundays/holidays. Workers are entitled to 2.5 days of paid leave per month worked (30 days/year). Friday prayers (Jumu'ah) are accommodated — Mali is ~90% Muslim.
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: Mali mandates 40 hours while Somalia mandates 48 hours.

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

Compare Mali with...

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the minimum wage higher in Mali or Somalia?

In Mali, the minimum wage is CFA192.30/hr ($0.35 USD). In Somalia, it is no statutory minimum wage.

How much less does the average worker earn in Mali compared to Somalia?

The average gross salary in Mali is CFA120,000/mo ($215.44 USD), compared to Sh150,000/mo ($262.70 USD) in Somalia. In USD terms, workers in Mali earn approximately 22% less. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Mali 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 Mali.

How do work hours compare between Mali and Somalia?

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

While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Mali has the higher GDP per capita at $3,315, which is 2.1x that of Somalia at $1,602. From Mali'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.