Key Facts: Morocco vs Somalia Wages
- Morocco Minimum Wage
- MAD17.92/hr ($1.83 USD)
- Somalia Minimum Wage
- No statutory minimum wage
- Morocco Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- MAD6,000 /mo ($613.50 USD)
- Somalia Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- Sh150,000 /mo ($262.70 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministère de l'Inclusion Économique, de la Petite Entreprise, de l'Emploi et des Compétences (miepeec.gov.ma); 2026 SMIG/SMAG figures verified (second stage of two-stage 10% increase agreed in April 2024 social dialogue) (2026-05-04), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / UN OCHA Somalia (2026-02-25)
Morocco
Somalia
Updated 2026-05-04
Unlike Somalia, which has no statutory minimum wage, Morocco mandates a wage floor of $2/hr. Average gross salaries diverge further: $613/mo in Morocco versus $263/mo in Somalia, a 2.3:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Morocco is 6.5x that of Somalia, underscoring the structural economic divide.
Morocco has higher GDP per capita ($10,415 vs $1,602). Morocco's unemployment rate is 9.0% compared to Somalia's 18.9%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Morocco | Somalia |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | MAD17.92 $1.83 | None |
| Minimum wage /mo | MAD3,422.53 $349.95 | None |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | MAD6,000 /mo $613.50 | Sh150,000 /mo $262.70 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | MAD5,100 /mo $521.47 | Sh140,000 /mo $245.18 |
| Median individual income /yr | MAD30,000 /yr $3,067.48 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Morocco is higher.
Work Week
- Morocco
-
44 hrs/wk standard
Max 44 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.25x pay
Labour Code sets standard at 44 hours/week for non-agricultural sectors (2,288 hrs/year) and 48 hours/week for agriculture (2,496 hrs/year). Overtime: 25% premium for daytime hours, 50% for nighttime. On rest days/holidays: 50% daytime, 100% nighttime.
- 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: Morocco mandates 44 hours while Somalia mandates 48 hours.
See this comparison from Somalia's perspective: Somalia vs Morocco
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Morocco or Somalia?
In Morocco, the minimum wage is MAD17.92/hr ($1.83 USD). In Somalia, it is no statutory minimum wage.
How much more does the average worker earn in Morocco compared to Somalia?
The average gross salary in Morocco is MAD6,000/mo ($613.50 USD), compared to Sh150,000/mo ($262.70 USD) in Somalia. In USD terms, workers in Morocco earn approximately 134% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Morocco and Somalia is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Morocco earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Somalia.
How do work hours compare between Morocco and Somalia?
Somalia has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 44 hours in Morocco. Workers in Morocco work 44 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Morocco 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 Morocco and Somalia?
While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Morocco has the higher GDP per capita at $10,415, which is 6.5x that of Somalia at $1,602. From Morocco'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.